MP secures Education Secretary’s support for outdoor education campaign

On the floor of the House of Commons this week, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron encouraged the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, to back his campaign to put outdoor learning on the school curriculum.

Currently, a bill is going through the Scottish Parliament which would give all pupils in state schools the chance to experience at least four nights and five days of residential outdoor education during their school career.

However there are currently no plans for any kind of similar commitment for pupils in England.

Earlier this year, Tim also secured a commitment from the Minister for Early Education to undertake a study into how many children aren’t currently able to access outdoor learning opportunities and to find out what are the main barriers which are stopping them from doing so.

Speaking in response to the Government’s plans to renew the national curriculum in Parliament yesterday, Tim said: “I very much welcome the Secretary of State’s reference in her statement to adventure and nature. 

“Will she go further and agree that it is essential that every child at primary school and secondary school has an outdoor education residential experience because of the wonderful advantages it gives them in building resilience throughout their lives and developing a love of learning once they are in the classroom? 

“Will she commit to doing that and to meeting the all-party parliamentary group for outdoor learning so that we can talk about how this should be at the centre of the curriculum?”

The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson replied: “Either I or the Minister for School Standards will be happy to meet the all-party group. The honourable member makes a powerful case, which I am sure we can take forward as we consider the enrichment framework. 

“I have many happy memories of residentials in his part of the world when I was at school: they are life-changing and always stay with you. I want to ensure that more young people have access to the outdoors and to brilliant opportunities like residentials.”