Our Lower VI students recently returned from an unforgettable week that combined adventure, culture, and valuable insights into life beyond school.
The week began with two important days focused on the future. Monday’s UCAS Preparation Day and Tuesday’s Sixth Form Conference helped students start thinking seriously about their next steps. Highlights included a personal statement workshop led by Cardiff University and a university preparation session from the University of Sheffield. Students also chose breakout sessions tailored to their interests – from Oxbridge applications to gap years and degree apprenticeships. One of the most powerful parts of the conference was hearing from Abbey alumni, who spoke honestly and inspiringly about the journeys they’ve taken through university and into the world of work, including setbacks and how they’ve responded to challenges.
After the busy start to the week, the rest of the trip took us out of the classroom and into the outdoors. We kicked off our trip with a day of lake-side activities, from bridge building to kayaking. Students also learned how to build their own fires – with the added reward of toasted marshmallows and homemade popcorn around the flames.
Evenings were just as lively as the days. We enjoyed a brilliant night of bowling and karaoke, with some unforgettable renditions of musical theatre hits and 2000s classics and tucked into a well-earned pizza feast together. It was a great chance to relax, laugh, and celebrate everything students had achieved throughout the year.
Our city scavenger hunt on Thursday sent students exploring Bristol’s street art, iconic landmarks and hidden corners. Groups raced to find as many Banksy pieces as they could, weaving through St Nicholas’ Market and the harbourside to discover the city’s creativity and character.
That evening, we took in a spectacular performance of War Horse at the Bristol Hippodrome. The innovative puppetry and powerful storytelling moved many of our students and sparked some brilliant conversations on the way back.
We rounded off the trip with a visit to the University of Bristol’s Open Day, giving students the opportunity to explore a Russell Group campus, attend subject talks, and get a real sense of student life.
The combination of outdoor challenge, cultural discovery and serious future-thinking made for a varied and rewarding week. A huge thank you to all staff who supported the trip – and to our brilliant Lower VI students for approaching each part of it with such positivity, curiosity and energy.
