Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 12

18 November 2004

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 11

18 November 2004

OfSTED inspectors Report on Outdoor Education Centres

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Stuart Nundy, ext. 5015 e-mail: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 The Hampshire Outdoor Service was very pleased to have contributed to a recent OfSTED report into the quality of teaching and learning in outdoor centres across the England and Wales.

1.2 When the enquiry into outdoor education was announced 12 months ago, Hampshire was pleased to be able to immediately volunteer Calshot Activities Centre as one of the 15 centres nationwide that would be visited and inspected in order to generate the evidence for the final report. We were confident that Calshot would represent the high levels of good practice that are a feature of all our outdoor centres.

2. Findings

2.1 The inspector's report states that "outdoor learning makes an important contribution to students' physical, personal and social development". The quality of teaching in outdoor centres was found to be good or better in 80% of sessions and Very Good in 32%. The quality of resources and facilities in outdoor centres is generally good in the majority of centres and very good in many. The inspectors state that "this is a key feature in the success of centres and students benefit significantly from the opportunity to learn in different settings using a wide range of specialist resources"

2.2 It was also noted that the quality of outdoor teaching was generally far better when carried out by specialist staff in outdoor centres than when carried out by school staff who were generally less experienced, confident and qualified. For many teachers, this is a critical consideration in their decision to use outdoor centres such as Calshot, and ensures that their students are instructed to the highest possible standards of safety and quality.

2.3 OfSTED noted that some teachers are still concerned about issues of health and safety, and that this can lead to some schools not permitting students to be involved in such outdoor work. The inspectors note that "this is not helped by those LEAs which diminish the role of the advisor for outdoor activities and reduce funding arrangements that inhibit the opportunity for students to be involved in outdoor work".

2.4 However, the report notes that of the few high profile outdoor accidents in the past ten years, none have involved an outdoor centre such as those involved in the report. In addition, a further government report has found no evidence that litigation and compensation claims are rising in the UK. The issue would seem to be one of perception rather than substance.

2.5 In the report none of the centres involved are singled out. However, in an earlier feedback report the inspector who visited Calshot commented on the high quality of equipment, facilities, teaching and management that he encountered during his inspection.

Recommendation

That Members welcome this highly positive report from Ofsted and submit the report to the Executive Member for Receation and Heritage with the following recommendation:

i. That the Executive Member should reaffirm the commitment of the Recreation and Heritage Department, in partnership with the Education Department, to the vision of the Hampshire Outdoor Service to provide high quality and safe outdoor learning to young people across Hampshire.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE LOCATION

Office for Standards in Education -

Inspection report into Outdoor Education Centres -- Mottisfont Court