Who supports Outdoor Learning and why
SUPPORT FOR ADVENTURE
"I am happy to place on record that the government supports the role of
adventure as part of active education, especially in helping young people to
learn about assessing and managing risk, in offering them new and exciting
challenges, and in helping them to gain skills in leadership and team
working that will be of huge value in their progression to adulthood."
Tony Blair, Prime Minister, September
2001 in support of the English Outdoor Council's 'Campaign for Adventure'.
"We are convinced of the value of adventurous outdoor activities for
children and young people."
House of Commons Education Committee 1995.
SUPPORT FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING
"During
this inquiry, the Committee has become convinced of the value of education
outside the classroom in its broadest sense. Outdoor learning supports
academic achievement, for example through fieldwork projects, as well as the
development of ‘soft’ skills and social skills, particularly in hard to
reach children. It can take place on school trips, on visits in the local
community or in the school grounds. Yet outdoor education is in decline.
"
"The
Department should issue a ‘Manifesto for Outdoor Learning’, giving all
students a right to outdoor learning. This Manifesto should attract a
similar level of funding to the Music Manifesto (£30 million) in order to
deliver real change. In particular, schools in deprived circumstances should
be enabled to enhance their facilities, to offer professional development
programmes to their teachers and to fund off site visits.Education Outside the Classroom."
House of Commons Education and Skills
Committee
Education Outside the Classroom, Second Report of Session 2004–05
In 2010, the Select Committee reviewed progress. They said:
"This
Committee's predecessor, the Education and Skills Committee, published its
Report Education Outside the
Classroom in 2005. Since
then, a very strong body of evidence has been established to show the benefits
to pupils of learning outside the classroom. We
call on the Department to increase substantially the resources devoted to
learning outside the classroom."
House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Committee (2010) Transforming education outside the classroom
However, although the government agrees in
principle with the importance of learning outside the classroom, it also believes it should
be for schools to decide how to teach and what mediums to use to deliver that
teaching. It did not therefore accept
those recommendations of the Committee which call for
additional resources, government regulation, monitoring or guidance.
House of Commons Education Committee (2010) Transforming education outside the classroom: Resonses from the government and OFSTED to the sixthe report of the Children, Schools and Families Committee
SUPPORT FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION
"Outdoor activities both at school and on residential courses enable
pupils to enjoy challenging and unfamiliar experiences that test and develop
their physical, social and personal skills. They can be among the most
memorable experiences for pupils of their school-days. This report
[Outdoor education, Aspects of good practice] shows that
many schools recognise the many benefits of outdoor education but also that
we must work harder to ensure pupils in all schools do not miss out on these
opportunities."
David Bell, Her Majesty’s Chief
Inspector of Schools, September 2004
Education Secretary Ruth Kelly wants to increase the "quality and
quantity" of school trips to make them an essential part of every
child's education.
Kelly is set to unveil the government's Outdoor Education Manifesto
through which schools and outdoor pursuit centres will have to work
together to improve opportunities for pupils. The move follows a
critical report from a committee of MPs who blamed fear of
"compensation culture" for a decline in the number of trips
carried out by schools.
Ruth Kelly, Education Secretary, February
2005
SUPPORT FOR LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
"Children
need to be taught how to deal with risks in life. We will encourage learning
outside the classroom and provide protection for teachers worried about
school trips."
Conservative
Party Election Manifesto 2005
"To enhance our children's understanding of the environment we will
give every school student the opportunity to experience out-of-classroom
learning in the natural environment."
Labour Party
Election Manifesto 2005
"We
believe that out-of-classroom learning is a key part of a good education,
and will include the quality of out-of-classroom education in the criteria
on which schools are inspected."
Liberal
Democrat Election Manifesto 2005
"We believe every child and young person should experience the
world outside the classroom as an integral part of their learning and
development, complementing learning in the classroom. High quality education
outside the classroom can stimulate and inspire; foster independence; aid
personal and social development; and can often motivate reluctant learners.
These experiences should be stimulating, safely managed and enjoyable, and
contribute to meeting the needs of every child."
Department for Education and Skills, Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto.
"We agree with the Committee that there is a wealth of good practice
and many committed teachers, Heads and providers who value the benefits of
learning outside the classroom and who make sure pupils experience a range
of safe and stimulating activities. We believe these experiences should be
widely acknowledged as an essential part of children's education at all
stages."
Government response to the Second
Report from the Education and Skills Committee, Session 2004-05.
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL TRIPS AND AN ENRICHED
CURRICULUM
"My Lords, well planned and safely delivered school trips, with
learning later reinforced in the classroom, make a valuable contribution to
the education of pupils of all ages and abilities. The importance of an
enriched curriculum is set out in our Five Year Strategy for Children and
Learners. We believe that there are educational and personal benefits to be
gained from experiences as diverse as fieldwork, visiting farms, museums and
galleries, and outdoor activities."
Baroness Andrews, House of Lords
Friday 12th November 2004
SUPPORT FOR LEARNING TO MANAGE RISK
"The school curriculum should….enable pupils to respond positively to
opportunities, challenges and responsibilities, to manage risk and to cope
with change and adversity."
Department for Education and Skills &
QCA, The National Curriculum, "Aims for the School
Curriculum" 1999
"There is an essential need for adventure in the education of young
people. The human need for excitement and challenge can, if unfulfilled,
express itself in anti-social behaviour. Outdoor and adventurous activities
have the potential to satisfy the need for excitement and challenge in a
positive way."
Curriculum proposals, Secretary of State for Education and Science 1991.
Links to other websites for these (and
other) sources of support for Outdoor Learning
Second
Report from the Education and Skills Committee, Government response,
Session 2004-05.
Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto (2006) Department for Education
and Skills,
Epolitix.com
February 2005 report on Ruth Kelly's announcement
Tragedies
deflect us from our core aims Anthony Seldon, Times Educational
Supplement, 2006.
Next: Campaigns
for Outdoor Learning or: What
are the Benefits of OL?