The Great Outdoors

Gordonstoun, the Moray boarding school which inspired the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, supports a call for at least one week of residential outdoor education to be compulsory in all Scottish schools.

A formal consultation opened on a Member’s Bill put forward by Liz Smith MSP which would place a requirement on all local authority and grant-aided schools to provide at least one week of residential outdoor education for all 12-16 year olds during their time at school.

The principles of the Bill already have widespread support from many stakeholder groups and, after the consultation period ends on July 22 2022, the Bill will start its legislative journey through the Scottish Parliament.

Principal of Gordonstoun, Lisa Kerr, said: “Gordonstoun was an early pioneer of outdoor education and it remains a core part of our uniquely broad curriculum.  We see every day that, by challenging young people, we build confidence and resilience – character traits which help them for life.

“Research conducted by Edinburgh University on the lifelong impact of out-of-classroom experiences at Gordonstoun found that it had an overwhelmingly positive influence on our former students and helped them in their careers.

“We are lucky in Scotland to have easy access to incredible countryside and these experiences need not be expensive.  Camping in the Scottish wilderness can teach young people more about teamwork in one week than they would learn in a whole year in the classroom.”