News — 3 July 2026

Trips Week: Celebrating Adventure and Friendship

Trips Week: Celebrating Adventure and Friendship

The Prep School was unusually quiet this week for a very good reason. Every year group was out enjoying a full programme of adventures during our annual Trips Week. With cooler weather and plenty of enthusiasm, the boys and their teachers enjoyed trips and activities packed with discovery, teamwork and unforgettable memories.

Year 3 Adventures
Year 3 began their week with a brilliant visit to Mead Open Farm, where tractor rides, hands-on animal experiences and wide smiles set the tone for the days ahead. Back at school, the boys met an exciting range of wild creatures from DWAEC, then settled in for a film and their much‑anticipated sleepover.
The following day was packed with variety. The boys learned circus skills, took part in a quiz, explored Lego robotics and enjoyed lively team games. It was a joyful mix of learning and fun.

Year 4 Bushcraft Expedition
Year 4 embraced the great outdoors with an overnight bushcraft adventure. Their two-day adventure included nature walks filled with interesting discoveries, camouflage challenges, bushcraft skills, outdoor games and shelter building. The boys showed curiosity and teamwork throughout.
On Wednesday, Year 3 and Year 4 reunited for a special treat: a trip to the cinema to enjoy Toy Story 5.

Year 5 Outdoor Challenges
Year 5 spent their first day at Ickwell, taking part in bushcraft activities and team challenges in the beautiful surroundings of our nature reserve. Day two brought high‑energy water sports at Box End Park, where the boys showed real determination and plenty of enthusiasm.
Their third day took them to Shuttleworth for an introduction to aviation. They explored aircraft, engineering and the history of flight, which made for a fascinating finale.

Year 6 Woodland Adventure
Year 6 enjoyed a woodland stay at Phasels Wood, sleeping in pods and taking part in a full programme of outdoor activities. High ropes, low ropes, archery, camouflage, talent competitions and campfires with marshmallows and hot chocolate kept the boys busy from morning to night.
They showed resilience, courage and strong team spirit, and they had great fun along the way.

Year 7 Water & Wilderness Expedition
Year 7 began their adventures with a splash at Box End Park before embarking on a unique canoe journey from Bedford to Matchstick Woods, Willington. After setting up camp, they spent the evening around the campfire, sharing stories and enjoying the outdoors.
The following day was packed with adventure: fire lighting, tag archery, shelter building, river crossing and team challenges.

Year 8 PGL Experience
Year 8 enjoyed four days at PGL Bawdsey Manor where they enjoyed a huge variety of activities including canoeing, fencing, high ropes, ziplining, rifle shooting, giant swings and tag archery.
The trip strengthened friendships, built confidence and added even more joy to their post-exam programme. It was a perfect finale to their Prep School adventures.

A Week to Remember
Across all year groups, Trips Week was filled with discovery, teamwork and new experiences. The boys embraced challenges, learned new skills and created memories that will stay with them.