Academic Education Is Incomplete Without Personal Growth

As a leading provider of outdoor education in London and Surrey, SOLD know all too well the benefits for young people that come from incorporating the outdoors across the school curriculums. From building character and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices to aiding social, physical, and emotional development, outdoor learning has too many benefits to ignore, which is why it is so encouraging to see more and more schools making it a vital part of lessons for all ages. But, with mandated testing still seeming to focus on traditional learning, is personal growth still being undervalued in comparison to academic education?

We all know that schooling is vitally important, but it is widely acknowledged that many teachers and students feel put under pressure by the current system. Indeed, a survey of school leaders in 2017 found that 8/10 felt fear of academic failure led to increasing mental health issues for students around exam time. Traditional exams do not measure things like teamwork, emotional regulation, determination, self control, and other important character traits, but teaching and nurturing these personal skills in a child can help them to feel more prepared/confident and lessen the stress of academic expectations.

Character building is a vital part of any child's upbringing, and should take place alongside academic education in order to produce well rounded individuals. After all, academic skills and personal qualities all feed into one another. In fact, self development often leads to improved academic performance, usually due to children feeling more engaged in the learning process and more likely to self motivate at home and in the classroom.

Thankfully, the growing endorsement of outdoor education by government bodies proves that policy makers are realising that a sole focus on exams is missing the point of schooling; education should take a holistic approach to the student and consider personal development as well as qualifications. So called "non-cognitive" social and emotional skills may not be something that can be added to a CV, but are essential for navigating school, the workplace, and the little day to day experiences of life itself!

Encouraging character development sees an improvement in physical health, improved social interactions, and overall wellbeing. This proves especially effective when children are actively taking part in their education, and are working towards manageable set goals. It is also most successful when combined with time outside, which is why outdoor learning, school trips, and Brilliant Residentials are less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

If you're looking to unlock your students' potential with outdoor education in London or Surrey, SOLD have a number of courses and residential offerings available for just this purpose - we can even discuss bespoke options and ensure that SEND students can participate along with their peers. Browse our education options today, or contact us with your questions or enquiries - we're always happy to help! Or, if you want to find out more about the benefits of outdoor education and Brilliant Residentials, visit Learning Away's website.