Outdoor Education

Welcome to Outdoor Education and Physical Education at Marland School.

 

The school has 5 acres of woodland in which we have our own Outdoor Activity Base with a Tepee, Tree houses, Fire Pit, BBQ, Stream and if we are lucky, some Deer!  We are also just about to build a brand new purpose designed Sports Hall on our residential site to match the high quality one on our day site.  Sport and physical activity / education are a high priority at Marland School, including across the extended day and weekends at our residential site.

 

Activities offered include Surfing, Sailing, Canoeing, Swimming, Rock Climbing, Outdoor Cooking, Shelter building, Sand Surfing, Sledging (if it snows!), Fishing and Mountain Biking to name but a few.  Our aim is to teach and develop students’ physical and teamwork skills to their full potential.  Also to help them to broaden their life experiences by improving their fitness and health through a range of fun and exciting physically challenging activities. Pupils have the chance to gain a range of qualifications including The Young Navigators Awards, John Muir Awards as well as NICAS and BCU National awards on the program.  Students can also gain accredited hours towards a ‘V inspired’ volunteering award.

 

The Outdoor & Physical Education programmes focus on three key aspects of personal development:

 

1)    Building confidence:  Many students will be trying these activities for the first time and the programme is designed to encourage each young person to explore and develop their full physical and cognitive potential.

 

2)    Personal fitness:  The activities are designed to allow all students, whatever their physical capability, to push themselves and challenge their own limits on a daily basis.  Within the programme is a strong focus on exercising different muscles, developing control and coordination and improving stamina and strength.

 

3)    Environment:  Appreciation of PE and outside environments is a natural part of our approach.  A range of different indoor and outdoor venues are utilised across Devon’s unique and beautiful but challenging landscape.  These help students to gain an appreciation of environmental issues whilst hopefully developing a far healthier long term lifestyle, including interests and hobbies that can be maintained and further developed into adulthood.