Case study: Developing skills in the great outdoors

Outdoor education at The Abbey is part of the whole school ethos and a key part of our offer in providing a first-class school experience for our students.

Our Outdoor Education Programme runs throughout a student’s time with us and progresses as they make their way from Junior School, through Senior School and Sixth Form to finally heading out into the wider world. 

We want our students to spend time outside and engage with the environment. This is more than rushing through a taster session or dashing back indoors if things become uncomfortable. Spending time relaxing, looking at the views and playing games in the evenings with friends is as important as daytime activities.

Residentials provide a brilliant opportunity for personal and social development. Sharing dormitories, eating different food, working with other students, taking the right kit and being in the right place at the right time all provide chances to take on more responsibility and develop flexibility, organisational skills and empathy.

Participating in the right kind of activities builds on this, with similar learning opportunities such as dealing with challenges, supporting each other and trying new things all thrown into the mix. 

“The instructors pitch the adventure level for our students and the students come away feeling like they’ve had a real adventure.”

Our Year 8 outdoor residential with Lost Earth Adventures is an important step in our outdoor education journey. The whole year group are expected to participate and it is a highlight of the school year which is talked about long after students move on from the year group. 

One of the key aims which Lost Earth Adventures helped to facilitate was building on the centre-based activity weeks which students attend in lower years.

Lost Earth Adventures take us out into the great outdoors. In this instance we explored the beautiful and wild Peak District.

We take our outdoor adventures and experiences into the real outdoor environment, so we used natural features such as crags, hills, forests, caves and gorges. Our students can experience the outdoor environment for real, not man-made structures or token activities.

The weather affects what we do and can change our activities. We can see and feel the effects the weather and the natural environment has on us. We need to have the right kit with us to cope with this. Our activities are full days out, so we need to be prepared. This all builds on previous trips and our students excel at making this step up and respond brilliantly to the challenge.

Our week with Lost Earth Adventures included a hike to find our hostel after a coach drop off on the first day, a climbing day, caving, watersports, gorge walking and an overnight camping experience. The instructors pitch the adventure level for our students and the students come away feeling like they’ve had a real adventure.

It’s fantastic to see our students push themselves, support each other, and learn and develop in their time on a residential. They return to school refreshed, maybe a little more mature and a little more confident in themselves, with an adventurous tale or two to tell.

What did the pupils think?

“I enjoyed the trip. It was a 10/10 experience. The teachers were great and supportive. My favourite activity was outdoor climbing because it was difficult and a challenge, but it was amazing when I made it up to the top.”

“I loved the amount of time I spent with friends and I made a lot of memories. I loved all the activities as they took me outside my comfort zone.”

“My favourite activity was caving. I had never done anything similar and the experience was incredible. I also overcame my fear of heights doing abseiling. I was extremely scared, but I ended up loving it! Overall, it was a great residential.”