Kingswood – Colomendy

What will students see and do?

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 130-acre site is of significant scientific interest, with wildlife and views of Moel Famau. Located 30 minutes from Chester and around an hour from Liverpool, Colomendy is perfect for schools looking for an immersive outdoor adventure.  

Set in a valley surrounded by scenic hills and woodland, Loggerheads Country Park is also opposite the activity centre, allowing plenty of exploration opportunities. 

On-site, there are three huge climbing and abseiling towers as well as both low- and high-rope activities, a 3G swing and a 200-metre giant zip wire. Students can also participate in caving, as there is a realistic system built right into the rock seam. 

For water lovers, there is a fantastic lake for canoeing, kayaking and raft building, and if you want to avoid a rain shower, a spacious sports hall can be utilised for some popular team games and fencing. 

Whilst staying at Colomendy, you should consider a hike through the AONB to reach the summit of Moel Famau (1818ft). A great challenge and one that you will remember for some time. 

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

Kingswood’s programmes are designed to specifically meet your needs and link back to the core curriculum, as well as developing environmental awareness and improving mental and physical wellbeing.

To enable you to deliver high-quality educational outcomes from your trip and effectively evaluate and evidence them in accordance with Ofsted Inspection Criteria, Kingswood has partnered with a range of innovative educational providers and sports associations, including the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Institute of Outdoor Learning, British Fencing, Aim4Sport, British Canoeing, and EtonX.

Teachers will learn how to take part in the delivery of educational outcomes during the visit and give you the answers to any questions your OEA or EVC may have before they even ask.

Character development is at the core of each Kingswood programme, with a focus on confidence, resilience and life skills, which are delivered through a carefully designed mix of challenge, play and reflection.

Kingswood has adopted a ‘challenge by choice’ philosophy, incorporating a balance of outdoor adventure experiences matched to the capabilities of the learners.

Activities are designed to be exciting but not too far removed from pupils’ everyday experiences. This is to provide relevance for home and school life, acting as a motivator for personal growth.

Self-reliance, communication skills and teamwork are developed by reflecting upon and sharing information about challenges that require effort and perseverance. This type of strength-based learning allows participants to learn as much from their unsuccessful activities as they do from their successes.

Subjects covered

Details of risk assessment

All aspects of Kingswood’s operation are subject to risk assessment by its own in-house team. These are individuals who are qualified and experienced in outdoor education, adventurous activity and health and safety.

The content of the risk assessments is subject to further review and scrutiny by external technical advisors, statutory regulators and inspectors from the British Activity Providers Association.

All of risk assessments are reviewed on an annual basis as a minimum but may be subject to additional review and updates following incidents, external inspections, feedback from user groups or changes to operational practices.

Please click here for Colomendy’s risk management arrangements.

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