Outdoor Learning | Sidcot School

Sidcot is blessed with beautiful outside spaces and we make every effort to make the most of our surroundings. Our Outdoor Learning Coordinator ensures Sidcot students have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. This outdoor learning takes many forms with lessons being taught in our outdoor spaces and a diverse range or extracurricular activities.

Sidcot students will be taught bush craft skills and will take part in orienteering exercises as well learning to grow fruit and veg in the allotment. After school, students will have the chance to participate in adventurous activities like caving club and many of our students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Sidcot Students have 150 acres of beautiful Somerset countryside to explore, unwind and learn in. Sidcot's outdoor spaces are amongst its greatest assets and they include:

The James O'Connell Peace Field
The Combe (150 acres of open fields)
Four Yurts
Forest School
Iron Age Mud Hut
Fire Pit and Seating area
Amphitheatre
The allotments
Greenhill Garden - outdoor classroom
Observatory - with electronic telescope

By bringing learning out of the classroom we aim to ensure our students leave the school with a deep understanding and appreciation for the environment.

At Sidcot, we understand that times have changed and technology is very much a part of our children's lives. By working with technology, children can still enjoy the outdoors. This may be using a GPS system to go geocaching or a tablet with an OS map, but we are still very keen to go back to basics and get away from the technology sometimes; this may be through fire lighting, team building, reflection time in our yurts, taking a drama lesson in the school gardens or a simple walk.

Steph Tidey - Outdoor Learning Coordinator