By Mrs Tarrant (Head of Years 7 and 8)

On Monday 28th April, Year 8 students from BGS and Bedford Prep came together for a special day of team-building activities designed to inspire collaboration, communication and connection. Organised by the experienced team at Wise Up, the event brought together students from both schools in a spirit of shared challenge and fun.

Our students made the short journey up to the Bedford School Prep site. As they arrived, they were welcomed warmly by staff and students, before being split into mixed groups of boys and girls - a key element in encouraging pupils to work with new faces and learn the importance of teamwork across familiar boundaries.

Throughout the day, the students tackled a variety of problem-solving and physical challenges that tested their logic, leadership and cooperation skills. One popular activity involved carefully using tubes to transport a small ball into a container without dropping it, a deceptively tricky task that required plenty of patience and precise coordination. Another crowd favourite saw students working their way across an “acid river” using only planks and wooden blocks, sparking creative thinking and group planning. In addition, a series of throwing challenges added a layer of energetic competition and skill development, as teams worked to hit targets and complete tasks under time pressure.

While the activities were great fun, they also carried a deeper purpose: to help students strengthen interpersonal skills, learn to trust one another, and build resilience. Teachers and facilitators observed with pride as students encouraged each other, celebrated team successes, and learned from the occasional misstep.

The collaboration between BGS and Bedford Prep School was a memorable part of the day. It provided pupils with a chance to connect outside of their usual peer groups, helping to build new friendships and strengthen the sense of unity within the wider Bedford community.