Outdoor Education for All!

We are lucky. Our location allows a wide range of activities using the great outdoors. Through this we hope to foster qualities of leadership and self-reliance.

OMH Voyage of Discovery - “Breathing new life into Saturday morning school.”

Our location in the Isle of Purbeck is stunning; the World Heritage Jurassic Coast is a mile away, Poole Harbour on our doorstep.  We have scope for climbing, orienteering, mountain biking and climbing all in our back yard. 

So, academic lessons no longer occur on Saturdays and between a half and two-thirds of pupils turn up voluntarily for our innovative Voyage of Discovery Award (VODA as it is affectionately known).  We make bivouacs, learn to track in the forest, help clear Swanage beach and learn new sports as well as Ray Mears’ Survival skills.

The children enjoy themselves; they are challenged and their academic performance on Monday morning undoubtably benefits.  

Expeditions Week; the penultimate week of the Summer Term

We start gently, camping with years 3 and 4 in the school grounds for part of the week and the Pre-Prep join us.  Year 5 graduates to a mini-expedition within the school site to improve camp skills for future trips. Year 6 camp move out into  Langton and Year 7 move further afield to spend the week on the edge of Poole Harbour. 

During the week we all make use of the wonderful facilities in our local area; sailing, canoeing, rock climbing are but a few of the activities. 

Our final year boys and girls take part in a major expedition; in 2006 this was to Snowdonia.