Outdoor Education, DofE, Ten Tors, Adventure Training

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Adventurer Colin Mortlock sums up what we are trying to achieve at Bryanston in the field of Outdoor Education:

‘To adventure in the natural environment is consciously to take up a challenge that will demand the best of our capabilities – physically, mentally and emotionally. It is a state of mind that will initially accept unpleasant feelings of fear, uncertainty and discomfort, and the need for luck, because we instinctively know that, if we are successful, these will be counterbalanced by opposite feelings of exhilaration and joy.’

Outdoor Education at Bryanston challenges pupils to step outside their comfort zones, discover their strengths, and build resilience. From Forest School in the Prep years to Duke of Edinburgh, Ten Tors, and Adventure Training in the Senior School, every pupil develops confidence, teamwork, and independence that extend far beyond the classroom.

Adventure Training

In Years 9 and 10, Adventure Training is a compulsory part of the timetable, starting in the last week of the Spring term with the whole of Year 9 spending a week at Skern Lodge, North Devon, where pupils have the opportunity to take part in taster sessions in a wide range of activities – including surfing, climbing, high ropes, rafting, assault course, mountain biking, caving, walking, coastal exploration and more.

In the Summer term of Year 9, following the success of Skern Lodge, we build upon the strengths and skills learnt on this residential trip away. Pupils spend an afternoon each week taking part in a variety of activities, including mountain biking, raft building, giant SUPs, firelighting, wild cooking, navigation and pioneering.

The emphasis of the training programme is to give the pupils the skills and awareness to be in the outdoor environment and take on new experiences or challenges with confidence and enthusiasm. We work in large groups, developing the social aspect of the year group as well.

In Year 10, the Adventure Training programme goes one step further, from the building blocks of Skern Lodge and the development in Year 9. Pupils in Year 10 move into smaller teams and take part in a wide variety of activities that begin to push them both physically and mentally, providing lots of new experiences and broadening their horizons. The programme includes climbing, canoeing, biking, caving, walking, bouldering, fishing, low ropes, a challenge course, nightline and tunnel.

In the past, many pupils have discovered a passion for a new hobby while taking part in adventure training and have chosen to explore these further through the wide ranging ECA and Boarding Enrichment programmes.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Our pupils take part in the Bronze Award in Year 9. This culminates in a two day assessed walking expedition in the local countryside.

Pupils then complete the Silver Award in Year 10. Following training in the countryside around Bryanston, they complete a three day assessed expedition on the Isle of Purbeck.

At Gold Award level in Year 12, pupils can choose their expedition style from:
- Walking – in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and Snowdonia (Eryri National Park)
- Canoeing – on the River Thames and Severn
- Sailing – from Portsmouth, exploring the South Coast and the Isle of Wight
- Horse riding – in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)
The DofE programme’s strength lies in broadening the education of its candidates and offering opportunities not available in the classroom. It is widely respected for the educational benefits that it offers as participants develop independence and self-motivation, as well as planning and decision-making skills.

Universities and employers hold the Gold level of the Award in very high regard, giving holders an advantage in a competitive world.
Ten Tors Challenge

Ten Tors is a magnificent event that has been organised by the army for over 50 years. Each year there are 2,400 participants who walk 35, 45 or 55 miles across Dartmoor.

It is solely for young people and completing it is no easy feat. The terrain, distance and climate all conspire against the participant’s success and only with the correct training, commitment, endurance and grit can the challenge be completed.

Each year we submit two teams. We select a team of six Year 10 pupils who take on the 35-mile challenge while a selected team of six Year 12 pupils take on the 45-mile challenge. Through entering the event we provide the pupils with a challenging adventure that demands careful planning, imagination, endurance, skilful navigation and teamwork.

Throughout the year all pupils interested in entering the challenge take part in training sessions to develop the skills needed to succeed, including navigation and expedition practice, before the final team selection is made.
Other Outdoor Activities

Kayaking

We run indoor sessions in the pool and outdoor sessions on the River Stour. We also travel further afield to Dartmoor for regular white water river kayaking.

Pupils can also sign up to race kayaking as a sporting option.

Rock climbing

We have an outdoor climbing tower and an indoor bouldering wall that pupils can use throughout their time at the school.

We take the skills learnt on site at school and regularly visit local indoor climbing venues, as well as trips to Portland and Dartmoor.

Mountain biking

Pupils have two or three sessions a week riding the trails in the school grounds. These have all been built by the pupils during the trail-building sessions as part of our Pioneering programme.

We also visit mountain biking trails in the local area.