Two groups of Year 11 Cambridge National in Sport Studies pupils from Risedale School attended kayaking instruction and skills sessions at the Tees Barrage International White Water Centre on the 10th & 11th October.

The activity mornings were planned to support the pupils with their coursework module on "Increasing Awareness of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities." For many pupils, this was their first time trying kayaking, an adventurous activity that took them outside their comfort zones. Despite this, they demonstrated great enthusiasm and resilience throughout the experience.

Head of PE at Risedale School, Mr Lawson, accompanied the pupils on their kayaking adventure, along with Careers Leader, Mrs Porritt, who also supported the pupils and took the superb photos!

"It was a fantastic experience for our pupils to get out on the water and learn new skills," Mr Lawson said. "The weather was perfect, and the pupils were a credit to the school. They were enthusiastic, engaged, supportive of one another, and displayed admirable aspiration and resilience. As a result of their hard work and dedication, all of the pupils successfully achieved the Paddle Start Award qualification. The pupils learned a variety of skills and put them into practice through games for understanding, which will support further completion of their coursework and their participation assessment."

The sessions were expertly led by qualified instructors from The Tees Barrage, who provided the pupils with valuable guidance and support.

Mr Lawson concluded by thanking the Tees Barrage instructors for their expertise and dedication. "We are incredibly grateful to the instructors for their patience and support," he said. "They made the kayaking experience enjoyable, fun and educational for our pupils."

#TeamRisedale 💙💜🧡❤️