Exploring the great outdoors

During the summer break Stoke-on-Trent high school Birches Head Academy teamed up with The Bushcraft Company to hold a three day residential course. As part of the school’s summer learning programme, students from primary and secondary education, aged between nine and twelve, took part in a range of outdoor activities between July 21 and July 23, at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire. 

Alternating between lectures and fun activities, the course consisted of content linked to the National Curriculum, but being taught in a context outside the conventional classroom environment. Taken out of their comfort zones, students worked in groups of ten to fifteen, developing new skill sets in an outdoor environment. Over 100 students camped in shelters and bell tents on the castle grounds.

"Students don’t just visit different environments; they are immersed in them. Whether they are cooking river trout over an open fire, climbing to a mountain summit or sea kayaking, our outdoor adventures are as real as you can get," explained Alice Hicks - co-founder and sales and marketing director of The Bushcraft Company.

In an effort to build leadership and teamwork skills, attendees of the course were required to be resourceful whilst in the wilderness. Activities ranged from camp craft, shelter building and first aid to swimming, camouflage and fire-side night time games.

Birches Head Academy believes that activity like this supports the overall building of a child’s character and the promotion of general well being. This is something that Tristram Hunt, the shadow minister for education has recently commented on.

“These are very hard-edged skills young people need to gain,” explained Hunt. “The teaching of resilience and self-control and character is more and more important to develop, not only in terms of academic attainment but also in terms of the outcomes you need to improve your life chances, employability and all the rest of it.”


“These activities enabled students to really get to grips with life in the outdoors,” commented Karen Healey, headteacher of Birches Head Academy. “The great thing about working with The Bushcraft Company was that together, we found a way to encourage children to learn and interact in a unique environment.

“All of the food for the residential course was fresh and homemade by Bushcraft - the students were very well looked after! Throughout the week the sun was shining and it was the perfect opportunity for the students to learn about the wilderness.

“As we watched the children return to their parents, we could see a real sense of achievement and a new level of confidence in the great outdoors. Working with The Bushcraft Company is certainly something we will consider doing again next year,” she concluded.