Adventure EducationSchool Life

Adventure Education

Learning is not restricted to the classroom, which is why we offer an extensive range of co-curricular activities designed to challenge, inspire and develop our pupils. Adventure Education was launched at Blue Coat in September 2021 and has thrived ever since. Newly appointed Director of Adventure Education, Mr Stephen Lamacraft, has hit the ground running and has already built up an enviable programme of events, activities and expeditions.

In our Adventure Education programme, pupils enjoy time away from the classroom but learn valuable lessons in leadership, communication and resilience, as well as exploring the wide world in a variety of ways.

From paddle-boarding and sailing to mountain climbing and mountaineering, pupils are exposed to a diverse range of challenging and enjoyable activities, with the view to encourage students to graduate through the school, gaining valuable instructor qualifications and helping to guide our own younger pupils through their activities.

Beyond Adventure Education, there are more than 45 activities to choose from, including Young Enterprise, Public Speaking, Lego Robotics, Archery, Chess and Creative Writing. Most of these take place within the School timetable, in a weekly Activities session, although involvement in some of the larger national initiatives such as the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) require a slightly larger time commitment.

Joining the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) can be a wonderful way for our older pupils (those in Year 9 or above) to develop their character, confidence and leadership abilities. The CCF is a voluntary youth organisation set in schools and colleges; joining the CCF can be a wonderful way for our pupils to develop, through their exposure to challenges (fortitude, rigour, robustness, initiative and leadership). The CCF also promotes teamwork, self-discipline, determination, coordination and courage.
 
The CCF contingent is split into three service sections: the Royal Navy (RN), the Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF). While all of them teach new skills, develop discipline and encourage teamwork, each section does that through different activities relevant to the particular service. Cadets will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities ranging from sailing at Dinton Pastures as part of the RN Section, live firing with the L98A2 5.56mm rifle on the range with the Army Section, to flying at RAF Benson with the RAF Section. One of the highlights of the CCF year is the Remembrance Day parade, when the whole contingent parade together to remember those of the School that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It is important that Blue Coat pupils understand their role in society and build an awareness of the importance of helping people less fortunate than themselves.

To that end, the School has strong links with the wider community and pupils have many opportunities to engage with the world beyond our gates, both in and outside of the weekly timetable.

Volunteering is a popular way to do this, particularly our programmes that enable pupils to go into local primary schools and help to teach subjects like Maths, English, Philosophy and languages, or to coach various sporting clubs.

We also have a Community Service programme, where pupils can volunteer in residential homes, assist in local charity shops, or join an environmental group undertaking projects in the local area.

The whole School is also involved in raising money for charity, and every year we host a number of fundraising events such as concerts, cake sales, sponsored events and non-uniform days. The pupils are responsible for choosing which external charities they would like to support, in addition to the regular gifts we offer to our partner school in Ghana. We usually raise an average of £15,000 each year for a wide variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a national programme of cultural and adventurous activities, the completion of which leads to an award. The DofE Award is a Charity that has been working with young people from all backgrounds for more than half a century. The DofE is the nationally and internationally recognised Award favoured by employers and universities alike. The DofE programme is very flexible, with pupils able to choose from a variety of activities designed to help them explore new places, develop new talents, thrive both physically and mentally and give their time to help others. It can be undertaken at different levels, and we offer the opportunity for Year 9 pupils and above the option of either starting the Bronze or Silver Award and Gold from Year 11 onwards.
 
The DofE programme is all about self-development. It is not about being first, but focuses on helping young people to improve existing skills or gain new talents, abilities or perspectives and being the best they can. To achieve an award, young people must show persistence, commitment and personal development. The DofE programme is both challenging and rewarding for pupils, offering many enjoyable opportunities to gain new experiences, skills and friends. It is also a great addition to a pupil’s CV.

Co-Curricular Gallery

Alex, Year 11 Historian.

My first impression of Reading Blue Coat was that I was attending a brilliant school with lots of sporting opportunities and great teachers - and it is all true I! have loved being here since my first day of Year 7. For the rest of my time here, I am looking forward to continuing to play in the sports teams and working hard at all of my subjects. My Hobbies are Cricket, Reading and Rowing and I am interested in Spanish and History. It's great that I can practice all of these within school along with all of my friends. My favourite subjects (I can't pick one!) are Languages and History. I love languages because they are incredibly useful and I love...

Old Blue Ben Freeman (2019)

Ben was at Blue Coat from Year 7, and took full advantage of everything that the School had to offer him. A 1st VIII rower, a member of the Navy section of the CCF, and a member of the chorus in the School's musical production, "Little Shop of Horrors", Ben was a public speaker, who came 17th in the Impromptu Speaking category at an international public speaking competition in Canada in October 2018. Ben is an accomplished artist who hopes to start a side business selling prints of his impressive wildlife paintings. One of Ben's Blue Coat highlights was the German trip to Berlin in Year 9 because, he says, "it was an incredible cultural experience and a lot of fun".  He...

Harry, Year 9

​I am thoroughly enjoying Reading Blue Coat. From the moment I walked into the Richard Aldworth Building for the first time, I knew I would love it.  Everyone is really nice and I have made lots of friends already and can always rely on anyone to help me if I am lost or confused. I really like my teachers, especially Mrs Dance. Assemblies are always great as everyone comes together to celebrate all that has happened this week or, on Thursdays, sing a hymn and listen to a bible reading then have time to reflect. My favourite subject at Blue Coat is science because we have done some very fun practicals with Bunsen burners and filter paper. RBC is by far the...

Old Blue Paddy (2019)

Former-Head Boy Paddy joined Blue Coat in Year 7, and took full advantage of everything that the School had to offer him. A member of the 1st rugby and football teams, Paddy also captained the cricket 2nd XI in his final term. He was a member of the CCF in Year 9, completed his Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze award, and sang in a number of School musical events, such as Rock and Pop and Swing into Summertime, either in the Chamber Choir, a band or as a soloist. Paddy also had lead roles in two Blue Coat musicals, 'Les Misérables' and 'Grease', and also played Moonface Martin in the 2018 production of 'Anything Goes'. His Blue Coat highlights were the rugby/football tour...

Old Blue Oliver Pink (2020)

Old Blue and Former Head Boy Oliver Pink joined Blue Coat in Year 9 and hit the ground running! In the October half-term of his first year, Oli climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London - and he finished Year 11 by travelling to Ghana with Blue Coat, to learn about Ghanaian culture, and to work on the refurbishment of a classroom building at the local school in Ankwanda village. "It was like a rollercoaster of emotions", Oli says of the experience. "It made me feel so lucky about everything I have in my life at home, but it was hard work. It was also so much fun, and has given me some of...
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