Welcome to the Outdoor Education page.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Outdoor Education at Sharnbrook has continued to develop and, currently, we offer the following courses and activities :

BTEC OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Students in Year 10 and 11 follow the BTEC First course which is the equivalent of 2 GCSEs.  The course is made up of six modules which include two practical modules.  Students will develop skills and gain qualifications in a number of outdoor activities including canoeing and kayaking, climbing, navigation and basic mountaineering.  Students will also follow the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. 

Students in Year 12 follow the BTEC National course which is the equivalent of 4 GCSEs.  Students cover six modules including a work experience placement.  The course involves at least one day a week of practical work and culminates in a sea kayaking expedition to North Wales and a four-day self-supported walking expedition in Snowdonia. 

BLUE PERIS

Each year, the school takes at least two groups of Year 9 students to the Blue Peris Mountain Centre in North Wales.  During the week, they will do a number of outdoor activities including canoeing, sea cliff traversing, mountain walking, rock climbing and orienteering.  Students stay at the Blue Peris Centre for a full week, usually, in January. 

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME

The school has been running the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme for over 26 years and we offer the scheme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.  The scheme includes four components : Skill, Service, Sport and an expedition.  For Gold, students are also required to go on a residential  (usually a period of 4 nights). 

Students are offered the opportunity to do their expeditions either by walking (in the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains, Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia) or canoeing (River Great Ouse, River Wye, River Nene).  Past highlights for Sixth Form students have included the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Stok Kangri (a 6000m peak in India), Jebel Toubkal , the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and two expedition to Finland canoeing. 

CLIMBING WALL

Sharnbrook’s own climbing wall is nearly five years old and is a purpose built 6.2 metre high facility.  The school uses the wall during PE lessons and we run a weekly climbing club.  It is also open for public sessions and for group bookings. 

YEAR 9 INTRODUCTION TO KAYAKING

Every year at the start of the new September term, the school offers an introduction to kayaking to Year 9 students (one House per week). The session takes place on the river at Felmersham. We also run a kayaking club which, this year, has seen students learning to roll at Robinson Pool and students following the new Foundation Safety and Rescue course.  More recently, a number of students have joined local clubs and a number of them have taken part in competitive events.  The highlight from last year was when 12 students worked with Helen Reeves, a canoeing  Bronze medallist from the Athens Olympics. 

BLOCK WEEK

Each year, in the Summer Block Week, every Year 9 student takes part in two days of outdoor activities.  The activities include whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and high ropes,  canoeing and sailing. 

ELECTIVES

Every Week A on a Wednesday afternoon for two hours, Year 9 students can choose from a number of electives.  The Outdoor Education department offers kayaking, mountain biking and climbing.  New for this academic year is the Year 12 elective programme which runs on a Wednesday afternoon every Week B.  We are hoping that students will have the opportunity to have a go at a number of outdoor activities. 

SKIING

The school runs two ski trips each year during the February half term.  The Junior trip takes students from Years 10 and 11 and the Senior trip offers places to students from the Sixth Form.  In recent years, the Junior ski trip has visited Austria and the Senior trip has visited France. 

SUMMER EXPEDITION IN 2009

At this moment in time, the Outdoor Education department is beginning the initial preparation for an expedition to Nepal over October half term in 2009.  The expedition will be open to the current Years 11, 12 and 13 and, for those undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,  it can be used for the Gold expedition.  The main aim of the trip is to walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary and gain a height of something in the region of 4100 metres.   

For further information contact dmccarthy@sharnbrook.beds.sch.uk

› Click here to view course details for BTEC Outdoor Education
› Click here to view course details for BTEC First Diploma in Outdoor Education