Groups of Senior 5 have been enjoying a range of different sporting activities such as rock-wall climbing, horse riding, golf and snow boarding.
A number of girls showed one or two of the boys a clean pair of heels when they visited the indoor wall at Beaumont Leys Leisure Centre reaching the top of the 10m climb without any signs of weariness or vertigo! The pupils were responsible for each other's safety during their climbs and the instructor commended the group for their enthusiasm and mature behaviour.
There were equally successful and enjoyable visits to Grendon Equestrian Centre with a number of pupils gaining their first experience of horse-riding, and to the Belfry Golf Club for instruction by a golf professional. Just before the end of term a group of novices and experienced boarders visited Tamworth Snow Dome.    

All of the adult back-up team enjoyed being with the 14 members of the Senior 5 Silver Award group over their three days and thirty miles in the Welsh Marches. We were impressed by lots of things: their determination, group cohesion and good humour, and also by just how much they had learned from the practice expedition only a few weeks earlier.

Some paths in this area are hard to find; some simply don’t exist. This meant there were inevitably low points when the groups lost their way, and one team became benighted owing to navigation problems. But sometimes you have to lose yourself in order to find yourself: the groups’ relocation skills and their must-get-through attitude always saw them right.

The second day was long and hard. One group elected to follow a route up on to Hatterall Ridge and had a taste of the ‘wild and remote’ country which will be a requirement of the Gold expeditions. They thought the climb was worth it. At the end of the day, after several hours’ travelling, the five star campsite seemed all the more wonderful. ‘Campsite heaven with showers to die for’ and ‘Christmas come early’ were just two of the many delighted reactions.

The final day’s walk was completed in record time, with groups arriving at the end in good heart and looking as if they could have gone much further …… which was nice.

In short, these were three very strong groups: considerate, cohesive, committed and competent. We would have no hesitation in encouraging them to move on to the Gold Award and look forward to providing the back-up once again.

What an exciting time it was mid-September for pupils in 4X and 4Y when they were invited out for the day with Mrs Gill Oliver, regional organiser of The Country Trust, and her team of merry mums, Mrs Smith and Mrs Lynch. The Country Trust is a
national educational charity providing a taste of the countryside first hand for children from urban environments. Its work is especially beneficial to youngsters who may never experience muddy fields and the smells of a farmyard. With many children on previous trips thinking that wolves and bears still roam the British countryside with crocodiles in our lakes, the children from Twycross clearly made a memorable impression with their knowledge and understanding of how our green and very pleasant land is managed and conserved.

Accompanied by Mrs Rose and Mrs Holland our adventure began with a minibus trip to Atherstone for a ‘walk and talk’ along the canal with the head lock-keeper Tony; quite a celebrity after receiving an M.B.E for his services to the waterways. With a penchant for ferrets he delighted us all and was a very entertaining educator.
A visit to Merevale Hall followed, where we were treated to a gundog display and a guided tour of the local plantation by the head forester.

The weather was kind to us and we all returned to school with happy faces, clean wellies, empty lunch boxes and with a special request from many for an extra surprise in our Christmas stockings…..a chocolate Labrador or perhaps a well-fed ferret! ?