Orienteering for Schools update

CHIG’s orienteering after-school clubs at two Redbridge secondary schools, Beal High School and Oaks Park High School, started in the Easter term.

As a reminder, the aims of the clubs are:

• To engage and attract new juniors to orienteering and CHIG

• To give student participants a “Track-to-Yellow” experience 

• Widen access to orienteering, aiming for a representative Redbridge demographic.

Clubs are running with 15-20 students at each session. Students are up and running completing orienteering courses in their school grounds and have been getting to grips with all the orienteering kit they will use or encounter at events; sessions have included familiarisation with orienteering maps, basic navigation using a compass, and line and score courses. See below for a few photos (with kind permission from schools and parents) from the sessions so far.

 The Summer term will see students head to Valentines Park in Redbridge to try out their orienteering skills in a less familiar setting, and then compete against each other, hopefully at Fairlop Waters, a bigger area to increase the level of challenge. Charlotte Moore, a specialist PE teacher with significant experience of setting up and running school orienteering clubs, is leading, with Saskia Johnston, PE teacher at Oaks Park High School, and Keith Bennett, Head of PE at Beal High School ably supporting. CHIG volunteers have supported each session and CHIG presented at assemblies introducing orienteering to c. 500 Y8 students at both schools.

It’s been super to see students starting to experience and enjoy orienteering in the mostly glorious spring weather to date. Massive thanks to both schools, students, Charlotte, Keith, Saskia, and CHIG volunteers for their excellent support and engagement so far! 

Other Redbridge secondary schools that might be interested in setting up a similar club over the school year 2025-26 should get in touch via email.