F1 pupils enjoy special team-building experience

Normally at this time of year, all of the pupils in the year group head off for a residential stay at the Abernethy Adventure Centre at Nethybridge in the Cairngorms National Park, where they take part in a series of hands-on outdoor activities, as well as team challenges, field studies and camping.

Covid restrictions meant that this year’s planned excursion couldn’t take place. However, if the pupils couldn’t travel to the mountains, then the mountains would come to the pupils, with staff from the adventure centre travelling to Mayfield to provide the youngsters with some of the exciting challenges they would have faced in the Cairngorms!

Over the course of two days, as well as trying their hands at archery, orienteering, a mountain bike course and trust and team building exercises at Mayfield, the pupils had the chance to experience climbing at Kirriemuir, kayaking at Loch of Clunie, or to explore the trails, flora and fauna of Tentsmuir via mountain bike.

The Nethybridge trip is organised annually for pupils in F1 and sees the youngsters split into the pastoral groups, or houses, which they will be in for the next six years. The aim is to develop teamwork and enable the pupils to have fun together and get to know the pupils and guidance staff in their house.

Deputy Head, Pastoral, Nigel Clarke, said, "It was great to still be able to offer this experience which is a special and important part of the F1 High School calendar. Pupils and staff had a fantastic time!”