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Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Liz Smith MSP introduced this Member’s Bill. It will establish that all pupils in state and grant-aided schools will have the chance to experience at least four nights and five days of residential outdoor education during their school career.

This is a Member's bill

The Bill was introduced on 20 June 2024 and is at Stage 1

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

At the moment, schools do not have to provide residential outdoor education. Some schools do provide it for pupils, but many do not, especially for children and young people in deprived areas where costs can be a burden. The cost of these trips can mean schools cannot provide them.

The aim of this Bill is to change this so that all school pupils get the chance to have four nights and five days residential outdoor education. The Scottish Ministers must ensure that there is funding to allow this to happen.

Residential outdoor education can take place in many settings, including:

  • outdoor centres
  • youth hostels
  • camps
  • sailing boats

It can involve activities such as:

  • learning about nature and the outdoors
  • adventurous activities
  • personal development
  • teamwork
  • curricular subjects (such as biology and geography)

The Bill does not cover pupils who attend independent schools. However, where local authorities pay the fees of children and young people attending an independent school, they must consider whether the pupil will be provided a residential outdoor education experience.

Why the Bill was created

Liz Smith MSP believes that outdoor education is one of the most valuable and rewarding learning experiences that a school pupil can have. 

In particular, she believes that a residential outdoor education, where a pupil can be in an environment very far removed from their usual everyday situations can be life-changing.

Liz Smith MSP also thinks that residential outdoor education can help young people develop lifelong connections to the natural environment and increases their self-esteem, self-reliance, confidence and resilience. She believes that these experiences help them to learn about what it means to be part of a team, enhance their leadership skills and find out about the importance of valuing friendship.

The Member is worried that there has been a decline in the number of outdoor education centres in Scotland over recent years. She is concerned that this, and budget constraints, mean that many young people do not have access to residential outdoor education.

The Member is also worried about the ongoing effect of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (122KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Policy Memorandum (364KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Financial Memorandum (258KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (115KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (215KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Policy Memorandum (496KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Financial Memorandum (298KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (219KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Statements on legislative competence (159KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2024

Additional Member in charge

Brian Whittle MSP is the additional member in charge for the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill.

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research briefing on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 20 June 2024

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Timetable for Stage 1

Stage 1 Deadline

On 27 November 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-15626, that consideration of the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 28 March 2025.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Education, Children and Young People Committee.

Call for views (closed)

The Committee's call for views was open between 3 July and 4 September 2024.

Read the published responses

Read the SPICe summary of responses (201KB, pdf) posted 06 November 2024

Meetings of the lead committee

Correspondence: lead committee

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill: alternative funding models

Letter from Liz Smith MSP, 28 November 2024

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Committee to the following local authorities - Aberdeenshire Council, City Edinburgh Council, Glasgow City Council, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Council, 15 November 2024

Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

Supplementary evidence from Professor Chris Loynes, 14 November 2024

Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report: Teaching, learning, and play in the outdoors: a survey of school and pre-school provision in Scotland

Supplementary evidence from Professor Greg Mannion, 6 November 2024

Equality Impact Assessment for Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Letter from Liz Smith MSP, 9 October 2024

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The lead committee will publish its Stage 1 report before the debate on the general principles of the Bill.

Work by other committees

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Finance and Public Administration Committee Correspondence

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum - Letter of 2 December 2024

Letter from Liz Smith, Member in Charge of the Bill, to the Convener of 2 December 2024

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill - Letter of 13 November 2024

Letter from Liz Smith, Member in Charge of the Bill, to the Convener of 13 November 2024


Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meetings

Report

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 1 November 2024.

Read the report