Parkhill School Outdoor Learning Department
MISSION STATEMENT/VISION
This handbook is designed as an informative document for a number of different audiences, from prospective pupils and parents, to teachers, head-teachers, outside agencies and partners including Milnbank Housing, News Printers, Forestry Scotland and Whitelee Ranger Service. It will provide these audiences with the information to guide them through the Outdoor Education Department of Parkhill Secondary School.
It is also designed to offer helpful information to colleagues as well as outlining their responsibilities. It is therefore important that colleagues within the department acquaint themselves with its contents (and adhere to them at all times).
We perceive ourselves as a team, each with her/his own contributions and strengths within this developing area of the curriculum. It is this sense of teamwork which should enable us to face the challenges ahead with confidence and enthusiasm giving our young people a rich and engaging learning journey.
Our vision for outdoor learning in Parkhill is that:
• all our young people are participating in a range of progressive and creative outdoor learning experiences which are clearly part of the curriculum
• that staff strive to provide regular, frequent, enjoyable and challenging opportunities for all our young people to learn outdoors throughout their time at Parkhill and beyond
• teachers and support staff embed outdoor learning in the curriculum so that learning in the outdoor environment becomes a reality for all our young people and partners.
The main aim of the department is to achieve the best for all of our young people and enable them to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens within the environmental areas around them.
We hope that pupils will enjoy their work in Outdoor education and that our curriculum offers a wide range of engaging learning activities.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives as we develop this departmental area within Parkhills' curriculum are directly linked to Curriculum for Excellence through outdoor learning. We strive to deliver a broad learning experience for our young people that encompasses various environmental organisations, local landmarks and parks that will develop learning opportunities throughout the curriculum. These should enable our young people to play an active role in the Scottish Governments’ objectives, thus creating more successful citizens within their communities through thinking and learning that is:
Smarter - Outdoor learning encourages learners to understand the interplay and relationship between curriculum areas. This awareness promotes lifelong learning and develops critical thinking skills.
Healthier -Learning outdoors can lead to lifelong recreation. Activities such as walking and cycling which are ideal for physical and emotional wellbeing contribute to a healthier Scotland. Scots have a reputation for adventure activities such as mountaineering and have achieved international sporting success in canoeing, sailing and skiing.
Safer and stronger -Outdoor learning activities span social divisions and can help build stronger communities. Some organisations have therapeutic programmes where outdoor learning plays a central role. Children and young people have opportunities to develop skills to assess and manage risk when making decisions.
Greener -Frequent and regular outdoor learning encourages children and young people to engage with the natural and built heritage. Scotland's countryside and urban areas provide ideal settings for children and young people to understand the global significance of sustainability issues and inform personal decisions that contribute towards a greener Scotland.
Wealthier and fairer -The outdoors provides excellent opportunities to use a wide range of skills and abilities not always visible in the classroom. Becoming aware of such skills can fundamentally change personal, peer and staff perceptions and lead to profound changes in life expectations and success.
[CFE through outdoor learning] Learning and Teaching Scotland 2010
CURRICULUM
BGE: The curriculum for Sl-3 follows the guidance of the Outdoor Education Advisory Panel, outdoor learning cards and will introduce our young people to a range of exciting outdoor activities. The programme of work should support learning across the curriculum promoting physically active and healthy lifestyles and develop in our young people positive attitudes towards self, others and the environment. The activities will engage our young people in safety education by encouraging them to manage risk sensibly and will contribute to raising achievement and attainment by providing high quality outdoor learning experiences.
Senior Phase: The curriculum for senior phase follows the guidance of the John Muir Trust Award. Within the department we believe outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime, by integrating learning and outdoor experiences, whether through activities in the immediate grounds eg: (school garden) or adventures further afield, provides relevance and depth to the curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors.
Learning outdoors can be enjoyable, creative, challenging and adventurous and helps our young people learn from enriching experiences and allows them to grow as confident and responsible citizens who value and appreciate the spectacular landscapes, natural heritage and culture of Scotland.
We would therefore like to offer the opportunity for our young people at Parkhill to experience this as an option within their timetable on an on-going basis.
As part of the option programme for next year we will focus on the John Muir Trust Award. The award is split into four parts these are as follows:
1 • Discover a wild place- on our doorstep or further afield
2 • Explore it
3 • Do something to Conserve it
4 • Share your experiences
Parkhill Secondary School 375 Cumbernauld Road, Glasgow, G31 3LP Phone: 0141 554 2765 Fax: 0141 554 0846 E-mail: headteacher@parkhill-sec.glasgow.sch.uk