CLOtC National Conference 2025

Dave Harvey, Outdoor learning consultant, Dave Harvey Outdoor Learning

At this interactive workshop, Dave Harvey will explore the conditions that encourage the achievement of quality outcomes of learning outside the classroom in the natural environment. After a look at the components of practice that address the current challenges faced by our clients, participants will be invited to consider how their practice and the structures around it contribute to meeting client goals. The workshop will help delegates to understand what ‘quality’ looks like and how a focus on quality can lead to improved outcomes for students.

Hilary Young, Learning Officer and Philippa Stevens, Director of Learning, Ely Cathedral

With increasing awareness of the needs of neuro-diverse students, providers need to find ways to help all students engage with and enjoy their spaces. Experts from Ely Cathedral will be exploring a range of sensory activities and resources that they use to help all learners feel confident and secure as they participate in purposeful experiences on school visits using all 5 senses. They will also be looking at ways in which sensory spaces can be used to support students with emotional needs during their visit. This will be an interactive workshop with lots of ideas and examples that can easily be applied to your setting.

Richard Pering. Senior Learning Manager, and Nicky Saunders, Learning Officer, The Royal Parks

In 2021, The Royal Parks launched its ambitious “Green Futures” project, inviting schools to bring an entire year group of KS3 and selected Y12 students out for practical conservation work three times across the year. Schools jumped at the opportunity for hands-on work that would enhance students’ wellbeing following Covid, but since then school priorities have been shifting. Join this workshop to:

• find out how we engaged 200 teenagers in practical conservation work;
• consider how in-depth interventions like this can adapt to the evolving education landscape;
• share ideas on how LOtC experiences can influence students’ career choices.

Luke Blackham, Lead Counsellor, Walsall Academy

The workshop will be designed to demonstrate how to set up and deliver micro-adventure therapies in educational settings with limited space. It will explore the concept of micro-adventure approaches to supporting wellbeing and offer case study examples of this approach. Luke Blackham, from Walsall Academy, will offer examples of both one to one and group work interventions. Delegates attending this workshop will gain an understanding of the micro-adventure approach to wellbeing, identify the benefits to using such an approach, how to apply it to their own work and analyse potential impacts.

Robin Johnson, Museum Consultant, Group for Education in Museums

This session will resonate with any LOtC providers throughout the UK who are considering amendments and adaptations to their learning services in order to help their audiences be inspired and flourish within sometimes rigid curriculum guidelines.

This session will outline the ways in which GEM (Group for Education in Museums) have supported museums, archives and libraries in Wales to react positively to the demands of the new and innovative Curriculum for Wales and showcases examples of good practice in this field both in terms of successful school partnerships and workforce development.

Andy Taylor, LOtC Quality Badge Advisor, CLOtC

CLOtC will explain how you can use the LOtC Quality Badge to ensure you meet the needs of your school clients. This workshop will explore the framework of Quality Indicators that helps you look at your current practice and determine any areas for development. It is relevant to all providers including those who already hold the LOtC Quality Badge and those that are considering applying. 

Julie Green, Education & Learning Manager , Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Offering an arts education workshop, the Learning team from Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter will demonstrate how to spark interest and develop skills to inspire future career pathways in the creative industries. Exploring the power of story as its theme,  the team will demonstrate how creative approaches and filmmaking techniques can give delegates opportunities to explore their own authentic voice. Participants will be taken through the Script to Screen process and will try their hand at becoming Harry Potter Foley artists.

Gemma Roberson Head of Safeguarding & SEND, and Maxine Roberts, Head of Resourcing and EDI, PGL Travel

In this workshop, delegates will learn more about how PGL has embraced inclusivity when working with guests and colleagues at PGL Beyond.  

The session will be split into two sections, the first focusing on guests lead by Gemma Roberson Head of Safeguarding & SEND. The second section focusing on colleagues, lead by Maxine Roberts, Head of Resourcing and EDI.  

This workshop aims to support you in developing your strategy to being more inclusive when working with guests and colleagues.  

Jenna Smith, Research & Evaluation Manager, and Paul Marshalsea, Head of Education Partnerships, The Outward Bound Trust

This workshop is an opportunity to reflect on how and why we use impact evaluation. Using The Outward Bound Trust’s own journey with evaluation to set the scene, Jenna and Paul will help you think about planning your own evaluation practice and reflect on the ways in which you can use it to demonstrate learning; whether to provide evidence to stakeholders, and/or to support the bigger picture of your organisation’s mission and understanding the students you work with.

Gill Harvey, STF External Affairs/Membership Director, School Travel Forum, and Graham Lodge, Chair of The OEAP

Suitable for both schools and providers. Educational visits overseas can be a life-changing experience for young people and have a huge impact on building confidence, resilience, and relationships, as well as providing lasting memories. However, for teachers, these LOtC experiences require a bit more rigorous planning. This autumn, the European Union will be adopting new Entry and Exit Systems (EES) – at this session, Gill Harvey, CEO from School Travel Forum, will be offering information about these changes and some information on what will be required when going through passport control at ports and airports, and Graham Lodge, Outdoor Education Advisor, will be on-hand to offer practical advice for teachers and staff attending overseas visits.

Julian Penney, Managing Director, Pharos Response

What are the key priorities for Visit Leaders, EVCs and providers to follow in the event of an emergency? At this workshop, Managing Director Julian Penney from Pharos Response – the UK’s leading crisis management provider for schools – will provide top tips for what and what not to do!

Claire Williams, Deputy Head, Dan y Coed School

Suitable for both schools and providers, this workshop will look at how Gold LOtC Mark school: Dan Y Coed have worked with their staff to build confidence in taking students with additional needs off-site. Clare, Deputy Head, will also talk about how they have developed relationships with many providers and helped them to understand the needs of their students.

Stuart Cragg and Alan Wheatley, Farm School Leaders, Farms for City Children

During an immersive 5-day residential visit, Farms for City Children offer young people the chance to participate in producing, harvesting, cooking and serving food to share with each other around the dinner table. The simple hands-on, practical nature of this experience allows children to gain a deeper connection to their food and supports them to make the link between good nutrition and their health and wellbeing.

At this workshop, Farms for City Children farm school leaders will share their experiences of how children respond to this offer and present the outcomes they have observed. Delegates will be invited to share their ideas and experiences of offering experiential learning opportunities – related to growing, farming, food or wider – and the positive impacts they have seen or evaluated. The group will then reflect on how these ideas can translate into a variety of different settings or activities to enable providers to support students to thrive as a result of the learning experiences offered.

Nick Pratt, Director / Head of Safeguarding, Independent Safeguarding Service

Suitable for both schools and providers, this workshop will consider statutory safeguarding arrangements and how to ensure compliance for any organisation delivering services to children. It will consider the duties on commissioning organisations (such as schools) and how to approach safeguarding compliance vetting as part of their statutory obligations. The workshop will also provide practical advice on how leaders can oversee safeguarding arrangements within their organisation to ensure staff and students are kept safe.

The facilitator (Nick Pratt) has over 20 years’ experience in statutory safeguarding roles, including 10 years as a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) which brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to help participants to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

Stephen Billington, Head of Lifelong Learning, The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

Suitable for both schools and providers. Case study of a six-week programme of support for disengaged KS3 students and their parents. The Dockyard Project uses STEM activities and Arts Award opportunities using the historic buildings and warships of the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The workshop highlights the flexibility and adaptability of the programme, and how it could work with other school and organisation partnerships nationally.