Students team up to perform daring ‘mountain rescue’

Students from three visiting schools learned new skills when they carried out a ‘mountain rescue’ at Wellington College

The 27 students from Collingwood, Tomlinscote and Winston Churchill schools spent a day in the woods learning techniques that would allow them to build a rope pulley system to lift an injured casualty out of a ravine.

It was their third visit to Wellington as part of the Boost project run by the Wellington College Student Alliance.

Outdoor Education expert Simon Waller said: “It was brilliant to see students returning for round three of the Boost programme.

“In this session students are challenged to take ownership of their own learning as they develop the skills to perform a technical mountain rescue. As well as learning how to set up a high line and hoisting system; students focus on developing their communication, team working, problem solving and other key skills.

“Under pressure these students performed excellently and have got many more skills to test out as they return to their schools.”

The pupils previously came to an Outdoor Education day on the ropes course, followed by a workshop run by ‘Orange Tie’ speaker Steve Beckles-Ebusua, who encouraged them to break through the barriers that stopped them from contributing in class or participating in other tasks.

The Boost programme was designed to promote attendance and reintegration to school post Covid, and to promote self-efficacy and positive communications in young people chosen by teachers who thought they would most benefit from a positive intervention of this kind.

This year Wellington College Student Alliance is offering 15 more Outdoor Education days to member schools.