Adventure & Challenge Course Now On The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework – Recognised At Level 5
Date: 7 June 2011
The Outward Bound Trust in Scotland is an educational charity which promotes learning through outdoor adventure. Every year 2,000 young people in Scotland complete The Trust’s Adventure and Challenge programme which supports the objectives of the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Working with its education partners The Outward Bound Trust has engaged in a 9 month process to place the Adventure and Challenge programme onto the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) which further demonstrates the place of outdoor learning within the curriculum and a young person’s development.
For pupils who take part in the Adventure and Challenge programme this means they now have a recognised SCQF qualification which is comparable to other standard Scottish qualifications.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework promote lifelong learning in Scotland. One of its aims is to support learning providers and employers by placing an educational standard on different forms of learning and qualification which contribute to improving the skills of pupils and the current and future workforce. Julie Cavanagh, Manager at SCQF Partnership comments: “We were delighted to support The Outward Bound Trust in having their Adventure and Challenge programme credit rated onto the SCQF and feel that it is vitally important that the achievements of all young people are recognised.”
For The Outward Bound Trust its placement onto the SCQF will help further enforce the importance and relevance of the Adventure and Challenge Award to schools and to parents considering experiential learning as part of a young person’s preparation for life and learning out of the classroom environment. Martin Davidson, Scottish Director at The Outward Bound Trust comments: “The Outward Bound Trust is committed to ensuring that our programmes of learning enhance young people’s skills and their opportunities and we are delighted that one of our cornerstone courses has been recognised on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. I believe this will add real value for the young people we work with.”
Neil Hendry is the Deputy Head Teacher at St Machar Academy and is currently on secondment as Acting Quality Improvement Officer in the Education, Culture & Sport Department at Aberdeen City Council. He comments: "Over the last four years over 800 pupils from St Machar Academy have taken part in The Outward Bound Trust’s Adventure and Challenge course. The partnership with The Trust has helped young people build the four capacities in a challenging environment away from their school. The introduction of a SCQF credit rated award will add another dimension to this experience for all pupils at St Machar Academy."
North Lanarkshire Council has been working with The Outward Bound Trust since 1997. During its first year 1,000 S4 pupils attended courses at The Trust’s Loch Eil Centre. Since 1997 more than 15,000 students have attended a course from all 24 secondary schools and special schools within the council area. Since its inception, the focus of the programme has been on using outdoor learning to break the link between socio-economic deprivation and under achievement in young people, with the aim of increasing motivation, confidence levels and aspirations in young people. This has achieved great success and the results have had a far reaching impact generating positive ethos within the schooling community. Fourteen years on, the relevance of the programme remains as strong as ever.
Christine Pollock, Executive Director of Learning and Leisure Services in North Lanarkshire Council comments: “The introduction of the Adventure and Challenge Course onto the SCQF is an exciting and timely development for The Outward Bound Trust in Scotland, which we greatly welcome in North Lanarkshire. Curriculum for Excellence highlights the unique role that outdoor learning can play in preparing our young people for life, learning and work in the 21st century. With almost 1,000 of our S4 pupils participating on the Outward Bound® programme each year, this new bespoke outdoor learning qualification will complement the broad range of wider achievements and qualifications outwith the national qualifications being offered within our schools and in community settings.”
Ends
Background on The Outward Bound Trust in Scotland
The Outward Bound Trust in Scotland offers a unique outdoor learning provision and is therefore able to work with young people from a very diverse range of backgrounds and needs.
It has both a residential centre in the Highlands and a peripatetic unit in the central belt which caters for young people for whom a residential environment may not be suitable.
The Outward Bound Trust’s learning cycle follows a process of planning, experiential learning, reviewing and reflecting. These ensure that activities undertaken and the benefits learnt are transferred back into the classroom and have a lasting effect beyond this.
The Trust’s Adventure and Challenge Award allows young people real adventures in supportive environments, which leads to increased confidence and develops respect for themselves, others and the environment.
For further details regarding The Outward Bound Trust, its numerous courses and how it operates, please visit www.outwardbound.org.uk
®Outward Bound and the Compass Rose are each registered trademarks of The Outward Bound Trust.
About The SCQF
The SCQF Partnership became a charity registered in Scotland in March 2007. Its members include: Scotland's Colleges; Ministers of the Scottish Government; the Scottish Qualifications Authority; the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education; and Universities Scotland.
The Outward Bound Trust’s Press Contact: Sally Ryder Taylor, Ruse Communications Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mob: 07793815026
