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Dartmouth Academy pupils visit BRNC
12 March 2018
Pupils from Dartmouth Academy have been rewarded for their positive behaviour for learning with a visit to Britannia Royal Naval College
The group of 20 pupils, who are currently in years seven to 11, spent the morning at the College finding out about the Royal Navy and taking part in some of the training.
They were introduced to the theory of ship's stability and took part in team-working and leadership training on BRNC's low ropes training facility. The activities were based on elements of the initial naval training course for Officer Cadets
Charlie Gordon, aged 12, said, "We've learnt about boats and how they float. Also we've learnt about the Royal Navy and what they do. We had to use team work to go across the wires on the low ropes.
"We went all around the course and if you fell off you had to start again. There were supposed to be sharks and crocodiles on the ground. It's been really, really fun."
We've learnt about boats and how they float. Also we've learnt about the Royal Navy and what they do. We had to use team work to go across the wires on the low ropes
The visit followed the recent signing of twinning agreement between BRNC and Dartmouth Academy aimed at strengthening ties. Under this agreement Officer Cadets from BRNC and pupils of the Academy will meet and interact in an educational, cultural and sporting environment, with the intention of improving the understanding of the Royal Navy, community relations and international culture.
Mike Canning, PE teacher, said, "As teachers we record a score after each lesson based on the pupils' attitude and behaviour. This group had the best scores and so as a reward they've come to the College. As an aside to that quite a few of our pupils live in houses just outside of the College. They've spent their whole lives growing up here and have never come on to this soil.
“For them it's a tremendous opportunity to see what's on the other side of the fence. Others have families that are in the Royal Navy. The idea is to get across to them all, the things the Navy does, to motivate and inspire them to do something different if they want to."
A group of Officer Cadets from BRNC have also spent time at Dartmouth Academy helping with odd jobs and teaching the pupils some Royal Navy basics such as knot tying, chart work and drill.