Curricular outdoor learning in Scotland

Abstract

Historically, milestones such as the 1944 Education Act and 1945 Education Act encouraged the use of the outdoors and the development of appropriate 'camps', and aided the widespread development of outdoor education across Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s. The significance of Scotland's contribution to the international agenda stems from the position that outdoor learning and learning for sustainability hold within and across the country's educational and political systems. Outdoor learning is commonly used within Scotland as it reflects the way in which it is seen as an approach to learning and embedded within mainstream schooling. The philosophical shift has important implications for the identity of the teaching profession and for the provision of outdoor learning. While there has been a shift from using the term 'outdoor education' towards 'outdoor learning', both terms will be used interchangeably as we see no significant difference between them. Curriculum for excellence offers increased flexibility for cross-curricular work, and affords greater scope for teachers.