...and it's a big thanks to Ed, Sam, Piers, Alex, Jamie and all the staff at Kilvrough!

Did you know there's such a thing as blindfolded climbing or three legged climbing or even climbing with your hands tied together? I didn't either but I do now and so it seems do Mrs Roberts and her intrepid troupe of adventurers; such were the highlights of their day out climbing, maybe it was Instructor Alex and his Gallic charm that helped them reach such dizzying heights of derring-do! (See pictures for details).  

My group meanwhile, have been canoeing all day and after an orientation session we set 'sail' down a canal in the beautiful countryside just outside Swansea. Well I mean, a canoe trip wouldn't be a canoe trip without a water fight would it - or is that just me?! Anyway, a water fight there was and a jolly excellent one at that - although I think I came off worse as various Year 6's took the opportunity to pay me back for endless days of SATs practice. Other groups were out body-boarding and surfing with one member of Year 6 managing to actually stand up fully on a surf board and surf into the shore - congratulations - what a fantastic achievement.

And so we come to the end of another residential week - one that I hope will leave all the children this year with lots of great memories. Maybe they will have faced a fear or overcome a personal challenge, learnt to put a duvet cover on or how to serve dinner to a table of people, taken responsibility for gathering the equipment for a day out or just made some new friends - whatever the outcome big or small, I hope they will all take something meaningful away from the week.

As ever, huge thanks must go to the Dr Radcliffe's Team - Frances, Hannah, Becky and Tom (and the parents) who have all voluntarily given up a week away from their families, friends, nice warm beds and home-comforts to ensure the Year 5 & 6 children at Dr Radcliffe's have the best possible experience - their endless patience, diligence, good humour and energy never cease to amaze me. All in all, it's been a great week and the children have done you all proud!

Before I finish, some minor house-keeping bits and bobs: the coach is picking us up at 1:30pm tomorrow and is due back at school at around 5:45pm. If there are any delays, we will let you know via the Year 5 & 6 telephone trees. Please could all parents / carers collecting children stay inside the school gates rather than waiting on the pavement as this makes getting cases off the coach very congested and tricky. It would also be great if we could have 4 or 5 volunteers to help get he cases off when the coach arrives back. We can then bring the children inside the gates to meet you. Please remind your children to let an adult know before they disappear so that we know they have been collected safely.

Well that's it for another year - thanks for reading. Over-and-out.

GUY BRIGG