Gordano School recently welcomed 71 primary school pupils as part of its Outreach Programme, delivering an engaging and energetic Legacy Year 3/4 ‘Give it a Try’ Arrows Archery and Cornhole Festival. The programme is designed to support a smooth and confident transition from primary to secondary education, giving younger students a taste of school life through fun, inclusive activities.

Across the afternoon, participants took part in hands-on workshops in Arrows Archery and Cornhole, embracing new challenges while developing confidence, teamwork, and resilience. Staff were particularly impressed by the enthusiasm, determination, and collaborative spirit shown by all involved, as pupils pushed themselves to achieve their personal bests.

Arrows Archery provided a safe and accessible introduction to the sport, using real bows and specially adapted arrows fitted with engineered suckers. Pupils tested their accuracy on fixed targets, explored shooting for distance, and combined their skills in the exciting Clout Challenge. This activity required archers to aim for an enlarged target area, with the ultimate goal of landing their arrow in the ‘bullseye’ bucket. Despite the added challenge of judging wind direction and adjusting trajectory, many participants successfully struck the target, with three standout archers achieving the impressive feat of landing their arrows directly in the bucket.

Cornhole, a traditional American game, offered a different kind of challenge. Pupils worked in small teams to throw corn bags toward a raised target, quickly discovering that the seemingly simple activity demanded focus, coordination, and teamwork. The session culminated in the ‘Fill the House’ challenge, where teams raced to land all eight bags in the target as quickly as possible. A team from Trinity Primary School delivered an outstanding performance, topping the leaderboard with a time of 1 minute and 23 seconds.

The festival not only introduced pupils to new sports but also fostered friendships, confidence, and a positive outlook toward their future transition to secondary school. Gordano School looks forward to continuing the Legacy Festivals Programme, providing more opportunities for young learners to engage, grow, and thrive.

With thanks to Trinity Primary School for providing the pictures.