Just to give readers an inside look at a bit of life at Valence.......

Despite the best of intentions I didn't manage to blog before I left for Cornwall on Saturday.  

It was the start of the Year 14 Leavers' Residential at Churchtown Farm Activity Centre, Lanlivery near Lostwithiel and Bodmin.  Several trains from Paddington to Bodmin Parkway had to be used to accommodate the 10 students who use wheelchairs but this all went pretty smoothly having been taken from Valence to Paddington by minibus. 

The train journeys were stunning passing through southern England, hillside white horses and castle ruins  and then reaching Exeter where the track takes a course right alongside the River Exe and then the sea at Dawlish and Teignmouth.

We were all at the Centre by late afternoon and everyone settled in really well.  Zena Belton, Head of Upper School entertained us as she put up her tent under instruction from student, John Pereira.  The instruction was infinitely superior to the erection of the tent!  I hadn't walked around too long before I tripped over a guy rope and went head over heels across the lawn much to the amusement of those looking on. 

Of course, being under canvass isn't every member of staff's forte and in the case of one of our staff not realising that it is best to open the zip up fully before entering.  By not doing so she got her hair caught in the tent zip at 12.30 a.m causing much commotion and an elaborate rescue!

Well, actually the week isn't about the marvellous staff who volunteered to go on the residential but the 11 student leavers who were showing off their learnt independence and life skills and who were determined to have one final great time away from School before embarking upon various college and university courses.

  There was boating on a lake on Sunday - unfortunately by this time the Cornish  drizzle was horizontal but nevertheless everyone had a really enjoyable experience. 

Then on Monday after a visit to the Churchtown farm and close encounters with a few hens we left Cornwall for the city of Plymouth.  Students got a good view of the Hoe and where Sir Francis Drake played bowls (three times actually as I misguided the convoy of buses along the Hoe roads). 

Then it was off to do some shopping - Drakes Circus - more independence but not great money management skills as the shops seemed to be doing pretty well from our group!  After this we went to the Barbican ('mind the harbour as there is no barrier'- a regular warning issued by staff much to the annoyance of a few of the young people!) for an excellent meal sitting outside. A few adventurous students had locally caught seafood whilst others stuck to more traditional pasta or a nice juicy Devon steak.  Of course, it all had to be appropriately washed down! 

Back to Lanlivery via the Torpoint ferry and a very late trip comes to an end.  Still the flagging staff were to be disappointed as many students got a second wind with bed being far away from their minds!

On Tuesday we took a lovely trip down to Looe and despite nail-biting moments as students sat adjacent to an unprotected harbour some 8 metres deep the crabbing began.  We were told the largest catch was 250 but sadly ours only reached a couple of dozen. There was great competition to see who could reel in the most crabs on the very smelly bait of chopped fish heads. 

After lunch on the Prom battling against a hoard of hungry gulls and pigeons we made our way through the quaint town and back to the buses. Jess Lewis, Personalised Care and Inclusion Leader and I left the group to take the Looe Valley train back to Liskeard and the London train for our return to Valence.   We slept!

My initial feelings are a mixture of emotions as we are seeing one group of students reach the end on many years at Valence whilst at the same time witnessing their increased independence, move into adulthood and their sheer guts and determination.  They went determined to have fun (much at my expense!) and are living that out. I am proud of them all and of the staff who have so ably enabled, taught, supported, challenged and encouraged them. 

Despite much ragging on both sides and some not very politically correct moments there was enormous evidence of mutual respect, a respect than runs deep in both students and staff.  This again is what Valence is about and should be a huge encouragement to children and young people and their parents if they are thinking about Valence as a possible school placement.  The residential sums up what Valence is about -  'you can do if you decide to!'

Finally, my lasting memories are of very loud music, hot conversation about whether or not Germany will win the Football World Cup (our three Red Cross volunteers from Germany are there!), students climbing the indoor climbing wall and some pretty appalling demonstrations of Pool especially by  the staff. 

I am still searching to find out who Saint Brevita is - there is a holy well in the grounds and Lanlivery church is dedicated to him/her - the only dedication to this saint in the world!