Outdoor days offered to partner schools after successful trial scheme

Think of school and you might conjure up a picture of pupils sitting in a stuffy classroom or science lab.

But studies have shown learning in the great outdoors can provide positive physical and mental health benefits to students.

That’s the reason behind a series of 10 Outdoor Education Days being offered to members of the Wellington College Student Alliance.

They are taking place after three successful pilot days held earlier this year, which aimed to help students for whom regular school attendance had become a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In each case, teachers reported increased attendance and better engagement in the classroom for many of those students.

Students from Tomlinscote School on the low ropes course

Alban Daniel, who brought students from Tomlinscote School in Frimley, Surrey, to the first pilot day in March and another in May, said: “The impact on attendance at school and attendance at lessons was immediately noticeable.

“Students who we really suspected struggled in terms of interactions with others, were worried about working with others, or being seen to make mistakes, found it good to be in a different context away from their peers.

“Some from year 7, 8 and 9, who we knew were not friends before that, had the opportunity to work as a team and by the end of the day it felt like it was happening naturally.

“Simon built the level of challenge through the day so that even those students who didn’t feel they could meet that level of expectation were able to do so.

“We will be signing up again.”

Students from Tomlinscote School on the low ropes course

Student feedback was also good. One said: “I learned that patience is key when working with other people and you have to build up the courage to speak up and share your ideas.”

Another said: “I learnt that if we all make a plan and think it through and work together then it makes the job easier.”

Collingwood School also enjoyed a pilot day in April, with one of their students saying afterwards: “It was a really good day and it made me feel more confident and believe more in myself.”

Another added: “It has made me realise it is okay to get things wrong and contribute in class.”

The first school to take up the offer for this year will be The Winston Churchill School from Woking, Surrey, who will visit in December, followed by two schools visiting in early Spring.

But there are seven more dates still to be filled.

Outdoor education professional Simon Waller said: “It is always wonderful to welcome students from our partner schools to Wellington and help them develop their skills through a personalised, fun and engaging day.

“Whatever the weather, we know they will have a great day.”

The Wellington College Student Alliance is a formal independent/state school partnership funded by Wellington College, which this year comprises 26 schools.

Its key aim is to raise aspirations among able pupils within partnership schools, raise their awareness of their own potential, support ambitious university applications and the take-up of enrichment opportunities.

There is a nominal membership fee which allows the partner schools to take advantage of the full programme.