Teachers and school leaders across Wales are being urged to seize an “unmissable opportunity” to enhance pupils’ education through meaningful outdoor learning experiences. The Field Studies Council, the UK’s leading outdoor education charity, has called on educators to integrate outdoor education as part of the new Curriculum for Wales, set to be implemented in September 2025.
Jo Harris, education manager at the Field Studies Council, highlighted the transformative potential of the new curriculum during her address at the National Education Show in Cardiff on October 4. She stated, “The Curriculum for Wales is an unmissable opportunity to embed outdoor education as an integral part of the learning experience.”
The charity has championed immersive and enriching learning experiences since its establishment in 1943, emphasising the significance of real-world education for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Harris urged teachers to include outdoor learning in their lesson planning, explaining that the new curriculum aims to nurture healthy, ambitious young people equipped to drive societal progress.
Wales’ new curriculum focuses on four key purposes: creating ambitious, capable learners; enterprising, creative contributors; ethical, informed citizens; and healthy, confident individuals. With the first cohort of Year 10 GCSE students set to follow the new curriculum from September 2025, Harris stressed the importance of incorporating field trips and outdoor activities into educational frameworks.
Research indicates that experience-based learning in natural environments fosters critical thinking, resilience, and problem-solving skills. Harris noted, “It encourages curiosity and a deep connection with the natural world, essential attributes for the citizens of tomorrow.” She added that outdoor education plays a crucial role in developing creative thinking and teamwork skills.
With green jobs on the rise, the need for a workforce equipped with environmental skills is more pressing than ever. According to a World Economic Forum report from February 2024, these roles are expanding at a faster rate than the supply of workers with the necessary green skills. Harris emphasised that the new Welsh curriculum is committed to addressing this gap.
The Welsh Assembly Government has instructed schools to ensure that students aged 14 to 16 receive a balanced mix of general, vocational, and skill-based qualifications. Harris remarked, “We are becoming increasingly aware of outdoor learning’s impact on mental health, confidence, and resilience.”
Outdoor learning has significant benefits for students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings. Harris highlighted the positive effects of nature on students who find it challenging to concentrate or those who thrive when engaging with the environment. “The students who might not get the chance to relax in nature otherwise or those that suddenly blossom to life when given a pond dipping net are the real beneficiaries of this drive for outdoor learning across the curriculum,” she noted.
The Field Studies Council operates centres in Rhyd-y-Creuau in Yr Wyddfa National Park, Dale Fort in Pembrokeshire, and Margam Discovery Centre in Port Talbot, providing high-quality, engaging outdoor experiences. The charity is currently collaborating with WJEC, Wales’ largest awarding body, to develop geography fieldwork courses that align with the new GCSE requirements.
For further information about the Field Studies Council and its offerings, visit their official website at Field Studies Council.