Learning beyond the classroom
A journey that starts young
Pre-Prep & Prep School
In Pre-Prep, children enjoy daily access to outdoor experiences, with weekly Forest School sessions nurturing curiosity, exploration and confidence. Through shelter-building, wildlife observation, growing food and learning to use tools safely, children develop independence, creativity and a lasting connection to nature.
Bryanston’s approach becomes even more distinctive in Years 5-8, where Outdoor Learning is built directly into the timetable.
Years 5-6 explore:
Bushcraft, foraging, shelter building, camp craft, tree identification, tracking and navigation.
Years 7-8 experience:
Climbing, canoeing, caving, paddleboarding, bouldering, kayaking and orienteering.
Residentials and trips include:
Local hill walks, sailing, airfield visits, a Year 6 coastal residential, on-site expeditions for Years 7-8, and a Year 8 adventure trip to Eyri National Park (Snowdonia).
Together, these experiences create a natural bridge from Forest School to Senior School Adventure Training.
A world of opportunity on our doorstep
Bryanston sits within 450 acres of Dorset countryside, surrounded by woodland, rivers, open fields and winding trails. Here, learning extends to footpaths, on the water, on climbing walls and around campfires.
Outdoor Education is central to how we help pupils grow. It builds confidence, resilience, teamwork and independence alongside practical skills and self-knowledge.
From our youngest pupil aged three to our Sixth Formers at eighteen, what may begin as a new challenge shared with friends often becomes a lifelong passion.
Adventure Training in the Senior School
Adventure Training is a compulsory and much-loved part of the curriculum.
Year 9 begins with a residential week at Skern Lodge in North Devon. Pupils try activities such as surfing, climbing, rafting, mountain biking, caving and coastal exploration, learning to challenge themselves in a supportive environment.
Back at Bryanston, weekly sessions develop skills in mountain biking, raft building and giant paddleboarding, navigation and pioneering, fire-lighting and wild cooking.
In Year 10, pupils work in smaller teams and take on more demanding challenges including climbing, canoeing, caving, biking, bouldering, tunnelling, and team challenges. The emphasis shifts from trying new things to pushing limits and building genuine self-belief.
Major challenges and achievement
For pupils keen to go further, Bryanston offers some of the UK’s most respected outdoor challenges.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• Bronze (Year 9): Two-day local expedition
• Silver (Year 10): Three-day expedition on the Isle of Purbeck
• Gold (Year 12): Expedition options include walking in the Brecon Beacons and Eyri National Park (Snowdonia), canoeing major rivers, or horse riding in Wales.
The Award is internationally recognised and develops independence, planning skills, resilience and leadership. It is also highly valued by universities and employers alike.
Ten Tors Challenge
Each year Bryanston enters teams from Year 10 and Year 12 into this iconic Dartmoor event organised by the Army.
Pupils train throughout the year in navigation, endurance and teamwork before selected teams attempt 35 or 45-mile routes across challenging terrain. It is demanding, inspiring and unforgettable.
Outdoor opportunities for all
Beyond the curriculum, pupils can pursue a wide range of activities, including:
• Kayaking - from pool sessions to River Stour paddling and white-water trips
• Rock climbing - using the on-site tower, bouldering wall and visits to Portland, Swanage and Dartmoor
• Mountain biking - using pupil-built trails as well as local trail networks
• Sailing at Spinnaker Sailing Club and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, with team racing competitions and championships as part of the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association.
Many pupils discover interests here that shape their hobbies, friendships and ambitions long after they leave school.
Why Outdoor Education matters
Outdoor Education invites pupils to step beyond their comfort
zones
and discover
what they are truly capable of, physically, mentally and emotionally.
As adventurer Colin Mortlock wrote:
“To adventure in the natural environment is to take up a challenge that demands the best of our capabilities… fear and uncertainty are balanced by exhilaration and joy.”
At Bryanston, this philosophy underpins everything we do outdoors.
More Than Adventure
Outdoor Education at Bryanston is about more than activities. It is about confidence. It is about friendships. It is about discovering strengths you did not know you had. Join the journey. Follow our adventures: @bryoutdoored
