The Kielder Challenge

For the first time in 2005, Fosse Way School took part in the Kielder Challenge (follow the link to their homepage)

The Kielder Challenge is a national event, an outdoor event for youngsters with and without disabilities. Its aim is to build teamwork skills and leadership qualities through a series of action-adventure style activities. The activities are designed to bring out a variety of skills, create a feeling of camaraderie, improve self-esteem and foster greater understanding of others with different abilities.

The teams are made up of eight students, usually from school year groups 8-11, four of whom have disabilities. Together, they tackle a wide range of environmental challenges in a bid to become the Kielder Challenge champions.

(Taken from the HSBC website)

In the case of Fosse Way, our team was made up of 4 pupils from Fosse Way School and four from Norton Hill School.

The Kielder Challenge Team from Fosse Way and Norton Hill

In previous years, the tasks have included building a communication mast using only ropes and manoeuvring fake birds' eggs into the correct 'nests' by controlling and balancing a large wooden maze suspended from trees.

Naturally this demands a great deal of communication, co-ordination, trust and understanding between team members.

There are over 20 events held throughout the UK between March and April with over 120 teams competing for a place in the grand final held in Kielder Forest, Northumberland in September.

Fosse Way School and Norton Hill qualified in their regional heat  - not just qualified but were in the top 12 in the country in the points in her heat - and then went to the finals where they were one of 238 teams! For some of the pupils it was the first time they had ever been away from home so it was quite an experience and the tasks required a great deal of ingenuity. They spent the weekend completing six challenges that tested teamwork,physical and mental agility, problem solving and communication. There was a bit of time for them to enjoy playing table tennis, play pool, footbal or basket ball, and they finished off the weekend with a trip to Newcastle Utd FC (while they were waiting for the plane) and had lunch in the Alan Shearer Bar.

One of the Fosse Way And Norton Hill Team in deep contemplation in the middle of the Kielder forest!

Not only did they place third out of an amazing 238 finalist teams from all over the country but they were also awarded the Fieldfare Cup Final Shield, the Unity Shield, which as the home site describes;

"The Fieldfare Plate Final and Cup Final Shields were awarded to the teams who were the most unified, friendly, and integrated throughout the weekend."

Well done to the Kielder Challenge Team!