Year 5 & 6 Residential 2026

We are lucky enough to be able to take our Year 5 & 6 children for a week long residential at St George's House in Georgeham. Children experience a full week of outdoor and adventurous activities in various locations around the beautiful North Devon coastline. Please see below a blog of our 2026 trip. 

After travelling by coach to Georgeham, some of the staff from St Georges came out to meet us and we made our way to find our rooms and settle in. We were all very excited to choose a bed and unpack some home comforts. After meeting all of the staff, we were challenged to a Treasure Hunt around the grounds which helped us to get to know what we will be calling home for the next week. We ate our packed lunches and then split into groups for the afternoon activities. Half of the group went with Mr Day and Miss Britton to have a go at canoeing. Everyone got stuck in and enjoyed their afternoon out. The other half of the group stayed with Mrs Mitchell and Miss Perry and took part in archery and fencing. During archery we had a pizza challenge, aiming for different colours on the targets to create our own pizzas - trying not to hit the black circle as we didn't want a burnt pizza!! During fencing we learnt about key phrases such as "en garde" to take part in duels! We are enjoying some free time now before dinner, and hoping to be able to go on a night walk this evening to see some springtime farming in action! 

 What a beautiful sunny day we have had! Last night was a real treat as Farmer Andrew invited us into the lambing sheds. A few of us were lucky enough to see a brand new baby lamb enter the world!! All of us were treated to a tour of the lambing sheds and to meet new mums with their bouncy new additions! Some of us got a cuddle or were allowed to pet the new lambs and Andrew showed us how they are cared for, putting us to work filling water and hay baskets.

After a good sleep and a filling breakfast, we all set off for Baggy Point and split into groups to scramble down on the rocks. Everyone took part in various challenges and some of the children descended into a cave and out at the bottom! Mrs Mitchell took an unexpected dip (woops!) and we were all very glad to head back to the house for lunch after a challenging but rewarding morning!

Lunchtime was spent enjoying all the outdoor play spaces that St Georges House has to offer before the afternoon activities. Canoeing on the lake was up for Mrs Mitchell and Miss Perry's groups while Mr Day and Miss Britton stayed in Georgeham - exploring the village following clues about the heritage and agricultural history of this beautiful corner of North Devon and then heading back to the house to make a giant marble run down the staircase and over the pool table! Lessons in the importance of teamwork were learnt!!!! This evening we are looking forward to dinner and some free time with our friends to make the most of the pool table and the table football, before hot chocolates and an earlier bedtime to rest and recharge for another day. 

 We are half way through the week and have been treated to another beautiful blue sky day. The children filled up on another breakfast of toast, cereal and croissants before heading to the kitchen to make packed lunches for the day. Today we were staying together as a whole group so we made sure we had everything we needed and loaded the minibuses. We headed for Hillsford Bridge and after a snack, set off on foot and followed the trail down to Watersmeet. We saw the waterfall and the freshwater spring that comes out of the valley.

In no time we found ourselves in Lynmouth and enjoyed our packed lunches and some time in the play area by the sea. After that it was time to walk the steep zig-zag path up to Lynton - no Cliff Railway option for us today! As we crossed the bridges that cross the tracks we saw the maintenance taking place that will ensure the railway cars will be able to run well come the spring and summer and were greeted with plenty of friendly waves and encouragement! The views from the top of the path were phenomenal although not quite clear enough to see Wales.... (or whales). Enjoying being back on a flatter path, we took the coastal path around to the Valley of the Rocks. Some children scrambled up to the very top and enjoyed the views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. Our weary legs finally trekked down to the minibuses - while our spirits were lifted by the sight of the wild goats - and two babies that we affectionately named Tim and Tom.

Naps were had on the bus journey home before a hearty dinner and Mr Day's Big Quiz. Well done to the "Guess the Canoes" team for being the victors! An early bedtime was needed for all as we get ready for our last full day of activities tomorrow. 

This morning at St George's was a little quieter than earlier in the week as we all made the most of sleep! Breakfast pancakes were the perfect motivation for us to get up and get ready to see what today had in store. First up, the children that had not had a go at fencing or archery were able to do so, and the competitive spirit was strong! The group tried various challenges and there were a few bulls eyes to celebrate!!! The groups that had not been around the village on the trail or had a go at the marble run challenge were sent out to explore too. Mrs Mitchell's group enjoyed finding the Mounting Block and after a few clues from the adults were able to work out what this curious piece of Georgeham history was all about! 

This afternoon after lunch we all went out together to explore Lee Bay. The St George's staff were able to show us many of the hidden treasures that this little piece of the coast had to offer. We explored the rock pools and carefully lifted rocks; we found a cast of crabs all hiding under one particularly interesting rock. We also spotted different types of seaweed and anemones. Then it was time to explore the Smugglers Path and find a secret beach in the next cove. This beach was full of caves for us to explore and we were lucky enough to be guided through some of them! We had a go at skimming rocks, and building rock towers before heading back to the minibus as the tide began to come in. 

After dinner, our final evening was spent in the company of the St George's House staff who led us in some fun games to round off our week together. We smashed our "Numbers" record and completed our roll call in an amazing 17 seconds! We played some fun games together and talked about the centre ethos which comes from John 10:10: 

        I have come that you may have life -
life in all it's fullness.  

We have certainly felt that this week and have been so privileged to be invited to share a week in this amazing space and to have been so wonderfully looked after. Every one of us has been given a chance to grow and shine in a whole range of ways.  We are now ready to settle down for one final night together before heading home tomorrow with some very tired bodies but some very full hearts!