Celebrating collaborative achievements at Outdoor Work topping out ceremony
The collective efforts of Bedales Outdoor Work students and staff were celebrated on 10 October at a topping out ceremony for a new timber framed extension to the school’s haybarn and lambing pens.
Students at Bedales Senior were involved in every part of the building process as part of the Outdoor Work Bedales Assessed Course (BAC) and the Sixth Form timber framing enrichment course.
The project saw them work with department staff – including Old Bedalian Gabriel Langlands, Keir Rowe and Jo Cole – to deconstruct and move an old turkey house before digging and pouring foundations, laying bricks, cutting over 100 timber joints, installing wattle and daub walls, designing and making stained-glass windows, forging signage, erecting fences, building gates and installing roofing.
At the topping out ceremony, guests tucked into culinary delights made by students under the guidance of the department’s Gaye Bartlett, including fresh root vegetable soup, Bedales sausages, fresh bread rolls, homemade ketchup, goats cheese tartlets, chocolate eclairs, shortbread and apple juice pressed from the school orchard’s apples.
Head of Outdoor Work Andrew Martin said: “Seeing the students and staff come together in the space they created made it clear how proud they were of their achievements. Generations of Bedalians will use this barn, over the years thousands of walkers will pass it on their way to the nearby Hangers and I’m confident many will comment on its beauty. A great day for Outdoor Work and all involved in this project – huge congratulations to you all.”
Bedales Outdoor Work | Bedales Assessed Courses | Sixth Form Enrichment Programme