Perthshire school Glenalmond makes full use of its natural advantages with its recently redesigned outdoor education programme
Many independent schools are located in spectacular settings, but few have quite as many natural assets around them as Glenalmond College. Located in the Perthshire countryside on a 300-acre campus, in an area often referred to as gateway to the Highlands, it has mountains, rivers and wild habitats galore around it – so heaven for adventures and exploration.
Learning outdoors has always been embedded in life at the school, but Glenalmond recently relaunched its Outdoor Education programme. The aim is to help children go way beyond the typical outdoor taster or experience. “They actually have the chance to be good at it – so the pastimes can develop expertise,” says Head of Outdoor Learning Tom Mason.
This is particularly valuable for young people keen to aim high with climbing – there are nine crags close by that offer brilliant experience in snow and ice. The school is one of only two in the country to offer the Mountain Training Skills Award. For rock climbers, there are some 12 venues within an hour of the campus. This has long been embedded in the school’s games programme, and with time and space to develop as an independent or competitive climber. Mountain biking is superb across the local area and canoeing or kayaking in the local lochs offers challenge and exhilaration aplenty.
The redesigned Outdoor Education programme has a strong element related to conservation – with some projects involving local charities. This gets children immersed in the local landscape and increases skills and understanding. It includes opportunities to take ‘ownership’ of specific areas to improve them and complete a John Muir Award (named for the Scottish-born naturalist and conservationist). This element is important to young people and also feeds into other elements at the school, such as the BTEC in Land Management. “Conservation has as much value as climbing a Munro with this programme,” says Tom Mason.
Children are introduced to this smorgasbord of options in Third Form by participating in Adventure Days and Sunday activities. As they try things out – camping, abseiling, climbing, orienteering – they discover strengths they didn’t know they had and can decide what to take further. This can lead on to the DofE programme – Tom Mason says that’s certainly a benchmark but far from the end point. “Some things on offer are beyond DofE – that’s really important in how we differentiate ourselves.”
Another differentiator is that many Glenalmond teaching staff are skilled and passionate about outdoor pursuits and lead the action. “The people instructing them are our teachers – the chemistry teacher, maths teacher, English teacher. The same relationships from the classroom go out into the outdoors – it’s not about bringing in external providers.” As well as developing real expertise, this helps children to see their tutors in an entirely different light. This then feeds back into the classroom. After all, if your chemistry teacher got you calmly and safely up that rock face, you’re probably going to listen carefully to his revision advice.
“Conservation has as much value as climbing a Munro with this programme,”
Then there is the spirit of camaraderie between ages and stages – this can happen more easily outdoors during group activities. “It’s really nice on a Sunday when we have mountain biking, where you have Sixth Formers riding with the First Form pupils. Those skills are so hard to teach in any other environment – you see that conversation that might not happen in any other context. They feel comfortable talking to each other.”
Tom Mason is clear on the really big reason outdoor learning matters – and it’s not about countering screen time or sedentary lives. “Most of our experiences are voluntary, so children are doing them not because they have to but because it’s fun. There’s an enjoyment in being outdoors, learning something new. There’s an enjoyment of being a little bit scared and of trying a new activity with friends.”
He also doesn’t dwell the traditional ‘worthy’ reasons of growing perseverance and resilience – he says there are numerous ways in which Glenalmond does all those things all the time. “We all get better and learn faster when we’re having fun. I want kids to see a focus on outdoor education not as a hardship, not as simply something that’s good for you,” he says.
He’s probably in a better position than most to know what this fun can do for young people over the long term. “I did these things in school, and I’ve not stopped doing them! I think fuelling that passion early is the way to fuel that lifelong love.”
Glenalmond College glenalmondcollege.co.uk
Further reading: Building confidence at St David’s College
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