Impacts and Benefits of Winter Residentials - Brilliant Residentials
Through extensive action research, Learning Away has gathered profound evidence that shows that school residentials have a transformative impact on everyone involved.
It is believed transformation is greater the sooner a residential takes place in the school year. Yet residentials in schools are more likely to take place in the summer term, just as the teacher is saying goodbye to their class.
Here are six benefits of taking students’ on a winter residential supported by the evidence collected through the Learning Away action research:
BENEFIT 1: Boost resilience and wellbeing
Residentials improve students’ resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing. Students are more willing to try something new and ask for help, push themselves and participate in class. Imagine teaching a class with more self-belief for the rest of the school year after going on a winter residential.
87% of secondary students felt more confident to try new things after a residential
BENEFIT 2: Increase engagement with learning
Residentials improve students’ engagement with learning, including positive changes in behaviour and attendance. Going on a residential in the winter months will give them a passion for learning which can live on throughout the year.
72% of primary pupils said that their behaviour at school is better after a residential and 71% of secondary pupils felt more strongly motivated to learn
BENEFIT 3: Embed learning back in school
Going on a winter residential allows time for learning and development to be embedded back in school. We know residentials have a long term impact on students’ progress and attainment when followed up on their return to school.
77% of pupils said the way they were taught on the residential will help them do better in the subject in question
BENEFIT 4: Foster deeper relationships
Residentials foster deeper relationships which are sustained back in school. The sooner a teacher gets to know their pupils, the sooner they can ‘set them up for success’. Winter residentials allow relationships between staff and students to become more trusting and respectful back in the classroom. Students get to know teachers as individuals; staff gain a better understanding of their students and how to respond to them.
79% of primary pupils said they know their teacher better as a result of their residential and 84% of secondary students said they get on better with others in their class
BENEFIT 5: Discover new learning opportunities
The longer nights and shorter days offer new learning opportunities on an outdoor residential:
- Try out astronomy
- Take a night walk
- Go exploring in the dark
- Enjoy exhilarating winter weather
The beginning of the school year is also a great time of year to kick start key subjects with inspiring hands on learning indoors.
BENEFIT 6: Greater return on investment
Winter residentials can also be more affordable giving schools the benefit of a greater return on investment.
Find out more:
Website: http://learningaway.org.uk
