Situated in a stunning location in the beautiful Peak District National Park, White Hall Outdoor Education Centre has given thousands of young people wonderful, memorable experiences since it opened in 1951 as Britain's first local education authority outdoor centre.
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.
The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.
A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.
British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.
Suitable Venues
Programmes aim to enrich the curriculum and help learners reach their potential through positive engagement with the education process, increasing confidence, group awareness, healthy activity and fun.
Morfa Bay Adventure pride themselves on a professional, high quality service using only the best in outdoor equipment, within a safe and manageable environment under the guidance of experienced and well trained instructors.
Unspoilt beach, farmland and cliffs on the Jurassic Coast
Spend a day on this quiet stretch of the West Dorset coast where you can take a walk across the cliff tops above Ringstead, bring a kite, or pack a picnic and follow one of the steep ancient tracks down to the shingle beach. The water is incredibly clear and safe for bathing.
A secluded, unspolit beach at Ayrmer
Located next to the beautiful village of Ringmore, Ayrmer Cove is an amazing site with stunning open cliff faces and rock formations with views out to secluded coves.
One of Yorkshire's finest 18th-century landscape gardens, containing two temples
Discover one of Ryedale's true gems - the 18th-century landscape of Rievaulx Terrace. Stroll through woods, then out on to the terrace, with its stunning views down over the Cistercian ruin of Rievaulx Abbey.
Beautiful and breathtaking views on the Gower peninsula
Breathtaking Rhossili bay, with its three mile long sandy beach, is overlooked by the Old Rectory, the most popular National Trust holiday cottage. Visible on the beach at low tide are the remains of the Helvetia, a ship wrecked in 1887.
Spectacular escarpment with sweeping views across the Weald
This stretch of the North Downs is good walking country with flower-sprinkled grasslands and quiet shady woods. A lovely spot too for family picnics and games.
Sitting proud at the top of the Hill is the 19th-century Reigate Fort. The fort commands a historic defensive position looking out over the weald towards the South Downs.
Established in 1980 Britain’s most experienced summer holiday operator for children and teenagers aged 3-17 years. With a host of exciting and adventurous activities to choose from.
Iconic Arts and Crafts home of William Morris - writer, artist, craftsman and socialist
The only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement, Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance.
Designed by Philip Webb and completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'.
Near the public library in a gallery on the first floor of the Town Hall in Fishguard is to be found a little-known and remarkable tapestry depicting the last ever invasion of the United Kingdom.
A charming Georgian building, built as a workhouse in 1764, now filled with a rich variety of displays and a regular and varied exhibitions programme.
Education
To learn more about the programme or to discuss your requirements please contact Rebecca Parrant.
The Red Mount is the highest point of The Walks offering elevated view points of the landscape from the structure itself and from the mound which partially surrounds it.
The structure is unique and its importance is reflected in its status as a Scheduled Ancient monument/Grade 1 listed building.
Leicesershire's Medieval Manor House
Based in a Medieval Manor House dating back to 1280, the house has a fascinating history and was owned by one of the Gunpowder Plotters!
Discover a medieval castle, now a green oasis for wildlife but still at the centre of daily life
Although you might not think it today, the mount and surrounding lands are the remnant of an early medieval wooden motte and bailey castle built by Sweyn, Sheriff of Essex. With the castle long gone, the area is now an urban wildlife haven and green lung in the heart of Rayleigh town centre, offering sweeping views across the Crouch Valley.
Remains of a former Benedictine abbey
Once an island in the Fens, this charming former gatehouse is all that remains of the oldest English and once great Benedictine abbey at Ramsey.
An ornately carved exterior with a glorious oriel window, is all that survives of the gatehouse.
Chafford Sports Complex in Rainham, Essex provides the local community with both indoor and outdoor facilities.
Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759)
Explore this fascinating house, the childhood home of General James Wolfe. Discover the dramatic battle that won America for the British and learn of Wolfe's tragic death, in our exhibition.
Spanning the Estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, the Forth Bridge represents the pinnacle of 19th century iron and steel bridge construction. A world wonder of its age, this Victorian engineering marvel that was made possible by new steel production processes, is arguably the world's greatest and most famous cantilever bridge
One of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, showing how a complete industrial community lived
Quarry Bank overflows with the atmosphere of the Industrial Revolution.
One of the biggest in the county at 33 metres long and has 6 lanes, 3 diving boards, a 50 metre flume and spectator gallery. The outdoor padding pool is available from June until September and is free to use.
A place apart where beauty and adventure come to life
From towering sea cliffs, rolling hills and heaths to the dunes and sandy beaches of Studland, nowhere else packs such a variety of landscapes into such a small area.
As a result, Purbeck is the richest place for plant life in Britain, home to 14 out of 17 British bat species and supports all six native reptiles.
A 280 acre paradise of sea cliffs, coastal limestone downland, meadows, hedgerows and woods.
Durlston Country Park, National Nature Reserve and Castle is a mile from Swanage in Dorset. This countryside paradise has stupendous views, the Great Globe (a huge recreation of planet Earth), a variety of walks and fascinating geology - there's always something new to see and do.
If you are looking for somewhere that is more like a home from home, with outdoor education programmes that are crafted with care, delivered by quality people, driven by our values of Education, Inspiration and Play; A place rooted in the rich heritage and tradition of learning outside – Great News! You have just found it.
Durlston Castle is an extraordinary Victorian building, which with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many others, took 8 years to transform, to provide a unique and beautiful facility for visitors to Durlston and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
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Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.