The Salopian - Winter 2021

SCHOOL NEWS
31
Sixth Form level the chance to experience realistic leadership
challenges. By this point the door is open, if those early
experiences are positive enough. I would hope that some will
have found sufficient spark to kindle a real interest.
Shrewsbury’s link with Everest. George Mallory and Sandy
Irvine were last seen heading into the clouds in 1924 and
Sandy’s body still lies on those icy slopes.
Education needs to be progressive, so with this in mind we
have launched a specialist junior programme known as BASE.
All Third Formers take part and the programme is designed
to be a fun springboard into adventure, but with the added
aim of encouraging sociability, positivity and ingenuity; all
traits Sandy Irvine would have approved of. The Sandy Irvine
Award (the badge for which will show crossed ice axes) will
be awarded to those Third Formers who best exhibit these.
Adam Smiter heads up this provision but is supported by
Tom in constantly refining what is a complex programme
involving 140 pupils. So far our youngest pupils have
orienteered, learned basic first aid, explored the hills of
Caradoc and the Wrekin and developed indoor climbing
and kayak skills. The year will culminate in a two-day
overnight expedition for all, possibly involving canoe and
walking journeys.
Our aim with BASE is to impel pupils into mixing, to
open their eyes to the fun that can be had in well-planned
adventure pursuits, and to encourage them to continue
this later on in their school career. Such activities may not
be for all, but we believe all should have the chance to
experience these things for themselves. BASE also includes a
volunteering element, as well as a chance to taste Combined
Cadet Force activities, so on entering the Fourth Form, pupils
are better prepared to choose their next year of activity.
Any decent adventure programme starts with lots of low-level
introductory experiences, designed to be fun and to kindle
interest. In their second year at the School and beyond,
Salopians can begin to specialise, the key Thursday options
being Adventure Society, Volunteering and CCF. Once pupils
enter the Fifth and Sixth Forms, the pyramid narrows and
more specialist experiences are available. The Adventure
Society will provide higher level expeditions to older pupils,
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award silver and gold expeditions will
take place, and CCF cadets will take on leadership roles as
well as being eligible for a host of MOD-sponsored courses
and expeditions. Our CCF programme has produced glider
pilots and RYA-qualified dinghy instructors, and at Fifth and
Our third area of effort has been in the development of our
volunteering programme. Again, our aim here is to foster
a culture of awareness, but also to identify how outreach
activities can be treated rather like work experience, in order
to encourage working with others, the chance to experience
contact with charities, Community Interest Companies, public
sector organisations and so on. All this, we hope, will mature
the individual, increase employability, create better citizens,
improve emotional intelligence and perhaps even better life
partners (though I feel myself getting carried away here!).
Staff member Naomi Pritchard has taken on the leadership of
volunteering and is working hard at the task of developing
contacts. Naturally, these have been challenging times
for the traditional visiting of care homes. However, with
the guidance of Director of Community Outreach and
Partnership Stuart Cowper, some real ingenuity has been
shown in the breadth of the volunteering contacts. Around
100 pupils are now involved in projects such as medical
volunteering, mindfulness courses, Syrian refugee projects,
event management and environmental work, mainly with
the Outdoor Spaces team of Shropshire Council. A major
support partnership with Severndale Specialist Academy
should provide challenging placement opportunities for our
volunteers, who range from the Fourth to Sixth Form.
We undertake these projects not just because it is the right
thing to do, but because it develops our young people as
well. At a future interview, I am sure some of our candidates
will be asked to reflect on a time when they faced challenge,
helped others, or showed initiative. As well as giving them
something to talk about, I would hope that the initiatives
described here might just create happier, more rounded
individuals, and if perhaps a spark is lit then I would be
satisfied that we have made our mark.
Lt Col Nick David
Director of Activities