Blog22 October 2025
We recently took 96 of our Sixth Form learners and 8 members of staff on a 3-day residential trip to Aberdovey in Wales, an unforgettable experience designed to challenge, inspire, and connect.
We even had our very own student lead team of content creators! The team was tasked with capturing the trip in their own voice!
Aberdyfi (Aberdovey) is a breathtaking and remote location at the southern edge of Snowdonia National Park, a world away from our college campuses in the busy cities of London and Manchester. Set between mountains and coastline, students had access to beaches, woodlands, and lakes.
Every part of the experience was rooted in our core values:
Curiosity, Rigour, Creativity, Collaboration, and Resilience.
From problem-solving in teams to pushing through personal challenges, these values were lived out every day.
One of the standout moments from the trip was the cold plunges at the lake, where the bravest students jumped in and fully submerged themselves in the freezing water!
Another favourite was the overnight stay in a log cabin on the second day, following a challenging hike across the Welsh hills.
My favourite moment was probably during the abseiling. Beforehand, two students were adamant that they weren’t going to do it. Both were scared of heights and very committed to having their feet on the ground. But in the end both of them conquered their fears and abseiled off a cliff that was at least 3 stories high. I was very proud of them!
This residential forms part of our wider progression strategy to support all learners to develop the belief that they can access, and flourish within, aspirational destinations.
We hope that this trip has contributed to setting our learners up for success.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media to see what our student content creators captured throughout the trip!