Our Approach & Courses
"Only a handful of our children have ever visited such beautiful countryside and even fewer have had the chance to canoe, climb and explore in these areas."
Our Approach
The Centres give students the opportunity to live and learn together in a new and interesting environment. Our aim is:
“to provide high quality personal, social and environmental education through outdoor and residential experiences”.
Pupil progress is monitored at the Centres. Objectives are agreed with visiting groups and leaders and pupils evaluate their courses at the Centres. As a result there is considerable evidence to show the value of outdoor education in terms of developing self-esteem, confidence, personal and social skills and motivating young people to achieve higher standards back at school.
The Centres support the 5 Outcomes for young people highlighted in the report, ‘Every Child Matters’ - Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution and Achieve Economic Well-Being. Teaching and learning methods are related to Assessment for Learning (AfL). At the Centres there are many opportunities for young people to take responsibility for their learning, reflect on their progress and discuss ways to improve.
The approach of the Centres is broad, balanced and relevant. Activities involve the mind, the body and the spirit and relate to wider human experience. Outdoor education appeals to our curiosity, sense of adventure and urge to explore. Experiences are enjoyable and exciting; they are often intense, sometimes inspirational and often lead to the development of positive feelings and attitudes. They are concerned with the development of the whole person.
Our Courses
Fully staffed courses are offered in outdoor and environmental education for primary, secondary schools and colleges. Visiting leaders can be involved in designing their own programmes and there are many opportunities to relate experiences to the National Curriculum. Some secondary schools and colleges run their own programmes for example, in Geography, Geology and Biology fieldwork, English and Art. Centre staff are available to advise, co-ordinate and teach on these courses.
The Centres are available for young people from the age of 9 years. Priority is given in term time to those attending Wigan Council’s Schools. Any remaining dates are offered to other groups.
The Centres are also used for teachers' in-service courses and conferences and professional training for other groups in the local authority. There are family holidays in summer and groups inside and outside the local authority can use the self-catering and catered facilities at weekends and book the Day Visits Centre, Yew Tree Lodge.