Activities Week 2026: The Full Rundown

Activities Week 2026 may have been our best yet! With five residential trips across Europe and plenty of exciting activities and trips here at the Academy, it was a week to remember!

In Norway, students hiked through the countryside to incredible waterfalls and even journeyed to an ice glacier on their second day. Hiking across the ice glacier was described as "the most unique experience I've ever had" by one of our students. They also got to experience high ropes through the Norwegian forests giving them a bird’s eye view of this beautiful country.

Students in Belgium attended a sombre wreath laying ceremony at The Menin Gate, and visited both the Tyne Cot and Langemark Cemetery to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers. They finished up their trip with a visit to the Wellington Quarry, the Thiepval Memorial and The Somme, before stopping off at a chocolate factory on their way home.

In Italy, students started the week in Milan with a trip to see the Castello Sforzesco before heading to Bologna, where they enjoyed a traditional Spaghetti Bolognese! The rest of the week saw trips to the Pagani Factory, Ferrari Museum, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, both the Gucci and Ducati Museum and the Duomo Cathedral.

Students in Spain had the watersports adventure of a lifetime, spending the week out on the water. Students noted the highlight was paddleboarding through the harbour. They also got to experience the Semi-Finals Spanish victory in the world cup, giving them a chance to join in the festivities of the competition.

In Newquay, students had an incredible time learning to surf and soaking up the beach life. They also got to join in the world cup festivities, watching the England game beachside.

For those who stayed closer to home, Activities Week was packed with excitement. Students raced their way to become Go Karting champions, faced their fears up in the trees at Tree Tops, tested their stealth at Airsoft, and even attempted a jailbreak challenge at Shepton Mallet Prison!

Back at the Academy, the fun didn’t stop. Students immersed themselves in a wide range of activities:

Bushcraft sessions brought survival skills to life
Journalism workshops developed storytelling talents
Dance, sports and chess challenged students physically and mentally
Creative minds shone in jewellery making
The skies were the limit in the aviation-themed Come Fly With Me
And so much more!

It’s been incredible to see our students step out of their comfort zones, try something new and make lifelong memories. We had an absolute blast and cannot wait for Activities Week 2027!