This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Outdoor Education Centre at Oban
08/10/2004
A new national development officer is to be appointed to help schools and pupils make the most of the opportunities offered by outdoor education.
Education Minister Peter Peacock made the announcement as he opened an extension at North Lanarkshire's new Kilbowie Outdoor Education Centre at Oban.
He said that together with the extra 400 PE teachers already announced and the other teachers the Executive is funding, it should create unprecedented opportunities to allow outdoor education to grow.
New guidance on school trips will be issued this month to help with the planning of successful school trips.
The Minister also signalled that he wanted to see schools move towards offering all pupils, at both primary and secondary, at least one residential experience during their school careers, such as outdoor education could provide.
Mr Peacock said:
"Outdoor education can have tremendous benefits in the physical, personal and social development of children of all ages, providing an important setting for young people to discover more about themselves and the world around them.
"I want more young people to experience the far-reaching benefits of outdoor education. Not only can it enrich their school life, it can help pupils develop skills and interests that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
"The new guidance on school trips will give schools the confidence to make greater use of the vast range of opportunities we have in Scotland whilst ensuring pupil and staff safety remains a top priority."
Learning and Teaching Scotland will take forward the development of outdoor education including the appointment of a development officer and an audit of current provision.
The outdoor education health and safety guidance will cover:
- Responsibilities for visits
- Planning visits
- Supervision
- Communication with parents
- Preparing pupils
- Transport
- Insurance
- Types of visits
- Visits abroad
- Emergency procedures
Mr Peacock was visiting North Lanarkshire Council's Kilbowie Outdoor Education Centre, in Oban, where he opened an extension.