ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE A journey of self-discovery Students at The Perse School are being taught resilience and courage alongside agility and balance – and you can too! T he outdoor education (OE) department at The Perse School offers a wide range of exciting
and physically challenging activities for pupils – from whitewater kayaking to bushcraft and orienteering. The aim is to provide them with a world-class selection of extracurricular opportunities. There is a specific focus on developing resilience, leadership, responsibility and teamwork. A new 10.5m-high climbing wall has recently been added to the mix, open to the public as part of the school’s Climbing Academy. “We’ve always had a climbing centre at The Perse, but in August this year we opened a new wall. It’s the largest indoor climbing wall with ropes within 50 miles of Cambridge,” explains Ben Parker, director of OE and head of climbing at the school. “The climbing wall is made of multicoloured texture-board, with an artificial rock section, 8.5m-high abseiling platform and 50 sq m bouldering area.” Despite its flat terrain, Cambridge has a large, dedicated community of climbers, says Ben. “But we’ve long been lacking a roped climbing wall that’s open to the public. We’re already working with several local clubs who are keen to get involved.” The Climbing Academy is at The Perse Sports Centre, which is open to the public. It houses a 25m swimming pool for lessons and lane swimming, as well as a sports hall with facilities that host local sports clubs. “At The Perse, we want to offer the public the best in high-quality training and expertise in climbing,” emphasises Ben. “We’re offering nationally recognised NICAS courses for school-aged children – accredited by the National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes – and taster sessions for adults and children from four years old and up. Our experienced team of full-time instructors are all keen rock climbers with a wealth of knowledge. It’s a great place to learn, in a fully supportive environment.” Reaching new heights Although members of the public can use the climbing wall, it was installed principally as a learning resource for Perse students, who typically spend around two hours a week climbing. “It not only builds balance, dexterity and coordination, but also strengthens your problem-solving skills,” states Ben. “It’s not all about power, since you can’t tackle complicated climbs with brute force alone. You have to think
carefully about where you’re going to position your body. Climbing is as much a mental discipline as a physical one.” Other areas for learning include improving communication and working within small teams. Young climbers can develop focus, physical awareness and determination. “A lot of what we do revolves around helping pupils realise failure is acceptable,” reveals Ben. “It’s all about taking stock of what you did and having another go. The Perse is a high-achieving school, but in our OE programme, failure is fine as long as you pick yourself back up, rethink it and don’t allow your emotions to dominate. Climbing is such a beneficial sport because that feedback cycle is quick and intrinsic. “During climbs, you’re encountering self-discovery on a personal level, both physical and mental. Something you Climbing is so beneficial because that feedback cycle is quick and intrinsic
OPEN TO ALL A 10.5m climbing wall (top left) is the latest addition to The Perse’s facilities
Powered by FlippingBook