What can accelerate progress and attainment, improve schools and transform teaching and learning?

One answer is ‘a residential’ - and in a big way. A new study has found that residential experiences, offered in certain ways, can transform learning, teaching and schools. Learning Away, an initiative funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, was set up to explore what it is that makes a ‘brilliant residential’. In this first of three articles Chris Loynes explores the impact that the curriculum integration of a residential can have on progress and attainment. Amongst the many schools that experienced impacts on literacy as a result of outdoor residential experiences two case studies stand out. Both were tackling a problem in years five and six in which pupils, particularly boys, had begun to lose confidence and interest in literacy. Their test scores had plateaued. In both partnerships the approach to planning trips has become organic with staff and pupils suggesting topics and dates often at short notice. Both combined a visit from a creative writer with a residential to great effect.