Intent

At Magdalen Court School our outdoor education programme enables young people to thrive and develop in a safe yet challenging environment. Our outdoor learning is embedded into the school curriculum and develops more than just outdoor skills - we focus on communication, teamwork and building self-esteem.

It is our aim to create a fully inclusive, safe and positive learning environment for our pupils. The benefit of outdoor learning is well known for improving young people's confidence, mental health and providing lifelong skills that can be used in other areas of learning. 

Implementation

The outdoor education scheme of work is structured to meet all learning needs and provides differentiation for all ages and abilities. There are focused themes for each term including first aid basics, survival, campcraft and navigation. School based certificates are presented to individuals which recognise achievement as their learning progresses. There is also opportunity to gain nationally recognised certificates in many of the outdoor activities we offer including water sports and first aid.
We have amazing venues that we use on a regular basis such as local woodland, rivers, coastal areas and Dartmoor National Park. All venues are within short distance of the school and give us a huge spectrum of adventurous activity options which every child can be involved with.

We deliver the following adventurous activities:

• Forest School Activities
• Survival Skills
• Outdoor Cooking
• Canoeing
• Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Rock Climbing
• Bouldering
• Wild Swimming
• Navigation Skills
• Moorland Walking
• Cycling
• Mountain Biking

As part of the outdoor education sessions, we run the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme which inspires young people from all walks of life, to explore who they are, grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to successfully navigate life 

We also run the John Muir Environmental Award for younger classes which encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment through a structured yet adaptable scheme, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration.

Impact

Outdoor Education provides each and every pupil at Magdalen Court School with lifelong skills and increased understanding of the outdoor world whilst nurturing positive personal qualities and building self-esteem. 

The focus is on pupils leaving school wanting to be physically active, maintaining a healthy interest in the environment and feeling confident they can take on new challenges.

We see our students flourish during their time at the school and the outdoor learning they receive is a huge part of this journey.