National Sports Week Goes Splash-Tastic at Spot On Wake!
To mark National Sports Week, a group of Year 9 and 10 students from Solihull Academy swapped the classroom for the great outdoors on an unforgettable adventure to Spot On Wake in Henley-in-Arden. And what a day it was! With the sun shining and the temperature soaring to a scorching 28°C, there couldn’t have been a better time to get in (and out of) the water.
The trip was part of our wider commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, pushing personal boundaries, and offering new experiences — and it did not disappoint.
Jungle fun
Ten of our students enjoyed two water-based activities: the exhilarating Aqua Jungle high ropes course and a lively paddle boarding session out on the lake. Most of the group had never visited a water park before, let alone tried paddle boarding, but that didn’t stop them from diving straight in — sometimes quite literally!
The Aqua Jungle proved a hit from the start. Perched above the cool, inviting lake, the inflatable high ropes course was the ultimate test of balance, strength, and nerve. As expected, a few slips (and some very stylish belly flops) were inevitable — but that only added to the fun. The sound of splashing water and laughter echoed across the park, with students showing incredible determination, courage, and teamwork to get across the course.
Row row row your boat
After a quick break and much-needed hydration, we moved on to paddle boarding. Despite this being a brand-new experience for every single one of our students, you'd never have guessed it...within five minutes, they were confidently paddling around the lake — some more focused on perfecting their technique, others more interested in crashing into staff and doing their best to knock us off our boards! A special mention here to Miss Perks, who not only survived a submarine-style dunking but managed a spectacular face plant that may (or may not) have been caught on camera. 😊
We couldn’t have been prouder of our students. Not only did they take on every challenge with enthusiasm and resilience, but they also represented Solihull Academy brilliantly throughout the day. They supported one another, stepped outside of their comfort zones, and made the most of a truly unique experience.
Their feedback said it all, with Eddie and Jaydon D summing up the mood perfectly:
“Best trip ever!”
As always, days like this wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated staff team, who gave up their time and got stuck in (sometimes quite literally) to make the experience so special for our students. In addition to Miss perks we had our human sat-nav Mr Cresswell, who got us there in one piece (we weren’t lost…honest). Miss Neat, our official photographer and Mr Riley, who...err…was very diligent with his moisturiser!
Head of PE Miss Hossack sums it up brilliantly:
“A huge thank you to everyone who made the trip happen. These are the experiences that create memories, boost confidence, and help our young people grow — and judging by the smiles, splashes, and laughter, this one ticked every box.”
Here’s to many more adventures ahead!