- Mountain Biking
Introduction
Breckenbrough has a long and valuable tradition of Outdoor Education. This has been developed and evolved into an integrated and varied programme of Outdoor Education in its widest sense and has become an important element of our formal curriculum.
Full participation is encouraged, but we often adopt a ‘challenge by choice’ approach, with each boy being able to extend their abilities in their own timescales. The activities that are offered are fully differentiated, allowing each pupil to achieve.
Many of our activities are carried out within one of three local National Parks where there is stunning scenery.
Aims
Outdoor Education aims to develop:
- success for each boy at their own level
- personal goal and target setting
- a supportive environment within which boys can take responsibility for themselves and others in order to achieve as a team
- an appreciation of the beauty and fragility of the natural environment
- self esteem and self belief
- an awareness of the correct techniques and safety measures in each activity undertaken
Activities
The programme has a progression throughout the academic years, Years 7 and 8 concentrate on hill walking, map work and navigational skills, orienteering, caving, horse riding, camp craft and educational visits.
The year 9 and 10 programme is extended to include more technical elements such as rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, team building and problem solving and skiing. The boys are encouraged to develop their skills and are awarded with both in-house and NGB certificates of achievement. It is intended that these awards should cross-relate to the NPRA scheme.
Balance Log at Captain Cooks
The programme includes several residential trips; years 7, 8 and 9 Youth Hostelling in North Wales, in years 10 and 11 opportunities to ski in Italy, and ride coast to coast. In addition we run several activity specific multi-day camps for climbing, caving and canoeing.
Successes
All activities are supervised by staff who hold the relevant NGB qualifications and experience to organise and run them. Although we do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Young Persons Act, our procedures are in line with those given for the licensing of activities.
Ofsted praised the Outdoor Education programme for reflecting the school ethos and putting it into practise.
Posts
