Year 4 Residential Visit to Newby Wiske Hall

Year 4 had a fantastic start to their residential trip as we departed school on Monday 27th April under bright blue skies. The sunshine and excitement set the tone for what would be a memorable few days, with the children full of enthusiasm and in high spirits.

On arrival at PGL Newby Wiske Hall, we were given a tour of the impressive grounds and facilities. This helped everyone to settle in quickly and begin to feel at home in their new surroundings. After refuelling with a much-enjoyed lunch of pizza and chips, we were ready to dive into our first set of activities: abseiling and archery.

For many pupils, abseiling was a brand-new and initially daunting experience. However, we were incredibly proud of every single child, as they showed great courage and determination by climbing the tower and challenging themselves to experience the height. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they supported one another. Meanwhile, archery allowed them to demonstrate focus and precision, with plenty of smiles (and a few bullseyes!) along the way.

After dinner, the children took part in a lively gameshow-style activity similar to 'The Million Pound Drop'. There was lots of laughter, teamwork and excitement as they competed against each other. By the end of the evening, many of the children were feeling tired, but their excitement about staying overnight with their friends kept spirits high.

The accommodation at Newby Wiske made the experience even more special. The children were particularly impressed with the modern pod-style bunk beds and colour-changing LED bedside lights, which added a fun and cosy feel to their dormitories. Unsurprisingly, bedtime came a little later than usual!

Tuesday brought another full and action-packed day. Activities included climbing, survival skills, and an afternoon of giant stand-up paddleboarding. The children approached climbing with much more confidence following their abseiling experience the day before, showing how quickly they had already developed resilience and bravery.

The weather remained beautiful, and when we arrived at the lake for paddleboarding, it felt almost like being abroad. The children had an amazing time trying to balance and work together to stay dry—although a few took the opportunity (or risk!) to end up in the water anyway!

In the evening, we enjoyed a Balloon Splash activity. This team-based challenge required the children to complete tasks and earn points in order to collect materials. They then used these materials to protect a water balloon, encouraging creativity, teamwork and problem-solving. By the end of the second day, the children were understandably exhausted and much more ready for a good night’s sleep.

Our final day on Wednesday was just as busy, with activities including a micro-scooters session and the much-anticipated zip wire. The children embraced every moment, showing enthusiasm, positivity and encouragement towards one another throughout.

Overall, the children were an absolute pleasure to look after. They demonstrated excellent behaviour, resilience and teamwork during every part of the trip.

A huge thank you goes to the school staff who volunteered their time to support the visit, the PGL instructors who made the activities so engaging and memorable, and the kitchen staff who kept us all well-fed and catered for everyone’s needs so thoughtfully.

We had an incredible time and created memories that will last a lifetime. We very much hope to return to Newby Wiske Hall with next year’s Year 4 class!