Year 4 pupils from Lightwoods Primary Academy completed a three-day residential visit to Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre in Bewdley. The trip provided an outdoor learning programme designed to build independence, teamwork and resilience.
The group engaged in a range of bushcraft and adventure activities, including shelter building, learning how to light a fire and cooking bread. Pupils also took on high rope challenges, crate skating, archery and geocaching, alongside woodland exploration and a structured challenge course.
Set within 90 acres of ancient oak woodland, the Frank Chapman Centre provides a purpose-built environment for residential education, with facilities designed to support group living and outdoor learning. Activities are delivered across forest environments and specialist adventure areas, encouraging learners to work collaboratively while developing practical skills in a natural setting.
The visit forms part of a wider approach to outdoor learning at Lightwoods Primary Academy, where forest school and outdoor education are embedded within curriculum delivery. The Academy has developed its provision to make full use of its outdoor spaces, with regular sessions providing pupils with sustained exposure to natural environments across the seasons.
Learning combines child-led exploration with structured activities that support curriculum outcomes while promoting independence, creativity and resilience, alongside a focus on wellbeing. The approach also supports targeted nurture provision for pupils who benefit from additional opportunities to develop confidence, social skills and self-esteem, contributing to both personal development and academic progress.
John Ashton, Principal at Lightwoods Primary Academy, commented: “Residential visits like this offer children a very different kind of learning experience that simply can’t be replicated in school. Away from familiar routines, pupils have to rely on one another, make decisions together and learn how to persevere when things feel challenging.
“What becomes clear very quickly is the growth in confidence and independence. Children who may be quieter or more reserved in the classroom often surprise themselves in these environments, stepping up to lead, encourage others and take on new experiences they might not otherwise have tried. That change in mindset is powerful, and it is exactly why experiences like Frank Chapman are such an important part of their development.”
The Academy said it looks forward to providing similar opportunities for pupils in the future as part of its wider commitment to outdoor learning.
