Canford pupils make a difference with Whole Day Enterprises

Monday 14^th October was an action-packed day for Canford School pupils with Whole Day Enterprises replacing the usual timetable.  All pupils took part in a wide range of activities and community action projects to help make a difference to their own lives and to the lives of others.

Whole Day Enterprises is an important part of the Canford annual calendar, getting everyone out of the classroom and into the local community, helping others, gaining new skills and learning experiences. 

Many spent the day volunteering at local venues to provide support to the community. Primary schools benefitted from additional help carrying out practical tasks, providing classroom support and running sports and language clubs. One group ran a mini Model UN event for pupils at Castle Court and The Bourne Academy.  Pupils also volunteered at day centres, care homes, a special needs school, veterinary clinics, fair trade and charity shops. A special task force went to Upton Country Park to help the rangers. Others took part in music rehearsals for local care homes and running a drama group for children from a specialist SEND school in the Layard Theatre.

Others took part in more adventurous activities designed to test their own abilities and demonstrate the importance of teamwork and leadership. These activities took place in some beautiful areas surrounding the school, as pupils spent the day outside, making the most of local beaches, woods, parks and forests.

The range of different activities taking place on the day is vast and pupils could be found mountain biking at Moors Valley, climbing at Dancing Ledge, kayaking and paddleboarding in Poole Harbour and the Purbecks, learning expedition skills in the New Forest, learning survival skills in the woods in Milton Abbey, scuba diving at Canford Sports Centre, clay pigeon shooting in Pimperne, learning water sports at Sandbanks, hiking mountains in Wales and taking part in Navy team building exercises in Portsmouth.

140 CCF pupils in Fourth Form and Sixth Form deployed to the MOD Bovington Training area while the Navy section went to the virtual battle simulator in Southampton.

Shells (Year 9) stayed closer to home, at Canford making use of the empty classrooms for a range of co-curricular activities designed to help develop their teamwork and leadership skills.

Dr David Neill, Deputy Head Co-curricular, commented:

Canford’s core values are embodied in our Whole Day Enterprises which we run twice yearly and complement the weekly community action work all our senior pupils get involved with every Monday afternoon throughout the school year.  We are proud of our pupils who through the various activities supporting the community and developing their skills demonstrated courageous attitude, humble ambition, gracious leadership and purposeful engagement.  Grateful thanks to all the teaching and support staff who made this worthwhile event so successful for all involved.  Here’s looking forward to the next Whole Day Enterprise in 2025!

For more information about Canford’s work across the community and co-curricular opportunities please visit the website links below:

Community Links - Canford School

Outdoor Activities - Canford School