Research shows that healthier and happier young people have better outcomes at school and that education is an important determinant of future health.
Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) is of benefit for all pupils. Period.
There is clear evidence that these learning experiences should transcend the confines of a traditional classroom due to the tangible benefits.
LOtC enhances academic learning, promotes wellbeing and personal and social development. It also broadens perspectives, connects our young people with nature, and cultivates important skills for the future. It both leads and complements classroom learning by providing real-world experiences that inspire curiosity, ignite passion, and create lifelong learners.
At Lathallan School, LOtC is deeply embedded in the mindset of our staff, pupils and parents. It is not just about learning outside in the fresh air or outdoor education, it encompasses the valuable learning experiences that occur in any setting outside of the classroom across the whole curriculum.
“Learning outside the classroom inspires curiosity and ignites passion.”
That can be sketching for an art and design class in the walled garden, tending to the animals on the school farm, a literacy lesson in the woods, investigating rock pools on our beach, a day trip to a local museum or overnight stay in the mountains beneath the stars.
The LOtC Mark is the only national quality assurance scheme that supports and celebrates schools and educational settings that provide meaningful experiences beyond the classroom. This provides Lathallan with a useful framework and rigorous assessment to recognise what we are doing and develop new practices to ensure we are consistently the best that we can be at LOtC.
We started really honing in on our LOtC provision and looking at the LOtC Mark Direct pathway over ten years ago. It took time, and small steps, as it required our entire school community to engage with the process. We worked through the different levels from Silver to Gold, and gathered rich evidence for our progress tracker through departmental discussions, by reviewing our policies and procedures, surveying our school community, and building a bank of case studies.
“The clearer that the LOtC learning outcomes are, the greater the positive impact.”
This focused self evaluation has been invaluable for us. In our progress tracker for the Gold award, we proudly shared over 200 LOtC experiences that our pupils had been exposed to in the last two terms alone.
By embracing experiential and immersive learning opportunities, we prepare our students to become well-rounded individuals who are equipped to face the complexities of the world. As teachers, it is our responsibility to provide young people with an education that goes beyond textbooks and lectures, to create unforgettable learning experiences that last a lifetime.
Here are some tips to embed strategies for LOtC at your school:
Engage with the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom to consider your current provision and find out about their Learning Beyond pathways. From CLOtC membership to LOtC Mark Direct and Mentoring, they have a support programme to suit your current level of LOtC, time and resources available.
Be clear on your vision as you’ll need buy-in at all levels to integrate LOtC into your planning so that it occurs across all curriculum areas. Teaching doesn’t need to follow a rigid classroom format, a simple change like going outside can have tremendous benefits. The clearer that the LOtC learning outcomes are, the greater the positive impact both academically and in terms of wellbeing.
Consider how you support staff and teachers to build a LOtC culture from their initial induction and mentoring through to ongoing LOtC continued professional development.
Identify what support they need and audit their skills and experience. Encourage teachers to be creative in their planning and approach to curriculum development by asking themselves “Where is the best place for this learning to take place?”. Also, let your pupils take the lead as we find the engagement and learning opportunities are so much richer if students are planning their own unique learning .
The strategies mentioned above provide a starting point for schools to implement and integrate LOtC. By embedding LOtC, schools can provide an enhanced holistic learning experience equipping pupils with the skillset and mindset to prepare for the complexities of 21st century life.
Lathallan School, located in Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire, is the only all-through school in Scotland to have the Gold Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Mark.