Cambian Whinfell School

02/07/2026

Some of our amazing young people have taken part in a social action project this year, through the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust in partnership with AQA. Our fabulous athlete mentor Charlotte supported us throughout the year to develop our resillience and team work skills, before we went into the community to help out at an amazing community project in Kendal.

To celebrate his success and his contribution to our local community, young people were invited to London to a prestigious celebration event, alongside lots of top atheletes from across the UK, followed by an amazing trip to SeaLife London!

We are so proud of our young people, who have not only developed their own interpersonal skills this year, but also made such a difference to our lovely town.

Well Done!

01/07/2026

This week some of our education staff took part in a brilliant session at Centre Parcs as part of the Teacher Encounter Programme - finding out about all the career paths available to our young people and the opportunities available to them. Did you know Centre Parcs is the 6th largest employer in the whole of Cumbria?

Take a look at what they got up to here

The amazing weather continues – and so does our week of exciting events! Yesterday we supported Center Parcs UK & Ireland in Penrith with a fantastic teacher encounter event, welcoming a number of teachers from all over the county, with representation from schools in Kendal, Workington, Keswick, B...

01/07/2026

Donation to St Mary's
On the 21st of May 2026 staff and a couple of pupils from Whinfell School went to St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston to take the money raised from the Kendal Christmas tree festival and Caretech Foundation 'Match It' Fund. They acted impeccably during the visit and enjoyed a drink in their cafe.

06/06/2026

As promised, here's its very own dedicated post to our Go Ape adventure during half term! 🌳🐒

Our young person and staff took to the trees for an action-packed day of zip lining, Tarzan swings, and high-rope challenges. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to step outside their comfort zones, face their fears, and show incredible resilience as they tackled new heights and obstacles.

When asked about their favourite part of the day, our young person said it was the Tarzan Swing, stepping off a platform and free-falling into a giant net below! It was definitely the challenge that made us the most nervous, but we all took a deep breath and gave it a go.

We're incredibly proud of the determination, courage, and teamwork shown throughout the day. The nerves were real, but we got it done in true Whinfell style! 💚

03/06/2026

We were very lucky to have Andy from Furness Building Societyvisit us as part of our Employer Encounter Programme. Our younger learners took part in a really interesting workshop about what a Building Society is and why it is important to save money. Many of us didn't know what a building society was, and thought maybe Andy built houses for a living!

We then found out that if we save our money in a building society, that we will be paid interest on our savings.

Our older learners workshop focussed on potential career paths with a building society, examining the roles of Mortgage Advisors and how they support people to buy their dream home. Learners thought about which of the essential skills they may need, such as speaking and listening, aiming high and teamwork. The Skills Builder Partnership

01/06/2026

🎉 Half Term Highlights & Happiness 🎉

Whinfell certainly knows how to do half term in style!

We kicked off an action-packed week with an exciting trip to GO Ape, followed by our very own I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! A separate post will be dedicated to this as there’s just too much fun to show in one post…

The fun didn't stop there. Throughout the week, our young people enjoyed a variety of activities and experiences, including family visits, home stays, meeting new family members, ice cream dates, go-karting adventures, picnics, cinema trips, chocolate factories and so much more. Every day brought new opportunities to create positive memories, build relationships and enjoy some well-deserved half term fun.

Our boys enthusiasm, humour and positive attitudes made every trip and event even more enjoyable. They were fantastic company and great sports all week long, making the activities even more enjoyable for everyone.

To round off an unforgettable half term, we headed to Blackpool Pleasure Beach for a day full of thrills, laughter and excitement. From rollercoasters to sweet treats, it was the perfect way to end a fantastic week together.

A huge thank you to all of our staff and young people for making this half term so special. The memories we've created will stay with us for a long time to come.

Today marked our first day back in education, and we're pleased to say it was a really positive one. Although there were a few slightly tired boys this morning, that's probably a sign that we packed as much fun as possible into the week... perhaps we overdid it just a little! 😊

Here's to many more adventures ahead!

19/05/2026

We had an amazing time celebrating World Book day with our annual Potato decorating competition! There were some fantastic entries and Paddy had a very difficult time choosing the overall winner!

We all enjoyed reading our books that were given as prizes as well.

What talented young people we have at Whinfell!

19/05/2026

Whinfell School have enjoyed taking part in an experience of the workplace, working in partnership with . Our young people took part in an interactive careers experience, finding out about all the opportunities available to them within the company. We also thought about how our Skillsbuilder essential skills would be needed in the work place. It really helped us think about getting prepared for adulthood and all the different pathways available to us.

Following on from some team building activities and careers guidance from Emma, young people had an amazing opportunity to prepare their own food and enjoy their lunch at the restaurant.

Thankyou very much to Emma and the team at McDonald's Kendal for this fantastic opportunity.

19/05/2026

We are really excited to become a Wild Passport! school. Wild Passport! is designed to provide children with regular opportunities to explore and engage with nature in a hands-on and experiential way. These programs often emphasize holistic development, encouraging children to learn through play, exploration, and direct experience with the natural world.
Here are some of the brilliant shelters our young people have been learning how to build. WILD Passport

19/05/2026

🎶Eurovision Night 2026 🌍

Moments like Saturday night really bring the home together. Young people and staff gathered in the lounge, bringing a truly international spirit to the lounge!

There was plenty of cheering, friendly rivalry, and a lot of laughs over the most eccentric performances.