Dear Year 6 Parents 

As you know, this year has been horribly disruptive for all pupils. Many activities, sporting events, musical or theatre events, class trips and residential visits simply have not been able to happen.  

I have no doubt that, from September, we will be returning to some semblance of normality and that once again we will return to the rich menu of extra-curricular activity and opportunity which so benefits all our pupils: opportunities which really do create memories which live with us for life. 

Unfortunately, this will not be possible for our wonderful year sixes. This year has seen them miss out on so much. Their final year has been blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and I am desperate that they have missed so much including their residential trip to the Arthog Outdoor Education Centre in Wales. 

Since our cancelled trip to Arthog in November, I have been liaising with the Head of the Arthog Centre in Wales and with Arthog Outreach Team, based in Telford, to explore the possibility of bringing Arthog to Pontesbury and I am so pleased that they agreed to do this. Nothing can really compare with the experience of going away for the week and ‘living’ at the Arthog Centre, but the week we have planned for our year six pupils comes, I believe, very, very close.  

As at Arthog, the pupils will be in a small group of no more than twelve. They will remain with the same instructor for the week and undertake exactly the same activities as they would have done in Wales. The only major difference will be the return home at the end of each day, long after the rest of the pupils have left, followed by a really early start in the morning! 

The daily timetable will be: 

• 8.00am arrival followed by a hearty cooked breakfast to set everyone up for the day. 
• Daily activities from 9.15am to 5.00pm (approx). Dinner time pack lunches will be provided by our kitchen. 
• Evening meal in the dining hall. 
• Evening activities, such as orienteering, the nightline, an evening walk etc.  
• 8.00pm depart for home. 

The activities will include: 

• team building tasks. 
• hill walking. 
• climb/abseiling on Pontesford rocks or at Grinshill quarry. 
• Canoeing, either on a local lake or the River Severn. 
• explore Snailbeach with a possible trip into the mines. 
• Overnight camp on Thursday. 
• Gorge walk, if weather allows 
• Archery. 

So, the children will experience all they do at Arthog, apart from sharing dormitories. They will undertake the same activities, led by the amazing Arthog instructors, and leave with memories which, hopefully, will stay with them for the rest of their lives. 

As I said, there is no substitute for the full Arthog experience in Wales, but I hope you agree that by bringing Arthog to Pontesbury – which is something no school has done before quite like this – your children will have a fantastic experience and one which you feel represents excellent value for money. The cost will be £230 all-inclusive and a payment is set up on School Money. 

There will, over the next weeks, be a lot more information about organisation, clothing, equipment, etc. and I am sure there are many questions you have about the week. Please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Mr Morris to discuss any queries you may have. 

Mr Langford