|
Ofsted report on Learning Outside The Classroom
|
This small scale inspection report evaluated the impact of learning outside the classroom in schools and colleges across England where previous inspections had shown that curricular provision, in particular outside the classroom, was good, outstanding or improving rapidly. .
Key findings from the report:
When planned and implemented well, learning outside the classroom contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development.
Learners of all ages involved in the survey said that they enjoyed working away from the classroom. They found it ‘exciting’, ‘practical’, ‘motivating’, ‘refreshing’ and ‘fun’.
Few schools in the survey had a detailed knowledge of the Government’s Learning outside the classroom manifesto and were unsure of how other national guidance and programmes, such as the National Strategies, linked to it.
Learning outside the classroom was most successful when it was an integral element of long-term curriculum planning and closely linked to classroom activities.
Residential and other visits considered during the survey tended to have learning objectives which were imprecisely defined and not integrated sufficiently with activities in the classroom.
The schools in the survey relied very heavily on contributions from parents and carers to meet the costs of residential and other visits and had given very little thought to alternative ways of financing them.
Of the schools and colleges visited, only three had evaluated the impact of learning outside the classroom on improving achievement, or monitored the take-up of activities by groups of pupils and students.
The schools had successfully overcome the barriers to learning outside the classroom, including those relating to health and safety, pupils’ behaviour and teachers’ workload.
Schools received valuable support from local authorities and in meeting health and safety requirements for visits.
Story updated: 29 November 2008
|
|
|
|
|
