"Evidence shows that learning outside of the classroom brings benefits to pupils such as deeper subject learning, increased self confidence and raised achievement. It can also help young people to understand and manage risk."
DCSF statement, January 2008
Links to the National Curriculum
With your needs in mind, we have a produced a resource for teachers, unique to PGL, called learnlink™ to help you identify how our courses enrich your pupils' education and give them a relevant and meaningful out of classroom experience.
Clear information spells out the links between our courses and the themes, levels and attainment targets of the National Curriculum and QCA Schemes of Work from Key Stage 2 through to post 16, directly relating the content of our courses back to the work you are doing every day in school.
This information covers subjects from Geography to Citizenship, History to Modern Languages, PE to PSHE and more. There are also specific links to all our Overseas Adventure courses and our Ski and Snowboarding trips.
Learning Outside the Classroom
As a good teacher you have always known that teaching and learning cannot be limited to the classroom. You want to see pupils reach their potential, and you know that experience gained from a school trip stretches far beyond the academic to include raising self-confidence, self-esteem and motivation.
Perhaps most importantly, being with young people outside the classroom helps you remember too, how rewarding your work can be and why you chose to become a teacher.
Supporting Success at School
When you take your pupils out of school and on a PGL trip you want to be sure that it will benefit their performance back at school. You want to know that their attainment and motivation will improve; that the trip you run will help to stimulate their interest in school; that in the long term this enthusiasm will translate into better results at all levels.
With this in mind, PGL courses reinforce the principles of the Every Child Matters campaign, specifically supporting the five stated aims for our young people:
• Be healthy
Our courses introduce young people to a range of sports and activities, often for the first time. In many cases, even those who do not excel at sport in a school context will develop a new interest, and recognise through their experience at PGL, that healthy outdoor pursuits, combined with healthy eating, can be exhilarating and enjoyable.
• Stay safe
Teaching young people how to assess and deal with risk themselves is both realistic and beneficial. Not only does PGL lead the market in setting the standards of safety at our centres, but young people are also encouraged to consider for themselves the risks involved in their various activities.
• Enjoy and achieve
Every teacher knows that if you can engage your pupils in something they enjoy, they will learn almost without effort. Our philosophy is all about the power of enjoyment leading to the greatest achievements.
• Make a positive contribution
Your pupil's experience at PGL is all about learning social and interpersonal skills, learning to value and give encouragement and support, and seeing the world from a new perspective.
• Achieve economic well-being
A course at PGL contributes in no small way to young people's motivation, and our range of courses means that you can even target their learning and enthusiasm with courses in specific curriculum areas.