Two primary schools arrived at an outdoor camping site attached to one of the schools to take part in a two-day residential program. The students set up tents with companions of their choosing and participated in teambuilding activities like rock climbing. Transition skills that would help with moving to secondary school were discussed, and beads were awarded when students demonstrated these skills. Activities continued over the two days, and on the final day students evaluated their experiences, discussing which activities helped them feel more confident about transitioning to secondary school. The program aimed to help primary students develop skills and relationships to support their upcoming move to secondary education.

1. Learning Away Residential
Camp Junior 2 Senior
June 2011

3. The bags arrive!
Two primary schools
arrive at the camping
site attached to one of
the schools. They will
stay for two days and
a night before the
next two schools
arrive.
‘The importance of the
coordinator role in
keeping the camps
running smoothly is
critical.’ Headteacher

4. The tent village
is created
Pupils choose their
own companions for
sharing a tent and
work out how to set it
all up.

5. ...all hands on
deck

6. Yay...the tent
is up!

7. Getting to
know each
other...
‘The one girl coming
to (secondary school)
from (this primary
school) knows us now
so she’ll get on better
when we meet up
again.’ Year 6 pupil

8. Transition Skills
Before the residential
pupils worked
together to decide
what transition skills
could be developed
during the trip away.

9. Sharing our
talents...
The transition skills
recognised by the
pupils were well
chosen….
‘.. not to shy to
express ourselves.’
Year 6 pupil

11. Effective
Teamwork

12. ‘Rock climbing helps
you overcome fear so
it will help us be brave
for next year.’ Year 6
pupil

13. Looking after
each other
‘The one girl coming
to (secondary school)
from (this primary
school) knows us now
so she’ll get on better
when we meet up
again.’ Year 6 pupil

14. Trying new
things….
‘It will be a bit more
interesting because
you can keep on
learning. You don’t
have to stop when you
get to a certain level.
There’ll be bunson
burners too in
science.’ Year 6 pupil

15. Sharing ideas
for games...
Involving year eight
students and year
seven staff helped to
build relationships
with people from the
secondary school.

16. Beads for
Transition Skills
Different coloured
beads are awarded
during the residential
when transition skills
are shown. Both
pupils and teachers
can award them.

17. Journey Sticks
Journey sticks were
also used to give each
pupil a way to
remember their own
experience of the
residential.

18. ‘Me and my new
friend carved our
names...’ Year 6 pupil

19. Reflection
time
Pupils also chose the
activities they thought
would most help them
with their transition
skills – including time
for reflection.

20. … and social
time …

21. ...and happy
times!

22. The activities
‘We introduced the
beach and the leisure
centre as activity
venues as these are
both options for
families to become
involved in during
leisure time.’ Camp co-
ordinator/TA
‘We took on the
climbing wall. It was
‘awesome!’ Year 6
pupil

23. The fabulous
Catering
Team...
‘Developing capacity
by bringing on new
staff and giving
experienced staff
more responsibility
allows the camps to
meet the demand for
new schools to join the
cluster until all feeder
primaries are
involved.’
Headteacher

24. Time for tea...

25. Evaluation...
Blob Trees
At the end of the first
day we evaluated the
residential so far.

26. ‘Cool...look what we
made...’ Year 6 pupil

27. ‘How great is this
place...’ Year 6 pupil

28. Beads were
awarded

29. Journey Sticks
were adjusted

30. Night time
Teambuilding
Trusting each other…

31. Hot chocolate
& toasted
marshmallows
Lots of opportunities
for social time built
the relationships
between new friends
from across the
schools taking part.
The pupils also got to
know their teachers in
relaxed settings.

33. Nurse ‘Smith’
Staff gained CPD in a
range of new skills so
that they could run
the camps including
first aid, driving and
catering

34. Striking camp
Striking camp
highlighted many of
the newly acquired
transition skills.
‘Come on Miss ………,
I’ll help...’ Year 6 pupil

35. ‘I think it goes down
like this...’ Year 6 pupil

36. ‘Mum would be proud
of me!!’ Year 6 pupil

37. Beads to
bracelets.
The beads are
threaded onto
bracelets. These have
been worn with pride
well into year seven.

38. Final
evaluation
Before returning to
home and school
pupils recorded their
thoughts about the
residential using
active reviewing
techniques
‘Inside or outside
learning, which do you
like best?’ Year 6 pupil

39. ‘Do you feel more
confident about
moving up?’ Primary
teacher

40. Reflecting on our
skills...
organising our beads..

41. ‘I showed all of these
Transition Skills during
the camp...’ Year 6
pupil

42. ‘This will help me feel
confident at my new
school … memories of
being brave, joining in,
having a go...’ Year 6
pupil

43. ‘Thank you Miss...’
Year 6 pupil

44. Collecting
staff views...
‘The organisers have
created a staffing
structure that allows
for a progression of
responsibility that is
clear to staff and
supported with CPD.’
Evaluators

45. ‘That was brilliant but
blimey I’m tired!!’
Primary teacher
I hope there was a
bead for this for the
staff!