Learning Away was founded and initially developed by Paul Hamlyn Foundation

National Network for Outdoor Learning

Peter Carne OBE (Learning Away National Adviser)

Kim Somerville (Learning Away Campaign Coordinator)

14th March 2017

Learning Away was founded and initially developed by Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Action researchPHF funded special initiative

Over 5 years

With 60 schools

In 13 partnerships

Rigorous evaluation12,500+ pre and post surveys with students, parents and staff

100+ focus groups

What has Learning Way been trying to do?

Make a strong case for change, by finding compelling evidence of positive impact and benefits (for young people, teachers and schools as a whole).

Discover exactly what it is that’s so powerful about residential learning.

Find out whether certain types of residential are more effective than others i.e. what is a high quality residential learning experience?

Develop advice, guidance & support for teachers & residential providers.

What did our Learning Away schools do?Residential models offered included:

Partnering with outdoor education, field study and heritage providers (local authority, voluntary sector and commercial)

Low cost camping (on school sites, locally and further afield)

School exchanges

Family support programmes (using holiday cottages)

“Learning Away has shown that a residential learning experience provides opportunities and benefits that cannot be achieved in any other educational context or setting.

The impact is greater when residentials are fully integrated with a school’s curriculum and ethos.”

Learning Away Final Evaluation Report York Consulting 2015

Impacts and benefitsWe have strong evidence which demonstrates that there are numerous positive impacts of Brilliant Residentials, showing that they improve students’…

Resilience and self confidence

Attainment

Attainment“Student A was in the middle of her maths test when she literally shouted out, 'I know how to do this! You should have all gone to Carroty Wood - Mr W taught me how to do this!'”Maths teacher, Canterbury Academy

61% of students who attended Calderglen High School’s Drama residential achieved higher than their predicted grade, compared to 21% who did not attend.Learning Away Final Evaluation Report

Relationships

Relationships“The student-teacher relationship built in a week on a residential is similar to that of a relationship built over an entire year in a normal class situation.”Staff survey

“In schools you see teachers as scary and strict, but on the residential trip they’re so much nicer. You see them as normal human beings.”Secondary student focus group

Engagement with learning

Engagement with learning“Before going on the trip I hated school, but now I just love it. I love to learn about maths, literacy and science.” Primary Student Focus Group

“When I was at Hampton Court there was just loads of stuff to inspire me. I probably did more hours of work in that one week than I did in the whole of this term, I just had so much inspiration from it.”Year 10 student, Canterbury Academy

The Learning Away ‘theory of change’

Residentials bring

The overnight stay & an intensity of experience

A new context for relationships

Different & varied opportunities to experience

success

New ways of learning

Short & medium term

Enhanced relationshipsImproved engagement

& confidence in learning

New & developing skills & understanding

Longer term

Improved … Achievement, progress &

attainmentK,S & U

Relationships Engagement, behaviour

& attendanceMore successful

transitions

What makes brilliant residentials brilliant? Fully integrated with school curriculum and ethos Led by teachers Led by students (where appropriate) Co-designed with students Inclusive and affordable for all Planned with clear learning objectives to meet specific learning needs Planned so that learning is embedded and reinforced back in school Part of a progressive programme of experiences Designed to include a wide range of new and memorable experiences Designed to allow space to develop collaborative relationships Evaluated rigorously Supported by senior leadership

Recommendations for schools1. Provide a range of inclusive and integrated

residentials2. Work closely with residential providers3. Recognise and plan for the value of

informal social time4. Plan for evaluation to confirm value5. Develop a climate that supports healthy

risk-taking around teaching and learning

Recommendations for schools

6. Provide staffing, CPD and support structures to assist teachers7. Look for wider school community and volunteer expertise and support8. Partner with other schools 9. Develop inclusive and lower-cost residentials 10. Use residentials to support students through key transitions points.

Recommendations for providers

1. Draw on the finding of Learning Away to inform your offer and approach to working with schools

2. Publicise the benefits of residential experiences3. Direct schools and policy makers to our research evidence 4. Publicise the unique nature of the overnight stay and the

opportunities this offers for learning5. Promote curriculum integration - residentials should be entitlement

not an enrichment

Recommendations for providers

6. Work collaboratively with teachers and students7. Support schools to use informal social time8. Evaluate the impact of your residentials rigorously9. Support lower-cost residential models e.g. camping, shorter

residentials, teacher-led activities10. Draw schools attention to funding opportunities.

Learning Away is now led by a ‘legacy’ consortium of organisations united in their commitment to ensure more young people have access to high-quality brilliant residential learning experiences ...

Campaigning phase

Our vision We want more children and young people taking part in residentials

We want improved quality of residential provision in line with the principles of Brilliant Residentials

Aims of the campaign• Influence the practice of:

Schools (Non-adopters, adopters, champions) Residential providers Initial Teacher Training providers Policy makers Parents Youth groups / organisations

• Raise awareness that residentials do not need to be expensive … they must be affordable and inclusive to be brilliant.

Online Now • Free resources, planning tools and templates • Over 100 case studies• Pledge system• New animated video • Significantly increased following on social media

Next • Blog• Brilliant Residentials tool• More case studies

Publications and printNow• Visual identity and guidelines• Events and exhibition material• Digital campaign pack for providers and

schools to use• E-newsletters

Next • Grow network of renowned faces in arts,

heritage and outdoor education pledging their support for Brilliant Residentials

“The Learning Away evidence proves what I have always known, children benefit in a profound way from the adventure of a residential and the opportunity and experience of being absorbed in what they are learning in the great outdoors.”

Sir Chris Bonington

PR and media

Now• BBC Breakfast coverage reaching 6m worth £1m • Press coverage in education and sector press e.g. Teach Secondary, Teach Primary, SSAT Journal

Next • Continue to develop links to foster regular

columns, articles and features in education press and media• Seek more coverage focussed at schools in Scotland

Events

Now • Successful communications launch gained

provider buy-in• Spoken to >1000 people at 13 events and

conferences (target is 300 by March 2017)

Next • Education Show • Events with high teacher attendance • Champion Schools

Measuring our success• More residentials - baseline and future tracking via the Evolve

educational visit approval system, used by 127 local authorities nationally.

• Higher quality residentials - with the support of LMKCo. and the Outdoor Education Advisers Panel schools will be regularly asked to complete an online survey gauging to what extent their residentials are ‘brilliant’.

• Could we / should we do something similar in Scotland?

Launching Brilliant Residentials in ScotlandWorking together to:

Share the impact of these learning experiences

Promote the benefits of high-quality residentials

Encourage and support schools to provide more Brilliant Residentials

Pledge - make your pledge to work with others toProvide more and higher quality residentials here

Share - share your stories and photographs of high-qualityresidentials on facebook and twitter, and use the#BrilliantResidentials hashtag

Campaign Pack - use the tools in the campaign pack which canbe downloaded here to put Brilliant Residentials on the map

Champion Schools – identify schools who can share best practicewith more info here

What can you do now?

Freda Fallon Outward Bound

Neil Baird Scouts Scotland

Website: learningaway.org.uk

Twitter:@LearningAway #BrilliantResidentials

Facebook: /WeAreLearningAway

Email: kim.somerville@lotc.org.uk

Email: learningaway@petercarne.co.uk

Thank you!