WEY Valley pupils got a taste of life in the Royal Marines during recent PE lessons.

Year 7 students got the chance to find out if they’ve ‘got what it takes’ as they took part in team-building exercises organised by their PE teacher and run by the Royal Marines.

Teams of up to 10 students constructed a stretcher out of rope, on which one member of the team was then carried from one end of the sports hall to the other.

PE teacher, Marie Claridge felt the events emphasised the importance of teamwork in PE.

She said: “Teamwork plays a key role in PE and sport and it was great for the students to have the opportunity to experience a slightly different activity with the support of the Marines.”

The activity seemed to bring out the best in the pupils with teamwork and competitiveness both coming to the fore.

Miss Claridge said:“There was a great teamwork ethic amongst the groups and a definite competitive edge to their activities.”

As well as the teamwork benefits the activities brought, the pupils enjoyed the change from their usual PE lessons.

Year seven pupil, Bradly Stoddart, said: “We had a fantastic time with the Marines – lots of teams working together, taking part in carrying students on the stretcher they’d built.”

The Royal Marines didn’t just set up the session though with the Green Berets putting on a question and answer session for the students who had taken part at the end.

Pupils found the marines to be informative and were helpful throughout the activity.

Year seven pupil, Connor Henderson, said: “It was interesting to find out about their careers and teamwork in the Marines, and they were really helpful throughout the practical session.”

The session gave the Marines the chance to come along and use their vast experience to convey a positive message to the pupils.

Miss Claridge said: “The Marines are the UK’s elite fighting force, and they claim that no matter what the challenge, their combat, comms and intelligence professionals have the skills and training to operate wherever they’re needed.

“They put it down to their state of mind - acquired through the longest and toughest initial training programme of any NATO force, apparently - so we were confident they’d have positive lessons to share with our students.”