Liz Smith MSP has recently secured the right to introduce the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) Bill in the Scottish Parliament. I have supported her plans for some time, and want to be really clear about the opportunity it provides if passed: at its heart, this bill addresses the fundamental need for equity in outdoor learning.
No matter who you are or where you are from, outdoor education should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. Yet, every year, thousands of young people miss out on an outdoor education: often money, not mountains, is the biggest barrier in their way. We know this first-hand, which is why 80 per cent of Outward Bound participants receive charitable funding.
But it’s not all about the money. This bill represents an acknowledgement of the value of outdoor learning. While there may never be a Higher in hiking, a Baccalaureate in bouldering or a National 5 in self-belief and resilience, these kinds of experiences are just as meaningful and important in unlocking potential in young people as learning to read and write, particularly given the impact that the Covid lockdowns had on their mental health.
Every week, we immerse young people in the unpredictability and beauty of the outdoors, to inspire them in lessons of self-belief, determination and resilience through experience. Sure, not everyone does it the Outward Bound way, but there is strength and significance in all outdoor residentials that deserve to be recognised. This is a chance for Scotland’s education system to take a step beyond what is expected.
Scottish schools have already been taking up the opportunity this week: all six of our residential centres, in areas of outstanding natural beauty across the UK, have been filled entirely with Scottish school students taking on adventures, overcoming challenges and learning about leadership, teamwork and resilience.
We hope, then, that the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) Bill may come to represent something far greater - a line in the sand. A line that, if crossed, risks sliding us further towards a future that forgets the value of play, practical experiences and compassion among our children.
In many ways, this slide has already begun. We know that, since 1995, breaktime has been slashed by an average of 65 minutes per week for 11- to 16-year-olds and that many young people don’t feel adequately prepared by their education for the world of work.
I came across another statistic: a quarter of Generation Z say they “have very little tolerance for people with beliefs that they disagree with”. As a parent of Gen Z children, this disturbs me the most. In the main, this generation is doing incredible work to highlight climate change and the inequities that riddle our lives; but if we are to move forward with these issues, the ability to listen to others’ perspectives, have compassion for them and find a way through, is critical.
This bill is a chance to say enough is enough and set an example for the rest of the UK to follow - to declare that learning outside the classroom should be part of our curriculum. The need exists, and most young people agree that being in nature makes them feel very happy, so why not harness that need and happiness for the betterment of future generations?
Martin Davidson is the chief executive of The Outward Bound Trust
