Residentials can be a vital part of a pupil’s progression through school. A child’s time with us at our private school in Devon is all about learning the skills that will take them into the wider world, and a residential trip is one of the earliest opportunities to try these skills out.
However, residentials trips aren’t just about developing social skills – they can also have a great impact on the rest of their school learning! Discover some of the biggest ways residentials can benefit a child.
What is a School Residential?
School residentials are similar to school trips in that they involve the class taking part in some kind of activity outside the school. However, while school trips usually last a day, residentials tend to last a few days and involve children and teachers staying in accommodation close to their activity.
Most residentials take place at some form of activity centre and involve children taking part in various outdoor activities over multiple days.
The Benefits of School Residentials
School residential trips can provide a myriad of benefits to pupils, and not just those more inclined to outdoor and physical activities. All pupils at various stages of development get to experience these key benefits:
- Growing Independence
- Lasting Friendships
- Improved Self-Confidence
- Inspirational Memories
Growing Independence
For many pupils, residentials are their first time staying away from their families. This is a big step in any child’s development, and residentials create a safe space surrounded by friends, teachers, and carers, where they can take that first step.
By spending time away from home, children can quickly develop a stronger sense of self, which can serve them well in future challenges such as moving into further education.
Lasting Friendships
Being on a residential and visiting somewhere new doesn’t just strengthen existing friendships, it can be really powerful in creating new ones. This is great both on a personal level and can also make a big difference when it’s time to return to the classroom.
Being in a new situation allows children to assess situations and acknowledge the strengths of each other whilst being respectful of their weaknesses. This improves their ability to empathise and cooperate with different students, developing deeper trust in classroom settings. In a report by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, “71% [of Key Stage 2 pupils] felt they got on better with their peers as a result of their residential experiences.”
From their time away, children’s interpersonal skills and leadership talents can flourish, as well as the ability to improve upon their teamwork and awareness of others. This can all contribute to improved learning outcomes.
Improved Self-confidence
Residentials often include a wide range of mixed activities that rely on different skills. This creates lots of opportunities to develop confidence in different areas.
By going on a residential, children can pinpoint their strengths. Maybe a child isn’t as comfortable in the classroom but is a leader when it comes to climbing, or a shy pupil becomes a fantastic problem solver in team tasks. These activities can be hugely beneficial for those who may have doubts surrounding their abilities, as it encourages them to conquer additional fears.
Residentials also are beneficial for children struggling with pressures at the end of the academic year, such as exams. Removing them from the classroom environment while combining the excitement of a new task with the national curriculum can often boost their morale, which they can take into any assessments.
Inspirational Memories
Memories and friendships made on residential trips can last a lifetime. As discussed above, the challenges pupils go through together on these trips not only help to form lasting bonds and a deeper sense of trust, but they also fill individuals with a huge sense of confidence.
The memories of these trips will stay with children as they continue through school, providing a reliable well of inspiration and confidence that they can tap into whenever things might get tough in the classroom.
Here at St Peter’s Prep School, we believe residentials are a great way to enrich the overall learning experience. It is important to us that each pupil is confident in their abilities, and residentials can help make this happen through tackling new challenges and developing new skills.
To learn more about the kind of adventures our pupils enjoy, be sure to browse our blog filled with exciting updates from life at St Peter’s!
