During August 2001 the ‘Sandy’ Irvine Climbing Wall (SICW) was built. The wall was opened officially on 16 November 2001 by Julie Summers, the great niece of Sandy Irvine, who died on Mount Everest in 1924. After giving the 6th Form lecture at School, Julie Summers unveiled a portrait of Sandy Irvine, which can now be seen at the back of Bushell Hall. She then had lunch in the Sports Hall before opening the wall and taking a climb. The local press were there to follow the event. The wall received financial support from the Parents’ Association, Ladies’ Committee and the Old Birkonians. The Schools’ Combined Cadet Force (CCF) also contributed to the equipment needed to start using the wall.
One of the squash courts was used for the climbing wall. Three walls were converted into a range of climbing surfaces. This ranged from slab, vertical and overhanging walls. The height of the walls is 6 metres with a section of the vertical wall up to 7.2 metres.
Climbing has become an integral part of the games and PE programme as well as being used by the CCF.
A climbing club for the Junior, Middle and Senior School has been set up at
lunch times and has had lots of support. There has also been a Duke of Edinburgh
Climbing Club so students can fulfil their skills or physical recreation
sections of the award. The Prep School also use the wall in after School
activities. Outdoor trips are organised so pupils can experience climbing
outdoors
A number of members of staff at the School have undertaken an in-house training programme. They have been assessed so that they can take groups into the wall. There are also a number of other instructors who work at the wall. They have all got national climbing qualifications (this is at least the Single Pitch Award (SPA)).
The wall is run by
Brad Donelan, the School's commercial Manager. George Manley acts as the Off-site advisor. He is a freelance instructor and has the National Mountain Instructor Award. Together they have produced the In-house training and assessment scheme for staff based off guidelines from the Mountain Leader Training Board.
