The Field Studies Council (FSC) has said that thousands of students could become part of a lost generation of learners unless England and Wales follow Scotland’s lead in financially supporting outdoor learning centres.
The UK charity, which welcomes 150,000 pupils each year to its residential centres, has continued to warn the Government throughout the pandemic about the loss of opportunity for young people, even writing a letter directly to the Prime Minister for support.
Scotland has recently announced £2 million in support for the outdoor education sector, with the FSC urging the Governments in England and Wales to follow suit.
Mark Castle, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Without support, thousands of students across the UK will lose out on the opportunity to develop vital skills at centres like ours.
“Scotland has led the way but what we really need is recognition right across the UK about the role outdoor education has to play now and in the future. And that means governments in England and Wales need to step up and support our sector.”
“Many students have missed out on the opportunity to develop vital analytical and practical science skills because of the restrictions on outdoor learning and these are the very attributes which will be needed to deliver so much of government policy in years to come.”
Mark Castle, chief executive of the Field Studies Council.
The charity, which has provided outdoor education for 75 years and would usually welcome learners throughout the year to its network of Scottish, Welsh and English field study centres, continues to lobby MPs on the challenges facing the sector.
Campaigning across the sector
Many charities and organisations have been highlighting the plight of the outdoor education sector.
Centres across the UK have sent in their photos and messages of support to School Travel Organiser magazine which were featured in a special edition with extensive coverage on the issue.
The sector has warned that unless the Government lifts the current ban on residential school trips soon, many providers will be forced to close with even more jobs lost.
More than 16,000 people have now signed a petition to ask the Department for Education to change its guidance and allow overnight educational visits.
The Department for Education has said it will review the situation in November.
Mark Castle continued: “As well as financial assistance, the sector needs the Government to consider how it can address the future of outdoor education and the losses we are set to experience as a nation.
“In years to come Britain faces a major skills crisis and a lost generation of learners because of the coronavirus crisis.
“Many students have missed out on the opportunity to develop vital analytical and practical science skills because of the restrictions on outdoor learning and these are the very attributes which will be needed to deliver so much of government policy in years to come.”
“We are deeply concerned about this potential skills gap later down the line and for this reason we need governments to collectively start engaging with the sector and having some meaningful discussions about the future of outdoor education right across the UK.”
