Setting free the spirit of English in the Brecon Beacons: The value of learning outside the classroom

Abstract

In this paper, I draw on interviews with two colleagues, student comments and my own experiences of leading and developing a two day residential course for A Level English Language students at the beginning of Year 12 to explore the role that out‐of‐school learning can have in ‘setting free the spirit of English’. I argue that not only is it possible to use creative and imaginative approaches to learning in English within the constraints of the curriculum but also that these approaches are valuable experiences which can underpin and enhance pupils’ learning.

Key words:

• Independent learning
• personal engagement
• liberating constraints
• out‐of‐school learning
• A Level English Language

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank members of the English Faculty at Kings of Wessex School and particularly Penny Anderson and Sarah Knightley for their contributions to this paper. I would also like to thank Jane Peacegood, director of Perth‐y‐pia Outdoor Adventure Centre for permission to include reference to the centre in this paper.

Notes

1 The Arvon Foundation owns four beautiful, isolated centres in the UK where they run residential creative writing courses for adults and school groups. The tutors on the courses are professional writers.