PES Ascent Group

Group size:

Age range:

Max. 227 pupils

Years 8-10

Entry years:

Meetings:

Overview:

Years 8-9

Friday (5pm-7pm)

PES Ascent Group is the largest group in the whole structure of the Perse Exploration Society. The group has a strict pupil hierarchy and is organised into patrols of eight students in Years 8-9. Within the patrol there is a Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Food Quartermaster and four Ferrets. Six patrols form a section (of which there are four – Earth, Air, Fire and Water). Each section is run by a Year 10 patrol known as the ‘Bears.’ The whole troop is run by seven Year 10 students who are known as the ‘Stags’. Positions of responsibility are gained through growing experience and selection of future leaders is carried out by current student leaders and staff. It is a great privilege for students to be appointed a Stag or Bear, and quite rightly so, as they run the entire group and all camps.

Activities:

PES Ascent Group dates back to the 5th Cambridge Scout Group. All camps are carried out in Scandinavian style Lavvu teepees and many activities such as pioneering, campcraft, climbing and fire lighting carry on to this day. Annual subscription: £180

Dinner charge £25/term

I/C:

Mr Parker

Signing Up:

Applications may only be made via the online form published in the first week of Michaelmas term. Students wishing to sign up must commit to Friday training sessions and two compulsory trips each year.

After-school arrangements:

PES Ascent Group meetings commence at 5pm on Fridays in term time at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre. This start time enables other extra-curricular activities to occur at school and for our volunteer staff to make their way to meetings from their places of work.

Students may leave the school site to purchase food for dinner from the leisure park on Hills Road. Should parents wish students to remain on site between the end of the school day and the start of the session, a supervised dinner is provided in the school café. Dinner can be booked on a termly basis for an additional fee of £25 per term.

Trips:

Trips are compulsory. There are two annual trips. The first is a training camp which takes place in the Michaelmas term. This is followed by a nine day trip in the summer holidays. Venues vary from year to year and students can look forward to a wide range of activities.

Trip Dates:

Training Camp

Summer Camp Approx. £75

Approx. £350 Year 8-10: Thursday 20-Friday 21 October 2022

Year 10: Thursday 6- Friday 14 July 2023

Year 8-9: Friday 7- Friday 14 July 2023

Note: Membership of PES Ascent Group is currently not compatible with: Wind Band 2 - Weekly sessions overlap Year 10 Iceland Trip - Summer Camp overlaps