Take part in a groundbreaking EEF-funded study measuring the impact of adventure learning on Year 9 pupils.
This is your school’s opportunity to contribute to vital research that could shape how society supports pupils at risk of disengagement. In 2026/27, 1,584 Year 9 pupils from 66 secondary schools across England will take part in a national trial to evaluate the power of adventure learning.
Register your interest
About the Research Trial
Who
1,584 pupils across 66 secondary schools across England (24 selected pupils per school) based on the following criteria:
- Be state-funded secondary schools in England with more than 24 Year 8 pupils in the academic year 25/26.
- Have not taken part in Outward Bound Trust residential activities in the past two academic years (24/25 and 25/26). Please note that schools taking part in Outward Bound Trust residentials during the academic year 26/27 with a year group other than Year 9 are still welcome to take part in this project.
- Have not taken part in any whole-school programmes run by Commando Joe’s in the past two school years (since the academic year 24/25).
Priority will be given to schools where more than 24% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
When
From May 2026 to October 2027, selected pupils will complete short questionnaires at key points. Intervention schools will attend a 5-day residential between November and May. Some staff and pupils will also be invited to take part in focus groups or interviews. Schools will be informed of their group in August 2026.
Where
We’ve got five residential centres across the UK, from the Welsh coast and the English Lake District to the Scottish Highlands. Each one is set in a wild, natural environment designed to help young people step away from the everyday and discover something new. Schools in the control group will take part in activities delivered at their own school, rather than attending a residential.
Structure and funding
The research trial is 83% funded by the EEF and The Outward Bound Trust. Schools will be randomly assigned into one of two groups. If selected to participate in the intervention groups, a 17% contribution will need to be paid by the school. If selected into the control group, schools will receive funding per pupil to put towards their development.
Group A – Outward Bound Adventure
Each pupil will take part in a five-day residential outdoor learning course at an Outward Bound centre.
The cost is £2,920 per school (just £122.66 per pupil), a saving of £7,644 compared to the usual price. A travel support bursary of up to £114 per pupil is available.
Group B – Control Group
Control group pupils will not attend a residential, but the school will receive £1,500 in funding to support pupil development and help the lead teacher complete the evaluation activities.
The details
Who Can Take Part?
This trial is open to secondary schools in England with pupils who meet the following profile:
- Be state-funded secondary schools in England with more than 24 Year 8 pupils in the academic year 25/26.
- Have not taken part in Outward Bound Trust residential activities in the past two academic years (24/25 and 25/26). Please note that schools taking part in Outward Bound Trust residentials during the academic year 26/27 with a year group other than Year 9 are still welcome to take part in this project.
- Have not taken part in any whole-school programmes run by Commando Joe’s in the past two school years (since the academic year 24/25).
- Have not used any Commando Joe’s programmes with the current Year 8 pupils.
Priority will be given to schools where more than 24% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
Pupils taking part must:
- Be in Year 8 in the academic year 25/26
- Be underperforming academically (Category 1) and at least one of the other criteria (Categories 2–4) described in the table below.
| Category | Indicators |
|---|---|
| Category 1: Academic underperformance | Working below expected progress in English or maths (not meeting age-related expectations on KS3 assessments, or bottom 30% of cohort in school tracking). |
| Category 2: Behavioural concerns | Be in the top 33% of the year group for behaviour concerns (e.g., frequently causing low level disruption, frequently removed from class due to poor behaviour, altercations at school involving other pupils, pupil’s whose behaviour has not improved in response to behaviour strategies or suspensions). |
| Category 3: Attendance/ engagement risk | 0-95% attendance (i.e., “at risk of persistent absence”) in the current school year (N.B., Case by case basis: Pupils with attendance < 90% can take part if the teacher thinks the pupil can engage) |
| Category 4: Wellbeing/ social-emotional needs | Teacher ratings of low confidence, resilience, or belonging (e.g., bottom third of cohort on pastoral survey data, if available). Identified by staff as struggling with peer relationships. |
| Eligibility for free school meals | We ask that you prioritise pupils eligible for free school meals and ensure that at least 9 of the 24 selected pupils are eligible. (This is not a selection criterion on its own, but a request to support sampling.) |
Financial support
This project is 83% funded by the EEF and Outward Bound Trust. Costs will vary depending on which group your school is randomly selected for.
- Schools in the intervention group will receive the Outward Bound programme at a heavily subsidised rate (schools will only be asked to support 17% of the usual programme delivery costs at £2,920 per school for 24 pupils). This is to recognise your efforts in participating in delivery and data collection activities.
- For intervention schools a travel support bursary of up to £114 per pupil is available.
- Schools in the control group will receive a £1,500 payment for their continuous participation in the trial evaluation activities. This will be paid in three instalments linked to completion of baseline and randomisation, endline, and follow-up data collection. This funding should be used for enrichment opportunities for the identified pupils (excluding adventure learning activities as defined in the FAQs).
What Will Taking Part Involve?
Schools that agree to take part will either be allocated to be an intervention school or a control school. Below, we explain what participation will involve for all schools, as well as what this will involve for intervention schools specifically. All schools will need to:
- Read and sign a Memorandum of Understanding confirming your commitment to taking part in the evaluation.
- Read and sign the school consent form.
- Select 24 pupils in currently in Year 8 (who will be in Year 9 for delivery in the academic year 26/27) using the pupil selection criteria. These include indicators such as academic underperformance and at least one additional risk factor (e.g., low attendance, behaviour concerns, or wellbeing challenges; full criteria and guidance are provided in the FAQs).
- Identify key school staff to lead and manage the project and accompany the pupils on the residential.
- Support evaluation activities, including:
- Administer short online pupil questionnaires in two, 20-minute sessions at three time points: May/June 2026, June 2027, and October 2027. Teachers/school staff will receive training to deliver these questionnaires.
- Re-administer a very short questionnaire (10 minutes) twice more between November 2026 and May 2027. Teachers/school staff will be trained to deliver these assessments.
- Provide school-level data, including pupil identifiers (name, date of birth, gender, UPN, and postcode) for matching with the National Pupil Database (NPD).
- Complete school survey on adventure learning.
- Some schools will be asked to support further evaluation activities by releasing staff for two focus groups online (30 minutes per session) and pupil interviews (30 – 45 minutes per pupil).
- Agree to not complete any additional adventure learning activities (as defined in the FAQs) with the pupils selected to take part in the trial until after they complete their GCSEs in 2029.
In addition to the above, schools in the intervention group will need to:
- Facilitate the Outward Bound programme, which will be provided to the school at a subsidised cost. Facilitation will include:
- Work with The Outward Bound Trust to organise the residential logistics, including parental consent, travel, and staffing for the 5-day residential.
- Complete a 5-day outdoor residential at an Outward Bound Centre at dates agreed but within the period Nov 26 – May 27.
- Releasing two teachers to attend the Adventure and Challenge 5-day outdoor residential.
Why Get Involved?
- Take part in a landmark, EEF-funded research project designed to improve pupil outcomes
- Unlock significant subsidies for high-impact outdoor learning experiences
- Strengthen your trust or school’s evidence-based approach to supporting disadvantaged pupils
- Contribute to nationally recognised research shaping future education policy and practice
When does recruitment end?
Recruitment for this research trial ends on Friday 22nd May, after which schools will be randomly allocated to their groups.
Meet the Partners
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
An independent charity dedicated to improving educational outcomes through evidence.
The Outward Bound Trust
A leading education charity using outdoor residentials to build resilience, confidence and teamwork.
University of York
Independent evaluators with expertise in large-scale school research.
Attend our webinar to find out more
What Happens Next?
- Register your interest below
- A member of our team will contact you to confirm eligibility and answer your questions
- We’ll confirm your place and provide full details
- The research trial begins in Autumn 2026. Limited dates available.
No Commitment Required
Registering your interest does not commit you to taking part. It simply lets us open the conversation and see if this opportunity fits your school.
Register your interestImportant information
