Why Teach Duke of Edinburgh/Outdoor Learning?

Learning new skills, learning outdoors and learning in nature, alongside taking part in physical activity all contribute to improving wellbeing and confidence, as well as improving cultural capital and social skills. The Outdoor learning and Duke of Edinburgh curriculum allow students to explore aspects of humanities via trips and visits, use skills learned in the classroom such as map reading and coordinates, gather artefacts for subjects such as biology and humanities and learn about being citizens. As learners progress through the school they will be expected to develop their levels of self management – e.g. co-planning their trips and activity. 

Curriculum Intent

  • Develop cultural capital locally 
  • Improved wellbeing as a result of learning in the outdoor environment 
  • Learn about aspects of SMSC and RE in a practical way
  • Engage in a low level physical activity and understand about its importance  
  • Help others and understand about being part of the community
  • Learn in a different  and practical environment to encourage an enjoyment of learning and foster interest the subjects being learned across the curriculum

Curriculum Implementation

In lower school students will:

  • Take part in a weekly outdoor education session based on building resilience and physical tolerance to travel (bus/walk/school mini bus)
  • Visit local places of interest linked to their humanities curriculum (HT1,2,3)
  • Learn about volunteering and why it is important (HT4)
  • Visit places of worship linked to the RE curriculum (HT5)
  • Learn about work and perform in-school work experience (HT6)

In upper school students will:

  • Take part in a rotation of activities including careers visits, visits to places of interest outside of the local area and build an awareness of the wider North East England geography and cultural capital.
  • Take part in work experience or volunteering over a period of 6 weeks (one day per week)- this might include litter picking, beach cleaning, external work experience
  • Self assess against a skill, develop the skill and assess progress 
  • Develop the resilience to take part in an extended walk
  • Take part in an expedition 

Curriculum Impact

In lower school students will be able to;

  • State how they have helped another
  • List two places of worship they have visited and provide some basic information about them
  • Gather at least two artefacts related to other areas of their curriculum and photograph them
  • Improve their tolerance to travel in at least one travel mode 
  • State two key places of interest in their local area and provide basic information about one
  • Link learning from humanities to their outdoor learning (rocks, weather, erosion, museums and monuments)

In upper school;

  • Students will achieve a Duke of Edinburgh award at either Bronze or Silver.