Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education forms an increasingly popular pathway for Games and physical AOB pursuits at Cokethorpe School.

Accessed through AOB, Games, Curriculum Enrichment Week, international expeditions and the DofE programme, some of the activities have a competitive focus to the training and sessions, whilst others simply participate for the recreational enjoyment of the outdoors. The School is well-equipped with facilities to support Outdoor Education activities, from our own 10-metre climbing tower, boathouse, woodland, and outdoor education classroom, to our clay-shooting traps, rifle and pistol ranges, with space to host a regular showjumping competition on school grounds.

Cokethorpe’s dedicated Head of Outdoor Education works right across the Prep and Senior Schools, from introducing the Reception Class to Bushcraft to leading the Sixth Form paddlers on the Marathon Kayak Devizes to Westminster race.

In the Senior School, the Outdoor Education Games options are Marathon Kayaking, Paddlesports (Canoe/kayaking), Climbing, Clay Shooting, Target Sprint, Sailing, Bushcraft, and the Adventure Programme. AOB options include Campfire Cooking, Sailing, Climbing, Paddlesports, Air Rifles, Beginners Climbing, and Advanced Climbing.

Marathon Kayaking

Cokethorpe has a highly successful kayaking and canoeing programme operating out of our Boathouse on the River Thames. Each year, pupils strive to reach the pinnacle of endurance on the water, preparing for and competing in the Junior Doubles category of the Devizes to Westminster international marathon canoe race, a 125-mile course taking place over the Easter weekend.

Shooting

The School has its own clay pigeon shooting traps with a selection of over-under shotguns, and a successful shooting team. Further shooting pursuits on offer include a .22 and air rifle range, a pistol range and an archery range. Pupils are able to participate either as an AOB or as a main sport in clay pigeon shooting for those who are more experienced. 

Pre-Prep Adventurers Club

Every week the Pre-Prep children enthusiastically take part in the Pre-Prep Adventurers programme that introduces a range of fun pursuits that are carefully chosen to develop key cognitive, sensory and motor skills. Set in The Woods, the on-site woodland area dedicated to outdoor learning, the children enjoy making dens, toasting marshmallows over campfires and learning about the local flora and fauna

“Adventure Club is my favourite!”

Current Prep School pupil

Sailing

Sailing is offered as both a main sport – for our more experienced sailors – and an AOB and Prep Activity for those still finding their sea legs. Pupils sail on a mix of Fireflies and Picos, predominantly at Farmoor Reservoir, and compete in a series of sailing regattas and matches throughout the season.

Climbing

Our pupils benefit from having our own climbing tower on site providing courses of varying difficulty, as well as an indoor bouldering wall. Offered as both a main sport for the more experienced climbers as well as an AOB, our pupils challenge in competitions as well as benefiting from our location to visit other climbing facilities and natural rockfaces.

Duke of Edinburgh

Pupils in the Senior School have the option of participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, progressing through Bronze, Silver and Gold. regular training makes use of our rural setting, as well as venturing out for fuller training expeditions on Exmoor in Devon. The recognised benefits of the DofE programme are well-known and has ready crossovers with our own Leadership Programme.

Where next?

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