Schools 2023 brochure

Learning Away Study

“84% of secondary students and 71% of KS2 pupils said that because of the residential, they get on better with the other pupils in their class.”

As we look back on a brilliant season, I am once again incredibly blessed to be running such a wonderful business. I am beyond proud of what our incredible staff team have achieved and delivered to each and every one of our customers this year.

The past few years have certainly been interesting and as such, we have changed and adapted the business accordingly. Dare I say it, things feel a lot more like ‘normal’ and it is really inspiring to see young people enjoying themselves with us again and having the full outdoor experience that we know brings so many benefits.

This time of year gives me a great opportunity to reflect on some of our successes and more moments to be proud about including: The Dorset School Games and Can Do Festival, phase 1 build complete at Buddens Activity Centre, reaching full capacity at Buddens with 300 students per week and our hugely successful Apprenticeship programme. An outstanding education provision for our sixth form students Looking ahead to next year, we do have some exciting plans for further development at our Buddens Activity Centre which will really enhance the experience of our young people staying there. We also look ahead with huge excitement to returning to France again next summer after a three-year absence.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks for your ongoing support and custom this past year and I look forward to seeing you again soon with us at Rockley. Pip Woods, MD

Mission

Our Vision

Benefits of a Great Residential

During a Rockley Adventure trip, students will develop knowledge, understanding, resilience, teamwork and a sense of pride in undertaking new challenges. Such opportunities as part of their education enhances their progress in learning and supports a range of positive social and learning outcomes.

Enhanced Relationships

Building relationships with peers and teachers and creating a strong sense of community.

Opportunity to face new challenges, and be successful outside of the classroom.

Recognising the link between a healthy lifestyle and a healthy mind to promote a positive attitude.

Communication

Encourage young people to think on their feet, work as a team and give clear instructions.

Experiencing Success Confidence & Engagement

The self belief to take on challenges, try new things and bounce back when things go wrong.

Independence

Instilling the belief that youngsters can achieve on their own.

Rockley Adventure offers a safe, secure and happy setting for young people to experience a residential trip away from home. We offer diverse learning experiences which empower young people to take on new challenges and succeed outside the classroom.

Standing on their own feet

Residential trips can help young people to develop independence and bond with their peers and teachers in informal settings. They provide a wonderful opportunity for children to begin their journey as independent people with lives outside their homes.

Our commitment to you and your pupils

• Engage and inspire young people

• Nurture young people so that they can realise their full potential

• Provide the opportunity for your pupils to improve their personal and social development

• Provide new and memorable experiences

• Experiences designed to support specific learning requirements

What’s included?

• Full-board accommodation

• Instruction by qualified instructors and use of all equipment

• Flexible adventure trips to suit the varied needs of your group - day, weekend or week-long trips

Learning Away Study

Our range of adventure trips can be designed to support all of your pupils’ educational requirements. Outside learning is more effective when integrated into your schools curriculum and ethos and when such learning is reinforced back in the classroom.

79% of secondary students indicated that the residential had made them realise that what they learn at school is important to them

Our UK Centres

We have three activity centres based in Dorset, each unique in terms of their location and offering, but all providing valuable challenging and fun experiences. So, whether you are looking for a truly outdoor camping trip with largely land-based activities at Buddens Activity Centre, a more water-based experience on beautiful Poole Harbour at our Rockley Point Centre or a day experience on the safety of the UK’s largest inland saltwater lake at our Poole Park Centre, we will have something for you!

“We’ve had a great week and the children have really enjoyed it and made so many good memories together. All staff have been very attentive and really focused on making sure our groups have a good stay.”

St Swithun Wells

Prices from just

Rockley Point is our flagship centre, founded in 1976. Based in beautiful Poole Harbour, Europe’s largest natural harbour, the centre uses some of the UK’s safest and most idyllic sailing waters and provides ample opportunity for young people to try new activities, immerse themselves in new experiences and embrace life on the water.

• The UK’s premier provider of watersports training with unrivalled levels of instructor expertise

• Dinghy sailing - students can gain RYA certificates according to ability

• Kayaking, windsurfing and multi-activity sessions

• Residential facilities as well as a beautiful sandy beach and beachside cafe

Buddens

Buddens Activity Centre lies in the heart of the historic and beautiful Isle of Purbeck and Jurassic Coast, boasting 96 acres of natural countryside, heathland, woodland and plantations. It is the perfect adventure playground - with so many outdoor activities to try, there is plenty of scope for young people to display leadership, teamwork, resilience and passion in a truly natural environment.

Why Buddens?

• Located in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck

• Boast 96 Acres of natural countryside to immerse your group in nature

• Huge range of challenging and fun land and water-based activities

• Lovely lake for canoeing, paddleboarding and raft building

• Tented villages housing bell tents just for your group (subject to group size)

• Well placed for day trips to local attractions including Corfe Castle, Brownsea Island and Dorset Adventure Waterpark

We are very excited to announce further developments to our Buddens Activity Centre in partnership with Dorset Scouts. These includes new toilet, shower and washing facilities and a new multi-functional dining and flexible space. Please go to page 24 for details.

“Complete satisfaction. You are a well oiled machine! Great food, great staff, great weather. The customers service is second to none and the welcome pack and the cheese/wine were lovely touches.” Maiden Erlegh School

“Honestly, this residential has been amazing. All of our children have achieved some amazing things. Facilities are great and the food is fantastic.”

All Saints Primary School

Poole Park Lake

Poole Park Lake is located on the shores of the UK’s largest inland saltwater lake. Within minutes of arriving, your group can be on the water. Poole Park offers the ideal environment for school-aged pupils to experience watersports either for the first time or for short taster sessions.

Why Poole Park Lake?

• Shallow and extremely safe activity area

• Best for introduction to watersports

• Short taster and multi-activity sessions in sailing,

windsurfing and kayaking

• Affordable for most pupils - making watersports even more accessible

• RYA certificated courses available

Days Out - UK

Our week long programmes include the chance to explore the local area and take part in both fun and educational activities away from our centres. Our UK centres are the ideal base to arouse your geographical and natural field interests - the Jurassic stretch of coastline with its 185 million years of geological history makes it a popular location for geography fieldwork. With Studland, Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door on our door step, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

We’ll be on hand to offer any help with additional resources or to arrange excursions. We have a choice of excursions from which you can tailor a day out to suit your group and budget.

• Jurassic Coast including Lulworth Cove, Chesil Beach,

• Corfe Castle and Brownsea Island

• Splashdown - Poole’s local waterflume park

• Dorset Adventure Park

• Tank Museum

• Bushcraft

• Go Ape

Corfe Castle

Dorset Adventure Park

Man O’War Beach & Durdle Door

Our French Centre Bombannes

Bombannes is our newest centre where we are partnering with UCPA to help run a whole range of exciting water and landbased activities. Situated one-hour northwest of Bordeaux and set amongst the fabulous pine trees of the Landes Forest, Bombannes has that special ‘Rockley’ feel, and we cannot wait for your pupils to enjoy a trip to France again.

Why Bombannes?

• Lac d’Hourtin is the largest natural lake in France and one of the great lakes of Médoc

• A fabulous variety of activitiesboth water and land-based

• Visually beautiful location

• Stunning sandy beaches stretching around the bayjust a short walk from camp

• Great local surfing beaches

• Ideal for a multi-activity programme

Multi Activity Programme

Sample France 7-Day Plan

Our week-long programmes include the chance to explore the local area and take part in activities away from our centres. We have a choice of excursions from which you can tailor a day out to suit your group and budget.

Serious about Safety

With over 46 years of experience in leading activity trips, we have an enviable reputation for our high safety standards, which are rigorously applied at all our centres throughout the UK and France.

• Our water activity areas are among the safest in the world

• ALL our instructors hold a valid First Aid certificate

• ALL our activity leaders are DBS checked

• EVERY student, teacher, staff and instructor MUST wear a buoyancy aid when on the water

• ALL our main safety boats carry a First Aid Kit

• NO ONE is allowed on the water without a safety boat in attendance

• EACH group of students is always in the charge of a fully trained staff member

• We have staff on duty 24 hours a day

• BEST for Instructor : Student Ratios

Outdoor Learning Days

Buddens Activity Centre offers excellent year-round team building and enrichment opportunities for your group, aimed at enhancing relationships and improving communication skills, as well as being fun!

Activities - Our team building inspired activities include: code breaker, nightline, crate stacking, jacobs ladder, orienteering, fire lighting and the Buddens Challenge.

With a flexible outdoor learning programme - full day, half day or 2-hour sessions, Buddens is the perfect location for primary and secondary schools to engage their young people in adventurous, character building and enjoyable activities. To be immersed in the outdoors, without the use of electronic devices and bonding with peers and teachers, has such a positive impact on the confidence, well-being and attainment of young people which is reflected in the classroom when they return.

“Highly satisfied- great range of activities and all instructors were brilliant. Very personalised service by all and good structure.”

Carrington School

Speak to our team about a bespoke teambuilding programme to suit your pupil’s educational requirements.

Adventures for Uniformed Groups

At Rockley we have created the ideal environment for uniformed groups to enjoy an experience away from home. A residential trip is an amazing opportunity to develop personal, interpersonal and leadership skills.

Our action-packed multi-activity trips offer a range of water and land based adventurous activities designed to inspire, motivate and challenge your group, all led by our highly skilled and passionate staff who will encourage a ‘have a go’ attitude. Why not combine an activity trip with a visit to Brownsea Island, the birthplace of scouting, or the wonderful Jurassic Coast World Heritage site.

We can help you work towards the following badges or with your unit meeting activities. Badges may include but are not limited to;

• Teamwork Challenge Award

• Water Activities Activity Badge

• Nights Away Staged Activity Badge

• Sailing Staged Activity Badge

• Water Activities Badge

• Elements of Different Interest Badges

• Duke of Edinburgh Awards

• Paddle Sports Badge

• RYA Sailing Qualifications

Inclusive packages or accommodation ONLY options are available. Please enquire for further details.

“As always the scouts had a great time! Feedback on sessions was good with positives on the day. The scouts improved and benefitted from this.”

Armstrong Scouts

The Best Kind of Outdoor Adventure

Staying with us

Residential activity trips provide a real opportunity for young people to gain experience of living away from home and the chance to develop key personal qualities such as self-reliance and increased independence.

The benefits:

• Helps youngsters develop a sense of adventure

• Builds resilience

• Gives young people the freedom to explore

• Boosts creativity and imagination

• Releases stress

• Promotes happiness

• Brings young people closer to nature

EatingAll our food is prepared onsite by our own catering staff. Ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, giving each child all the energy they need to enjoy their action-packed adventure. Our al fresco dining area makes a positive contribution to the dining experience. Meal times are an important social aspect of the trip. At Rockley we ensure there is adequate time available to eat their meal and chat about the activities and learning that the children have experienced during the day.

Sleeping

A trip with Rockley Adventure means getting the most out of outdoor living and camping. All your pupils are grouped in their accommodation according to their age and sex. Buddens Activity Centre located in Dorset offer tented villages, uniquely arranged for your own group. Our chalet-style tents and bell tents sleep, on average, six children. Each tent has lanterns and metal frame beds. As Group Leader, your tent will also have refreshments to welcome you on arrival.

At our UK centre, Rockley Point, your group’s accommodation will consist of consist of bunk rooms. Bunk accommodation sleeps six to eight pupils and has its own bathroom. Group Leaders may share rooms.

Travel

Depending on pricing, our trips can include executive coach travel to and from our centres and we will be happy to help with arrangements for travel to Rockley Point or Buddens.

• Door to door convenience

• No regional supplements

• Reclining seats and seatbelts

• Stereo / pa system and DVD

• Toilet

• Air conditioning

• Minimum of two drivers (1 for UK trips / 2 for French trips)

• Regular stops and driver changes

Customer Service Promise

While organising a school trip may seem like a difficult task, especially if it’s for the first time, at Rockley we try our very best to take all the stress out of the process. As well as being there for you, the Group Leader, we promise to provide your pupils the very best outdoor learning experience possible.

• Visit your school to talk through your trip with you, other teachers and school management

• Help you with your LEA and / or school proposal (and provide you with risk assessments)

• Launch your activity trip at a school assembly or pupil presentation

• Hold a parent’s evening or answer any questions in person

• Provide posters, flyers and promotional material to generate interest

• Provide you with 24-hour contact details

• Welcome you to our centres and catch up with you at regular intervals each day

Added Value

• No hidden extras

• Free places are offered at 1:10 ratio for staff to students

• Daily meeting with the Manager

• Welcome meeting with Centre Senior Team

Our School & Groups Team

The School and Groups Team are made up of a bunch of individuals with a wealth of experience and youthful energy. They are uncompromisingly passionate about watersports and the outdoors and are dedicated to exceeding your customer expectations.

Jack is Head of Sales and Marketing and has been part of the Rockley family for over ten years. A dedicated father of four girls, he is also the Chair of Governor at his daughter’s school. Not only keen to play an active role in his girls’ education, it also gives him great insight and experience of the education system.

Courteny is the latest member of the Rockley team. A former Rockley College student, she has a real passion for all things watersports and adventure, but her favourite thing do is to go on long walks and hike. Her biggest achievement has been the 10-hour climb up Mount Buffalo in Australia - the most challenging hike she has done to date!

spends some of her spare time open water swimming as a member of the East Dorset Sea Swimming Club, recently completing the 6.5km Round Brownsea Island swim. She is a qualified Dive Master and has swam with manta rays and whale sharks in Asia. She has also jumped out of a plane!

Ross discovered his love of sailing as a teenager and has since competed in many dinghy and yachting events all over the UK. He also has a keen interest in cars and will regularly have a different classic car to work on and showcase. On a weekend you will find him either on a boat or somewhere around cars!

that a trip with

Carefully Selected

All members of our team do everything they can to ensure you and your group have the best possible time with us. They have been chosen for their professionalism, enthusiasm, their passion for the outdoors and their ability to instil a sense of fun into all aspects of your trip; from teaching to our programme of evening activities.

Rockley, “The Rockley staff are genuinely brilliant.” Longfleet Primary School www.rockley.org/school-trips 01202 677272

At Our Staff

is the one

Highly Qualified

Sara, a former Primary School teacher, Sara

What the future holds..........

“We are committed to using local, sustainable materials which will complement and enhance nature rather than obstruct it, ensuring that we preserve the sense of open green space that makes this 96-acre centre so special.”

We are super excited to announce that along with Dorset County Scouts, we have been granted planning permission for a series of improvements to our Buddens Activity Centre based in the Purbecks. The 3-phase proposal includes the developments of facilities along with a flexible dining space which will blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

Phase 1

The Masterplan, developed in collaboration with DMW Architects, introduces a number of new facilities that will enhance the visitor and camping experience and has seen phase 1 - a new reception area and an extension of the existing WC and shower block, already complete.

Containing eight self-contained showers (including toilet and changing space) for use by teachers and group leaders, the extension also offers additional outside washing facilities. Constructed from lightweight, sustainable materials, the area has also been sympathetically landscaped.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Buddens Activity Centre Developments will see the building of a new dining and flexible space which will act as a hub for schools and groups. The building will be located in the southern corner of the main camping field, nestled under an adjacent woodland area and the structure will be barn-like in appearance and will blend, harmonise and enhance the beautiful natural setting. The space will house ancillary kitchen and storage accommodation to serve a large open-plan dining space for the children. Views back across the fields and adjacent woodland, giving the building a visual connection with the site.

The children loved their time at RockleyThe space is fantastic to play and explore and feels safe. The range of activities was varied and enjoyable.

Above all the staff are fantastic - friendly, knowledgeable, responded immediately to requests and went out of their way to always help. THANK YOU!

School

“While we are looking forward to growing as a company, we are hugely committed to pursuing a journey towards improvement which balances personal growth, sustainable growth and our desire to offer an exceptional customer experience for the young people who come on a school or group activity trip with us.”

Phase 3

Two brand new toilet and shower blocks to be situated in both Eastern and Western areas of the centre to provide more easily accessible facilities across the centre, campsites and activities alike.

Yvette Wigglesworth, Baydon Primary

All you need to know

TEACHER WEEKENDS

What specialist equipment is required?

An activity trip (unlike a ski trip) does not require much in the way of specialist equipment. We provide all the necessary equipment as well as approved buoyancy aids and, at Rockley Point, waterproofs! You usually only need to bring swimwear as well as old clothing and trainers you don’t mind getting wet. Nevertheless, activities can be enjoyed to the full if participants wear a rash vest and wetsuit shoes, which are widely available to purchase. A wetsuit might also be a useful purchase and these are also now widely available at a reasonable cost.

Do you have to be a strong swimmer?

You don’t have to be a strong swimmer, or even a swimmer at all, to enjoy our watersports activities although it helps to be water confident. You will need to inform us if any of your group are unable to swim 50 metres unaided. As mentioned above, we provide all persons with buoyancy aids and provided we are notified, we can cater for non-swimmers.

Are there any extra charges?

Our residential school group trips are fully inclusive of our activities as detailed in your group’s itinerary; all meals and drinks from arrival on, to departure from the centre, insurance and, for trips to our French centres, return travel. We do offer a number of extra additional activities and excursions to enhance your trip. These can be arranged and paid for in advance or on arrival and are subject to availability. No refunds will be given for extras booked and paid for but not used.

What about safety?

Our UK watersports centres are fully recognised by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) for the tuition of sailing, windsurfing and powerboating and are inspected annually. This means that our watersports activities are run in line with the guidelines laid down by our NGB, the Royal Yachting Association, and encompass staff qualifications and experience, instructor to participant ratios and our operational procedures. In addition, our UK centres are AALS (Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme) licensed and we also hold the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge.

We have also developed a comprehensive Safety Management System to monitor, record and implement safe operation of our centres and activities, which encompasses policies, risk assessments, emergency and operating procedures. See also our website for further information on our safety procedures and for downloads of documentation such as our risk assessments at www.rockley.org/schools/teachers.

Do the coaches have seatbelts?

All the UK coach company operators used on our inclusive French activity trips comply with UK, as well as EU law (French coaches comply with EU and French laws), and are fitted with seatbelts. It is the Group Leader’s responsibility to ensure that the seatbelts are worn.

Do we need passports?

A passport valid for six months beyond the length of stay is required in order to visit France and non-EU passport holders may require visas. Young people travelling as a group can travel under a Group Passport obtainable from the Passport Agency. Contact them for further information - www.gov.uk/collectivegroup-passports/how-to-apply. Lost, stolen or new passports will take a minimum of 2 weeks to replace.

Campsite and centre rules

We ask that all our groups comply with the rules set out by the campsites and ourselves. This helps ensure the enjoyment and safety of all our customers and other users of the campsites and facilities. These rules are to be found in our pupil behaviour charter and will be detailed in our Welcome Talk on arrival of your group.

Supervision

Rockley Adventure staff are resident at our centres and therefore provide supervision during the day and evening. Certain staff are nominated as contacts for Group Leaders and group members throughout the day and evening; we also have a member of staff on duty through the night. Group Leaders are required to nominate two of the adults from their group on a daily basis to be their group’s duty contact staff throughout the day, evening and night.

Security

Each of our centres are located on a private campsite with only one entrance/exit and is in a separate area of the campsite itself.

Lock Box

Our centres can store passports, EHIC cards and any cash float held by the Group Leader in the centre lock box. We are, however, unable to provide secure storage for pupils’ mobile phones, MP3 or ipod players etc which is why we strongly discourage the bringing of valuable belongings on the trip.

First Aid

Our centres are fully equipped with first aid boxes located in the Rockley offices on site. Our Instructors carry a First Aid kit and suitable communications. All our Instructors hold a valid First Aid certificate and attend a health and safety induction when joining us.

Currency & pocket money

We recommend that you carry a float of Euros/ Sterling for unforeseen circumstances. However, for safety reasons we suggest that you use cards where possible. Pupils should be advised to bring only a small amount of pocket money; up to €100 is normally sufficient for trips to our French centres and between £20 to £40 for residential trips to our UK centre.

Facilities

We try to be as accurate as possible with regards to the availability and opening times of the facilities available on the sites. However, due to circumstances beyond our control ie weather, time of year, local regulations or demand, some facilities may not be available - this will particularly be the case outside of high season (July and August) when the sites are quieter.

Insurance

The cost of our trips includes travel insurance cover for each member of your party (except anyone normally resident outside the UK). Your insurance is covered under a master policy specially arranged through Endsleigh Travel Insurance Limited. A summary of cover can be found below and on our website: www.rockley.org/school-trips/teachers for schools or www.rockley.org/group-trips/group-leader-hub for groups.

Tour Operator Failure Insurance

Your booking with us is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of Insurers. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Rockley Watersports Ltd and for whom transport and accommodation is provided. For further information see www.ipplondon.co.uk

If would like to truly experience the kind of residential adventures we offer young people at Rockley, then please enquire about our FREE Teacher Weekends.

What’s included

• Standard programme of activities

• Instruction & supervision

• Use of all necessary equipment

• RYA certificates for those on sailing courses

• Full board accommodation

• FREE places for Group Leaders & accompanying adults

• Daily manager meetings

• Travel insurance for groups departing from the UK

• All prices are fully inclusive

• Return coach travel (French trips - inclusive, UK - optional)

• Ferry fares & tolls, where applicable

other transport options are available on request

Concessionary places

FREE staff places on a ratio of 1:10 full paying students

What’s not included

• Meals on the journey • Sleeping bags & pillows

• Optional extra activities / excursions • RYA logbooks

• Group Passport or visas

• Insurance for groups travelling from outside the UK

Our Environmental Pledge

At Rockley we are very passionate about doing our bit to protect our environment and we are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint. Over the past few years we have taken small and big steps to change how we operate across all our centres. These have included:

• No single use plastics • Beach cleans

• Changing the way we run our sessions in order to reduce the use of our powerboats and therefore fuel

Pip Woods, MD

“We love the waters we use and we have a responsibility to protect them and encourage others to do the same.”