About you
3. What is your name?
Name
(Required)
Ann Marie Stafford
Key questions
1. Do you agree that every local authority school pupil and pupils in grant-aided schools should have the opportunity to attend a course of residential outdoor education?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Ticked
Agree, or partially agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Disagree
Please provide your response in the box provided.
I am a teacher of 30 years and a head teacher of 12 years. I currently work as a HT in an area where 84% of my pupils are SIND 1 or 2. For me the residential trip is about experiences; leaving home for a week/weekend doing outdoor activities that don’t rely on technology, being pushed way out if your comfort zone having to work in a team with your friends and peers, managing things like making your own bed, choosing what you wear, choosing a meal. It’s about developing lifelong skills; independence, resilience etc I work very hard to ensure every child in my school gets to go as often the parents struggle with the cost. We fund raise or use my PEF to supplement.
2. What are your thoughts on the stage at which pupils should be entitled to this residential outdoor education? Do you think this should be set in guidance or should it be on the face of the Bill?
Please provide your response in the box provided.
Upper Prinary school P7. It’s the perfect time.
3. The Bill requires the Scottish Government to provide funding for the provision of residential outdoor education. What do you think about this measure?
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Excellent as cost is often by a barrier. It would however, be better if local authorities all had their own centre as they do in Glasgow s then it’s not for profit.
4. Do you have any other comments?
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O have gone on residential trip with V my children every year for the last 20 years (except for the Covid years). I ha pi my do this as we are the next best thing to parents and know and can support the children well. The children also love seeing us out of our comfort zone. However, residential trips rely on teachers giving up their own free time with no additional remittance. It would be nice if we could give them just a little extra today thank you.