Private School Oxfordshire
28 children, 4 members of staff, bundles of excitement and a 5am start – the perfect recipe for the school’s annual overseas residential trip. This year pupils from Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 were off to the Netherlands. On the agenda was learning, fun, social interaction, cheese, clogs and of course, windmills!
Monday 7 October
We departed from Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire to Folkstone. After many “are we there yets” we arrived in good time and headed through Eurotunnel. We’re now properly on our way. As we leave British shores, the children’s sense of adventure and anticipation cranks up another notch. We arrive in Belgium at 1:00 pm, and after a hearty lunch, we are back on our travels and arrive at our destination in Noordvijk at 6:15pm. We’re tired, well the teachers are, nevertheless, after dinner we kick things off with an evening of entertainment, including bingo. Well, who doesn’t enjoy bingo!
Tuesday 8 October
We depart from our hotel at 9am and head to the human biology interactive museum, Corpus Museum, for a trip through the human body.
Biology done, it’s then a trip to the Clara Maria Cheese and Clog Factory where the children learn how to make clogs and cheese.
After a nose full of the smell of cheese, it’s time to clear the air with a fun trip to the beach for adventure and fun. We round off proceedings for the day with an adventure Beetle drive.
Wednesday 9 October
After breakfast, our destination is the Zaanse Schans windmill village, where the children get to see and experience a taste of local life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite torrential rain, everyone’s up for our next destination, especially as it’s indoors. So, we head for outer space! Well, the Space Expo museum, where the children learn about, and experience, a virtual rocket launch.
From outer space we head back to the hotel for more cosmic fun; a disco – moon walks on the dance floor were optional!
Thursday 10 October
A choice for the children today as we split into two groups at Efteling fantasy-themed amusement park. The first group opted for a full day of white-knuckle rides and water rafting. While the second group chose a more serene day of pedal trains, boat trips and electric cars – no one escaped getting wet, even those who stayed dry on the rapids were caught in the rain. Even the obligatory theme park poncho struggled to keep Mrs Sandiford dry.
Friday 11 October
Our last day of the trip, so it’s time to head back to Blighty, but not before stopping in Ostende at a chocolate shop, for last minute presents and lunch (don’t worry parents, it wasn’t a chocolate lunch).
We arrived at Eurotunnel in time for our 3:20pm crossing and back at the school at 6:50pm.
Thank you to everyone who made this amazing trip possible; parents, teachers and support staff, but my biggest thanks go to the children who made this trip such an inspiring adventure for all, thank you.
Mrs Amanda Douglas. Headteacher
————————————————————
Private School Oxfordshire
About Us
Windrush Valley is a Private School in Oxfordshire for boys and girls between 3-11. We provide the highest standards of educational excellence and prepare our pupils for a for a successful future in either the independent or state senior school sectors.
The school is ranked in the top 50 independent preparatory schools in England by the Sunday Times. Earning it the prestigious accolade of Best Prep School Oxfordshire. The school has also received an Award for Excellence by the Independent School Association.
We provide an inspiring and Our inspiring and stimulating curriculum which is further enhanced with regular residential trips within the UK and overseas.