New – Outdoor Adventure Course!

Published by Windermere School on Thursday 4th of April 2024

Outdoor Adventure plays a pivotal role in life at Windemere School, and as such we are extremely excited that from September 2024, we will offer a vocational course in Outdoor Adventure and Sport for Sixth Form students.

Situated in the heart of the English Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by mountains and with outstanding facilities, including our own private watersports centre, Windemere School is ideally placed for those with a passion for the outdoors. In fact, we would argue there are no better facilities around than the outdoor playground of the Lake District.

From the age of 7 children begin our unique Outdoor Adventure programme, which continues throughout Senior School, and will now have the option to culminate the journey at Sixth Form with a NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity (Outdoors).

Taught by our highly qualified and experienced Sport and Outdoor Education staff, this 2-year course can be studied alongside a BTEC in Business Studies or a combination of IB subjects as part of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). Students gaining a Distinction*, earn 112 points; the equivalent of two A Levels at A*.

The course has been purposely designed for those who prefer practical work to formal examinations and is continuously assessed throughout the two years. As well as classroom-based modules, regularly supporting our Junior Adventure programme and undertaking a week’s placement in an Outdoor Education centre, a significant amount of time is spent taking part in activities such as sailing, windsurfing, climbing, caving, paddling, mountain biking and navigation.

This qualification will develop confident, principled, hard-working individuals, who are not averse to risk taking, know that failing is a crucial part of learning, and are equally as comfortable working individually or as part of a team. There is enormous value in developing your skills and experience on a course with enthusiastic and like-minded people.

Students who have been successful have gone to further education, becoming physiotherapists, sport coaches and teachers with many managing their own businesses or choosing to undertake additional outdoor education qualifications, such as NGB Instructor Certificates.