IT is a new centre that aims to give students a real breath of fresh air.
Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow has opened a new Wilderness Campus in Cairngorms National Park, thanks to a generous six-figure donation from former rector, John Duff.
The launch of the campus is part of a wide-ranging educational strategy implemented throughout the school since the appointment of rector Ian Munro two years ago, which seeks to add genuine breadth and innovation to the curriculum.
The 36-year-old, who is the youngest headmaster of any HMC independent school in the world, said: “We are indebted to John Duff. His generosity will play a defining role in the education of our pupils for generations to come.”
“Mr Duff has travelled and explored all of his adult life – there are only two countries in the world he has not set foot in. His spirit of adventure will form the bedrock of the curriculum at our Wilderness Campus.
He added: “A growing body of educational research provides a clear rationale for working with youngsters in the outdoors. Doing so brings the curriculum alive, it aids an understanding of the natural environment and related issues of sustainability, and it supports the development of confidence and resilience through adventure and expedition. Indeed, I believe a significant part of learning and growth should happen outside the classroom.”
Situated in Strathdon, just two miles from the Lecht Ski Centre, the campus will give pupils year-round access to mountain ranges, glens, forests and rivers. A full-time head of outdoor learning, Bex Currie, has been appointed to head up the campus.
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