Pinkery Residential
Heathfield’s Year 7 students are currently making their Annual Pilgrimage to Pinkery Outdoor Education Centre, Nr Simonsbath on Exmoor.
Over a 3-week period leading up to October half term, 8 tutor groups will spend 3 days at the Centre. Over 50 staff are also involved during this time.
It is an excellent opportunity early in Year 7 to help tutor groups bond and for new friendships to be made. The students also learn to work with their teachers away from the classroom. The isolated beauty of Exmoor offers a rich diversity of opportunities to help develop crucial team skills, to build self-esteem and self-confidence and for students to explore new experiences and feel challenged in new and exciting ways.
We track across The Chains to Chains Barrow and take in breathtaking views. Pinkery Pond is steeped in mystery and the peace and calm of this ancient landscape settles on the group. Students also try their hand at rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, archery and a demanding rope obstacle course.
The evenings are spent working collaboratively on a range of projects. There is no television, mobile phones or any other distraction!
It is an intense and short experience. Pinkery has become legendary and is one of the great traditions of the school. Many students will tell you that their time spent at Pinkery in Year 7 was one of the most memorable experiences they had in 5 years at Heathfield.
Over 300 tutor groups have been there and in October, Pinkery becomes an annexe of the school.
It is only possible because of a huge investment of time and energy, given willingly by a large number of staff, which is never taken for granted. It is a considerable logistical operation requiring much planning and organisation.
The experience encapsulates the philosophy and ethos of the school. May it long continue.
John Fletcher
Deputy Head
| Emergency contact arrangements |
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During school hours (8:30-4pm) please contact the school in the first instance - Tel (01823) 412396
Out of hours please contact the form tutor at Pinkery - Tel (01643) 831437
The phone at Pinkery may not be answered immediately because staff are working with students in and around the centre.
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Kit List
- A packed lunch for the first day
- Drinks container/flask
- Wellingtons/Walking boots
- Waterproof trousers
- Waterproof jacket
- Gloves
- Small rucksack for day use
- Warm hat/Sun hat
- Trainers
- 2 pairs of trousers
- Shorts
- 3 Complete changes of under-clothes
- 4 Pairs of socks
- 2 T-shirts
- 2 Warm sweaters/sweatshirts
- Pyjamas
- Slippers/indoor shoes
- Plastic bag for dirty clothing
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Torch
- 1 Cake
- Money - a small amount of money may be brought for when we visit Lynmouth
- Sun tan cream
- Pencil case - pen, pencil, rubber, coloured pencils
Mobile phones, radios, MP3s, CDs & jewellery should NOT be brought.
Please do not bring ANY food containing nuts as we have a number of students in the Year Group who are severely allergic to nuts
The Pinkery experience always proves to be a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. Please see below proposed programme details for your son’s/daughter’s residential at Pinkery. This is necessarily flexible depending on weather conditions. Various learning opportunities and experiences invariably occur which are not planned for.
Students should report to their tutor room as normal for registration at 9.00am.
| DAY 1 |
| 12.30pm |
Early lunch at school. |
| 1.00pm |
Leave school. |
| 2.45pm |
Arrive at Pinkery. Introductory talk by Head of Centre - safety regulations - settling in. |
| 3.30 to 5.00pm |
Walk to Pinkery Pond/Return to centre via the Chains. Tea and cakes. |
| 5.30 to 6.30pm |
Classroom work, e.g. diary, drawing, poem. |
| 6.30 to 7.00pm |
Free time. |
| 7.00pm |
Evening meal. |
| 8.30pm |
Evening Activities - team, group work etc, e.g. Black Bag Fashion Show (Night walk if possible). |
| DAY 2 |
| 8.00am |
Breakfast. |
| Morning Activities |
One group mountain biking. |
| One group orienteering. |
| One group initiative games / team building. |
| 1.00pm |
Lunch. |
| Afternoon Activities |
Walk from Watersmeet to Lynmouth. Shopping in Lynmouth. Lee Bay - Scavenger Hunt, beach sculpture if time permits, climbing. |
| 5.00pm |
Tea. |
| 5.30pm |
Tea. |
| 5.30pm |
Classroom work / Student Council Elections. |
| 7.00pm |
Evening meal. |
| 8.00pm |
Evening activities, e.g. Raft construction and Race. |
| DAY 3 |
| 8.00am |
Breakfast - Packing, cleaning and tidying centre. |
| 10.30 to 11.00am |
Depart by coach for school. |
| 12.00 to 12.30pm |
Arrive at Heathfield School. |
This programme is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
AFTERNOON ARRANGEMENTS
The returning group has the option to go home at lunchtime providing students can make the appropriate transport arrangements. We would encourage this option, and students should let their form tutors know if this is the case. Students remaining in school should attend Period 4 as normal.