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Could you build a raft from just rope and an oil drum? Or solve a series of puzzles to open a padlocked box? These were just two of the activities tackled by students on a Wheeler Programme residential last week.
Lessons in politics, Mandarin, chemistry, biology and philosophy were also on the timetable, along with broadcasting on DukeBox radio, presentation skills, rifle shooting, chess and mountain biking.
Two groups of students were at Wellington College for an annual residential course.
Dan Freedman, author of the Jamie Johnson series of football novels, thrilled them with tales of how he interviewed greats including Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney during his years as a football reporter and gave a signed ball to the student who asked the best question during the session.
Dan said afterwards: “It was an absolute privilege to visit Wellington College to meet the Wheeler Students and help celebrate the joys of reading and writing with them. It was such a positive experience. I thought the session went really well and it was very impactful to see how many students wanted to ask a question! It was a boiling hot day in the middle of the heatwave, and yet the students were involved, attentive and engaged throughout. They were a great combination of enthusiastic, interactive as well as being very polite and listening well. They represented their schools and the Wheeler Programme fantastically throughout the day.
“We discussed the power of reading and writing – and how sport and stories allow us to make bonds and build friendships. We also talked about resilience and how real-life stories can be weaved into fiction. Plus we explored all the varied and incredible career opportunities that are available within football, even if you don’t make it as one of the twenty two players on the pitch.
“It was a pleasure to speak with the students and I hope the experience encourages the students to Go For Their Goals.”
During the residential, the Year 10 group also went to London to visit the headquarters of Charles Tyrwhitt as guests of the Wheeler Programme benefactor Nick Wheeler. They were able to meet staff from the merchandising, e-commerce, design and retail departments to learn about their roles. The Year 9 group went to the Mini plant in Oxford and to a Taylor Wimpey development in Ascot to learn about jobs in construction.
Head of the Wheeler Programme Lucy Allen said: “It was wonderful to welcome our Year 9 students for their first residential at Wellington College and to get to know them better. Some of them were quite nervous at the start but they soon settled in and made friends. Our Year 10 group also embraced all the challenges thrown at them. I think the high point for me was hearing them all singing on the bus on the way back from London.”
Established in 2017, the Wheeler Programme is a fully-funded educational programme for around 100 selected state school pupils.
Twenty-four students are selected in Year 9 and the college helps support them until their graduation from the programme at the end of Year 13.
They start the programme with a residential course at Wellington, where they experience life in a boarding school, and then take part in three or four study days a year, tailored to their age.
