OUTDOOR LEARNING

Lower School pupils take part in weekly Wild Horizons sessions led by dedicated, trained staff in our Woodland Learning Pavilion and surrounding meadow. At this stage, outdoor learning is joyful, purposeful and carefully structured. Sessions are designed to nurture curiosity while building early independence and confidence.

A typical Wild Horizons session may include:

• Woodland walks exploring seasonal change
• Bug hunting and habitat discovery
• Mud kitchen collaboration and imaginative play
• Simple supervised tool use
• Shelter building with natural materials
• Balance and climbing challenges
• Campfire circle storytelling
• Nature-inspired art and craft
• Planting, growing and harvesting
• Sensory exploration activities
• Cooperative team games

The Woodland Learning Pavilion provides a sheltered and secure base, featuring:

• A mud kitchen and practical work benches
• A supervised fire pit for storytelling and simple cooking
• Log circle seating for reflection
• Raised planting beds
• Nature investigation stations

Through these experiences, pupils develop:

• Fine and gross motor skills
• Early risk awareness
• Communication and teamwork
• Emotional regulation
• Curiosity and creativity
• Confidence through safe challenge

"For our youngest pupils, Wild Horizons is where independence begins to take root."

As pupils move into Middle School, their Wild Horizons journey deepens in complexity and responsibility.  Weekly sessions continue, building upon earlier foundations and introducing more advanced forest school and scouting-inspired activities.  Pupils may experience:

• Advanced shelter construction
• Orienteering and map-reading
• Basic bushcraft and safe tool use
• Fire lighting under close supervision
• Outdoor cooking and ration planning
• Environmental stewardship projects
• Pioneering structures
• Problem-solving and leadership challenges
• Expedition simulations
• Nature conservation work

These activities primarily take place in the Woodland Learning Pavilion and adjacent meadow, but increasingly extend beyond the school grounds.Outdoor learning at this stage is interwoven with a carefully planned programme of day visits and residential  experiences. Pupils may take part in:

• Local exploration days focused on navigation and environmental awareness
• Outdoor activity centres offering climbing, kayaking and high-ropes challenges
• Residential experiences that foster independence and teamwork
• Outward-bound style challenges that stretch physical and emotional resilience

Through these experiences, pupils learn to:

• Lead and follow responsibly
• Assess and manage risk intelligently
• Solve problems collaboratively
• Persevere through challenge
• Reflect on personal growth

The Wild Horizons journey at this stage strengthens readiness for greater independence in Upper School.

Our newly introduced Food Technology suite enhances and extends our outdoor learning provision across all age groups.  Every pupil has the opportunity to use this specialist facility.  Food Technology links directly with Wild Horizons in meaningful and practical ways:

• Produce grown in our outdoor planting areas can be prepared and cooked indoors
• Outdoor cooking skills are refined in a safe, purpose-built kitchen environment
• Pupils explore nutrition, sustainability and food provenance
• Seasonal produce becomes part of curriculum learning
• Practical skills are developed alongside environmental awareness

For younger pupils, this may involve harvesting simple ingredients and preparing basic dishes.

For older pupils, it extends to:

• Menu planning
• Nutritional analysis
• Sustainable sourcing
• Outdoor-to-indoor cooking progression
• Developing independence and life skills

This “field to fork” approach reinforces responsibility, self-sufficiency and real-world readiness.

"Outdoor learning does not end at the woodland edge — it continues in the kitchen, in science lessons and in everyday life."

In Upper School, outdoor learning becomes increasingly leadership-focused through our established Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.  Delivered by in-house qualified practitioners, pupils have the opportunity to undertake Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

Weekly Duke of Edinburgh sessions include:

• Expedition planning and route preparation
• Map-reading and navigation training
• Campcraft skills
• Equipment preparation
• Emergency procedures
• Leadership and team communication development

Trial expeditions often make use of our own Rack Close site in Salisbury Cathedral Close. Its secure and contained environment makes it ideally suited for:

• Navigation training
• Equipment familiarisation
• Confidence-building practice
• Gradual progression before qualifying expeditions

Pupils then progress to expeditions in the wider region.

Our proximity to the Jurassic Coast near Swanage provides exceptional coastal terrain for Bronze and Silver level challenges, offering varied topography, open landscapes and exposure to changing conditions.

For more advanced expeditions, pupils may venture further afield to areas such as Dartmoor or Exmoor — environments that demand advanced navigation, endurance, teamwork and resilience.

Through Duke of Edinburgh, pupils develop:

• Independence
• Leadership
• Self-discipline
• Perseverance
• Initiative
• Responsibility

"It is a programme that prepares pupils not only for examinations — but for adult life."