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JOHNSON URGES MORE OUT-OF-CLASS LEARNING
28 November 2006
The Government is putting learning outside the classroom at the heart of the curriculum and young people’s personal development with a new £2.7million package for schools, Education and Skills Secretary Alan Johnson will announce today.
Launching the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto at the Natural History Museum, Mr Johnson will urge schools to use the wealth of educational opportunities on their doorsteps and further afield, to inspire and motivate every pupil. It is the first time a Government has committed itself to making learning outside the classroom an integral part of school life, with the Manifesto setting out specific measures to help schools widen access to high quality educational experiences for every young person. Mr Johnson said: “Learning outside the classroom should be at the heart of every school’s curriculum and ethos. “Children can gain valuable learning experiences from going on cultural visits overseas to teachers simply using their school grounds imaginatively. Educational visits and out-of-school teaching can bring learning to life by deepening young people’s understanding of the environment, history and culture and improving their personal development.”The Manifesto is a growing coalition of over 100 education providers and local authorities who support schools in providing a wide range of experiences ranging from lessons in school grounds to visits to museums, city farms, parks, field study centres, nature reserves, residential activity centres and places of worship. Those signed up so far include the RSPB, The Eden Project, The Natural History Museum, The National Trust, Outward Bound Trust, Youth Hostel Association and the Arts Council. The measures announced today include:• Creating an independent Council for Learning Outside the Classroom to act as a single voice for learning outside the classroom providers and advise on future policy.• Schools encouraged to report on learning outside the classroom provision through Ofsted schools’ self evaluation form starting next year. • ‘Out and About’ support package for schools including guidance on planning, funding and evaluating learning outside the classroom; a new overarching safety badge for educational providers; new teachers training modules and better information for schools.The Government today also launches a consultation on new no-nonsense guidance for schools to reassure teachers of their rights and responsibilities for educational visits and tackle concerns about litigation in the event of accidents on siteOver seven million children take part in learning outside the classroom activities but the Government wants to ensure that teachers are properly protected when taking pupils outside the classroom. Mr Johnson added: “Today’s announcement is key to ensuring we help schools build on the excellent work many are already doing in this area with the reassurance of clear cut guidance to reassure them that the law is there to protect them, not inhibit them. “This is the first time that a Government has set out to build a long lasting partnership to promote learning outside the classroom. The new council will be the driver in cutting red tape and giving schools clear advice and information to plan, fund and evaluate all their education activities outside the classroom.”Kevin Jackson, Chair of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, who is speaking at the launch, said:“Quality outdoor educational experiences are about developing lifelong skills and it is vital we emphasise the benefits for all young people. The Manifesto will help greatly in enabling a wider understanding of the enormous importance of this approach to learning.”Graham Wynne, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who is also speaking to the launch, said: “We enthusiastically support the Manifesto and see it as an important step towards ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. Along with the other partners of the Real World Learning Campaign, the RSPB looks forward to continuing our work with schools and the DfES in realising the huge potential that the Manifesto offers.”Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The full package of measures includes:• Creating a new independent council for Learning Outside the Classroom to provide a single voice for all organisations involved in out-of-classroom to implement the manifesto. It will act as an umbrella body to support coherent risk management, planning, funding and communications advice on outdoor learning. • Schools encouraged to report on learning outside the classroom provision through Ofsted schools’ self evaluation form introduced next year, to encourage headteachers to evaluate and develop their provision. • Introduce the first ever ‘Out and About’ support package for schools including: o Employer Risk Management Guidance – consultation launched today on new guidance for employers about treating staff fairly in the event of pupil accidents and reassuring teachers about their rightso Training – introducing new training modules for teachers on leading, planning, evaluating and risk managing educational visits – both as part of Initial Teacher Training and as on-the-job continuous professional developmento Safety badges – develop an overarching set of safety badges for all educational activity for non-school educational providers reassure teachers, parents and children and give them clear informationo Guidance – introduce new guidance to help schools build learning outside the classroom into their ethos. This will focus on planning, funding, running and publicising activities – and ensure they are inclusive of all pupil needso Teaching resources – launching a communications campaign to promote the benefits of learning outside the classroom, with new resources to help teachers plan activities 2. The Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, details of the signatories and their pledges and links to educational resources for schools is available from today on the following link:
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/learningoutsidetheclassroom 3. In February 2005, The Prime Minister and Ruth Kelly announced the Government would work with partners to publish a Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto. Stakeholder workshops were held the same month and in July 2005, attended by over 100 organisations representing outdoor education, field studies, museums and galleries, built environment, heritage, places of worship, food and farming, creativity and arts, environment and school grounds. A framework Manifesto was put out for public consultation from November 2005 until February 2006 when nine sector working groups made practical proposals for the Manifesto. This March, ministers agreed to publish the proposals in an action plan 4. The Department, Natural England and Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) jointly commissioned research on education outside the classroom to identify training offered by initial teacher training institutions and assess activity and practice in schools and local authorities. Research findings have informed the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto. A presentation of key findings of the research will be held after the launch to disseminate findings to key stakeholders. Research reports and briefs will be published on 28 November and can be downloaded from www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/. Copies of the full report (RR802) - priced £4.95 - are available by writing to DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ.5. The Association of Heads of Outdoor Education was formed in 1963, then known as The Association of Wardens of Mountain Centres. Membership includes managers of multi-activity centres, sometimes in urban areas and centres equipped for those with special needs. The aims of the centres has changed little – to foster greater confidence and regard for others through a series of adventurous challenges requiring co-operation set in the outdoors. For more information please visit www.ahoec.org6. The RSPB is a growing charitable movement of more than a million people. It works to inspire people about the world around them, save birds, the special places they live in and the environment we all depend upon. The RSPB is currently providing fun and informative high quality out-of-classroom learning activities to over 60,000 pupils a year. Its aim is to further expand these activities to reach 85,000 pupils by 2012. To fund this, the charity will spend an additional £250,000 – this investment will be alongside adding 12 more teaching sites to the 40 currently spread across the UK. For more information please visit http://www.rspb.org.uk
The Real World Learning Partnership was founded in 2003 to influence decision makers, support teachers, and increase participation in out-of-classroom learning. It is formed by the RSPB, Field Studies Council, National Trust, PGL Travel Ltd, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Association for Science Education, Geographical Association, Historical Association, Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel, and Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers).Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2006/0175
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