LOtC press release
World Challenge awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
World Challenge has been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge. Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge combines for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the curriculum. The Quality Badge scheme is part of the Government’s £4.5m Out and About package which, along with the badges, provides guidance and information for teachers on how to plan and organise high quality activities. The badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits. Organisations will display the badge as a signal to schools that their venue has met required standards, so teachers do not need to carry out their own risk or quality assessments.
Julian Penney, Risk and Operations Director at World Challenge commented, “As a company we have been setting high standards in the provision of overseas expeditions since 1987 and leading the way in terms of safety and back up systems. To now have a set of standards that unify the industry is an extremely positive move for schools, parents, Local Authorities and providers alike.”
There are two routes to the Quality Badge. Route one is for organisations offering activities that are considered relatively low risk and activities that take place wholly in controlled areas used by the public, such as museums, galleries, places of worship and zoos. Route two is for organisations providing activities that require a degree of technical knowledge and experience. This would include adventurous activities such as rock climbing and river and coastal fieldwork where young people enter the water to make measurements.
World Challenge was assessed as having met and exceeded the numerous quality indicators following a rigorous seven day inspection.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State Children, Schools and Families, said, “Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life. Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place. It is a significant victory in our battle to move away from the misguided perception that learning outside the classroom is a potential minefield for teachers. I want to see teachers using Quality Badges as practical decision making tool. It should ensure that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate World Challenge on being awarded the badge.”
The Quality Badge is available to large and small organisations providing quality learning outside the classroom experiences and managing risk effectively. Organisations already awarded the badge include museums, adventurous activity and field study centres, places of worship, art galleries, visitor attractions and farms, with many more starting to apply.
For more information about the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, please visit www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk
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