Our research indicates that teachers derive a range of benefits from accompanying their pupils on an Outward Bound course. This paper provides a summary of the evidence we currently have in this area.

1. HOW
TEACHERSBENEFITFROM
ACCOMPANYING
THEIR
PUPILSON
AN
OUTWARD
BOUND®
COURSE

2. HOW TEACHERS BENEFIT FROM ACCOMPANYING THEIR PUPILS ON
AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE
Our research indicates that teachers derive a range of
benefits from accompanying their pupils on an
Outward Bound course. This paper provides a
summary of the evidence we currently have in this
area.
INTRODUCTION
At the end of three 5-day courses that ran in 2011 and 2012, we asked accompanying
teachers to tell us what they had gained, either personally or professionally, from
accompanying their pupils on the course. All 38 teachers in the sample reported that they
had benefited personally and/or professionally from their participation in the Outward
Bound course.
Analysing their feedback revealed that there were four key areas in which they benefited professionally
(see Table 1 overleaf for further details). They believed that they had:
1. Improved their relationships with their pupils
2.Benefited from observing their pupils’ achievements
3.Increased their understanding of their pupils’ abilities
4.Developed their teaching skills.
The personal benefits the teachers listed can be divided into two key categories (see Table 2
overleaf for further details):
1. Experience of challenge and achievement
2.Enjoyment of new experiences and spending time in the outdoors.
EVIDENCE GATHERED AT THE END OF A COURSE
1.

3. TABLE 1:
Key benefits related to professional development that teachers
derived from participating in an Outward Bound course:
Benefit for teacher Details
Improved relationships
with pupils
Observing pupils’ achievements
Increased
understanding of pupils’
abilities
Development of teaching skills
The course provided an opportunity for the teachers
to get to know, and build rapport with, their pupils.
The teachers derived satisfaction from observing their
pupils’ achievements and progress over the five days.
The course helped the teachers develop a better
understanding of the level of challenge with which
their pupils are able to cope.
The teachers were inspired by The Outward Bound
Trust’s instructors.
The course helped the teachers develop their teaching
skills, such as skills in planning and structuring activities.
The teachers learnt new teaching methods and gained
ideas from the Outward Bound instructors that they
planned to incorporate in their own teaching.
TABLE 2:
Key benefits related to personal development that teachers
derived from participating in an Outward Bound course:
Benefit for teacher Details
Experience of challenge and
achievement
Enjoyment of new experiences
and spending time in the
outdoors
The teachers benefited from being challenged and
achieving more than they had thought they could.
The course provided an opportunity for the teachers
to spend time in natural surroundings, take part in
outdoor activities they had not tried before and
develop an appreciation for outdoor pursuits.
2.
HOW TEACHERS BENEFIT FROM ACCOMPANYING THEIR PUPILS ON
AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE

4. EVIDENCE GATHERED THROUGH OUR
FOLLOW-UP SURVEY
Further evidence of the benefits teachers derive from participating in an Outward Bound
course is provided by the results of our follow-up survey for teachers. This is sent to them
approximately one month after they have accompanied their pupils on a 5-day Adventure
& Challenge course.
We analysed teachers’ responses to the question, “Has participating on the Outward Bound
course helped you as a teacher in any way?”1 Their answers fell into categories that are
similar to the ‘professional development’ categories we identified when we analysed the
teachers’ end-of-course feedback (see Table 3 overleaf for details). The largest number of
responses provided by the teachers referred to improved relationships with their pupils.
The development of knowledge, skills and ideas that would help them to be more effective in
their role as a teacher was the category into which the second largest number of responses
fell.
WE ARE MORE AWARE OF PUPILS' CAPABILITIES AND
WE HAVE A HIGHER EXPECTATION OF THEIR ABILITIES
TO WORK IN TEAMS.
ACCOMPANYING TEACHER, 2012
THE KEY LESSON FROM AN OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCE FOR A SCHOOL TEACHER
IS THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING BACK AND LETTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE GET IN
WITH IT AND LEARN THROUGH EXPERIENCE - AND TARGETING SUPPORT IN A
CONSIDERED WAY. KNOWING WHEN NOT TO HELP OR DIRECT IS A KEY LESSON . AS
TEACHERS WE TEND TO BE OVER-DIRECTIVE - PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THE
'RESULTS' CULTURE WHICH VALUES PAPER OUTCOMES MORE THAN FUNCTIONAL
COMPETENCIES.
ACCOMPANYING TEACHER, 2012
THIS HAS DEVELOPED MY SKILLS IN WORKING WITH
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. IT HAS SHOWN ME
ADDITIONAL SKILLS IN GROUP MANAGEMENT, TEAM
BUILDING/TEAM WORK AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE.
ACCOMPANYING TEACHER, 2012
1
Responses to the follow-up survey for teachers were made between February 2011 and January 2013. The sample included
76 teachers’ responses.
3.
HOW TEACHERS BENEFIT FROM ACCOMPANYING THEIR PUPILS ON
AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE
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5. TABLE 3:
Key ways in which teachers believed that participating in an
Outward Bound course had helped them in their role:
Key outcome area
for teacher
Details
Improved relationships
with pupils
Developed skills and knowledge
that could improve their
teaching ability
Increased understanding of
pupils’ abilities
Continued use of the pupils’
Outward Bound experience to
support their learning
e.g. got to know pupils better; gained a greater
understanding of pupils’ lives.
e.g. gained new ideas for teaching; gained knowledge/
insights that led them to adapt their teaching style;
learnt from working alongside the Outward Bound
instructors; learnt from working outside of the
classroom.
e.g. increased understanding of pupils’ capabilities
and higher expectations of them as a result of this;
improved awareness of pupils’ strengths and areas
for development.
e.g. opportunity to make links to the pupils’
Outward Bound experience back in the classroom;
to aid their learning and help them overcome
challenges.
Other e.g. saw pupils in a different light/environment;
observed pupils’ achievements; increased teachers’
confidence in trying new activities; enabled teachers
to fulfil elements of the curriculum.
SUMMARY
Our research indicates that teachers derive a range of benefits from accompanying their
pupils on an Outward Bound course. Professionally, they benefit from observing their
pupils’ progress and achievements during the course, improving their relationships with
their pupils and increasing their understanding of their pupils’ abilities. Through working
alongside our instructors, they develop knowledge and skills that will help them to be more
effective teachers.
In addition, when they return to school, they are able to continue to use their pupils’
Outward Bound experience to support their learning and personal development.
Participating in an Outward Bound course also contributes to teachers’ personal
development through providing them with positive and enjoyable experiences in the
outdoors, challenging them and enabling them to achieve more than they had thought
possible.
4.
HOW TEACHERS BENEFIT FROM ACCOMPANYING THEIR PUPILS ON
AN OUTWARD BOUND COURSE

6.
EMMA FERRIS
Head of Impact
Evaluation
Tel: 020 3301 6483
Mobile: 07841 673478
emma.ferris@outwardbound.org.uk
This document has been prepared by The Trust’s Evaluation Team. If you would
like any further information, please use the contact details below:
KATE WOODWARD
Research and Evaluation
Coordinator
Tel: 020 3301 6492
kate.woodward@outwardbound.org.uk
®
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