7 top schools for outdoor education

At least one half day a fortnight is spent on outdoor education – and the bespoke ‘adventure logbook’ is a prized possession of every pupil, enabling them to record achievements towards certification across 12 challenges including ghyll scrambling, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, wild swimming, climbing, caving and more. Helpfully, the school has its own water sports centre on Lake Windermere. ‘The adventure team take children out of their comfort zones and give them outdoor experiences beyond most schools’ capacity,’ says our reviewer. ‘It’s all about location, location, location and dedicated staff.’

Be sure to pack your children’s wellies as outdoors is as important as in here, with 86 acres of land for the children to enjoy – and enjoy it, they do. Pinewood is one of the country's leading outdoor prep schools, so besides the Astro and sports pitches you’d probably expect, there are scavenger woods, den building, woodland walks, a treetops adventure playground, outdoor classrooms (yes, plural), fairy garden, super sensory gardens, polytunnel and more. No wonder that this prep (one of the oldest in the country) won an award from the National Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

This rural prep school’s USP is a farm, smack bang in the middle of the site and fully integrated into school life. ‘Arrive early and you can muck out, bring the ponies in from the fields, collect eggs and feed the animals, all before 8am,’ says our reviewer. The whole prep school is buzzing during lambing, we heard. Each class has its own allotment plot, with home grown fresh produce often whipped up for lunch by the school chef, and children regularly show animals at the Three Counties, Devon and Staffordshire shows. Parents say they ‘can’t shut the children up on the way out of school’. ‘Mummy, a pig stood on my finger’ is arguably more exciting than the average timetable rundown.

As anyone who has watched The Crown will know, Gordonstoun has long been famed for its outdoor education (although the school says it was misrepresented). Our reviewer found it a wholly positive experience, with character development encouraged through challenging and adventurous opportunities both on the expansive campus and beyond in the surrounding Moray area. Academic lessons often take place outside, and every pupil picks one of nine services: fire brigade, coastguard, lifeguard, tech crew, first aid, community service, conservation, outdoor leadership or sports service.

This unique school for 15 to 18 year olds offers outdoor education as a core part of its curriculum and co-curricular offering. In fact, the college’s very mission is to provide a holistic education that includes academics, activities, personal and social development, service and outdoor education – with the latter mainly split into aquatic activities such as kayaking, surfing and lifeboat training, and land-based pursuits such as mountain walking, navigation, emergency first aid and climbing (Brecon Beacons are just a few miles inland).

‘This prep school is set in an idyllic 12 acres on the fringes of Farnham, where it boasts a treehouse classroom, vegetable garden and its own outdoor pursuits department (Three Peaks) with climbing wall, quad biking track and zip wires,’ says our reviewer. Parents told us they ‘instantly fall in love’ with Barfield and its ‘adventurous famous five vibe’ – also frequently mentioning its ‘warm and welcoming family atmosphere’. ‘Learning really is an adventure,’ as one put it.