b"Personal DevelopmentPersonal Development CurriculumWe want to develop happy, confident learnersOutdoor Education prepared for adulthood; in order to do this we need toA review of research focusing on the more develop critical thinking, problem solving skills,adventurous kinds of outdoor learning carried out by improve students' abilities to concentrate, and makeJon Barrett and Roger Greenaway commissioned by learning more meaningful, valuable, and rewarding.the Foundation for Outdoor Adventure, 1995, found Personal development activities promote these skills,that outdoor adventure can cause short-term are fun and help students to become more engagedenhancement of aspects of self-concepts such as in their learning and retain more information.gains in self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy and can have significant mental and Swimmingphysical health benefits.Various developmental We want all of our students to be able to swim by thebenefits are associated with regular physical exercise time they leave Epinay because drowning is the thirdsuch as humour, patience, energy, optimism, self-most common cause of accidental death in students. confidence, self-esteem, self-assurance, emotional All students should have the opportunity to learn howstability and improved body-image.Strong to swim and be taught how to stay safe in and aroundanecdotal evidence indicates that outdoor adventure water. Many students learn to swim outside of school.experiences can enhance interpersonal relationships But research has shown for many, school will be theand improve socialisation, and can facilitate group only opportunity they have to learn these vitalbonding and cooperation. lifesaving skills (Swim England). Forest School and Bushcraft DanceWe want to develop emotionally resilient and socially At Epinay, we aspire to develop the whole studentable students. A recent study published in 2019 and ensure our students experience an enrichedauthored by Mel McCree, Roger Cutting, and Dean curriculum. Research has shown studying culturalSherwin, tracked disadvantaged Key Stage 1 education subjects, such as art and design, dance,students over three years of weekly Forest School drama and music, sparks creativity across thesessions. Key findings were evident changes in curriculum, encouraging young people to bestudents self-regulation and resilience, students inquisitive, disciplined and determined. Whereveracademic attainment, social development, and students start in life, a high quality cultural educationemotional wellbeing increased as a result of Forest in every school should be a right, not a privilege.School, and did well in comparison to peers who(Arts Council England)Page 10"