Swattenden Centre gets top marks for educational visits

The Swattenden Centre in Cranbrook, Kent, is top of the class for educational visits after being awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge is the first award to combine learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for teachers and anyone else who wants to provide learning outside the classroom.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, Mike Hill said:
“Being awarded the Quality Badge is a real coup for all the staff at Swattenden as it shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from. We're thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from the local area to our outdoor and residential centre.”

The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the national curriculum. The Quality Badge scheme is part of national Government’s £4.5m Out and About package which, along with the badges, provides guidance and information for teachers on how to plan and organise high quality activities.

The badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits. Organisations will display the badge as a signal to schools that their venue has met required standards for quality and safety.

To achieve the award, the Swattenden Centre had to meet a set of six quality indicators and now has access to ongoing support from the scheme including training materials, access to good practice examples and on-line support materials.

Beth Gardner, Chief Executive of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom said:
“Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life.  Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.

I want to see teachers using Quality Badges as practical decision making tool. It should ensure that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate The Swattenden Centre on being awarded the badge.”

The Quality Badge is available to large and small organisations that provide quality learning outside the classroom and manage risk effectively. Organisations already awarded the badge include museums, adventurous activity and field study centres, places of worship, art galleries, visitor attractions and farms, and many more are starting to apply.

The Quality Badge was developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families in conjunction with a wide range of partners. Badges are awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Kent Youth Service has a range of outdoor facilities across the county.