More than 150 Year 9 pupils travelled to the Isle of Wight this July for the PES Ascent Group Summer Camp, taking part in a packed programme of adventurous activities and leadership opportunities.

From scaling climbing walls and tackling high ropes courses to cooking outdoors and camping overnight, Perse Year 9 pupils embraced a week of challenge and adventure at this year’s Perse Exploration Society (PES) Ascent Group Summer Camp on the Isle of Wight.

More than 150 pupils took part in the camp, supported by an enthusiastic team of Year 10 and Sixth Form student leaders. Throughout the week, they immersed themselves in a wide range of activities designed to build confidence, resilience and teamwork, including backwoods cooking and an off-site hike with overnight camping.

One of the highlights of the week was a community project to build a Rifle Range, which saw pupils working together on a shared goal.

That same spirit of teamwork carried through the rest of the camp. Each patrol group planned and prepared meals for guests, developing their confidence and independence as the week progressed. By the end of the trip, pupils were producing a series of impressive Cordon Bleu-style dishes that reflected the progress they had made.

Miss Hide, Ascent Group Coordinator, praised both pupils and student leaders for their contribution to the success of the camp: “The pupils demonstrated exceptional resilience and teamwork throughout the camp, and the student leaders impressed with their initiative and drive.”

The camp offered countless opportunities for pupils to push themselves, support one another and create lasting memories, making it another highly successful year for the PES Ascent Group Summer Camp.

Published 13 July 2026