Outdoor Education

School grounds development presents an opportunity to improve the quality of time spent outdoors both for pupils and for staff. There are many areas of research conducted by schools, universities, government agencies and charitable organisations, that support the positive benefits which inspiring school grounds can achieve, from reduction of behavioural problems such as violence in the playground, to increased attention and activity in the classroom.

'Learning outside the classroom is about raising achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance.'

Learning Outside the Classroom manifesto. 2006 DFES

'Outdoor Education is seen as a teaching approach which can enhance and integrate a broad range of core experiences across the whole curriculum - a wide variety of activities which connect learners with their environment, their community, their society and themselves. It engages and motivates learners through first hand experiences which demonstrate the relevance of knowledge, understanding and skills, and can help to underpin better attainment and achievement across the curriculum.'

Taking Learning Outdoors. 2007 Learning and Teaching Scotland.

'in the majority of the schools visited, there was a belief that learning outside the classroom could help overcome difficult behaviour rather than be an extra risk factor. The pupils and students themselves supported this view, saying that one of the attractions of learning outside the classroom was that everyone behaved well because they were motivated and active.'

Ofsted 2008

For further reading on Outdoor Education...

Learning Outside the Classroom
Every child matters
Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland)
Taking learning outdoors (Scotland)
Sustainable Schools
Oxfam's curriculum for Global Citizenship