Our son missed the training event on 2/3/26 due to illness on the day. He was later told there would be some sort of catch up event which never materialised. We were called the day before the camp (1... See more
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We have used School of Outdoors for Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh. Very professional, great communications and also made it fun. Map reading and survival skills are an absolute must, and it g... See more
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Both my boys’ school uses School of Outdoors for the Expedition part of the DofE. Our younger son completed his Bronze part with them and our older one the Gold one. The company were excellent!! V... See more
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Supportive throughout the whole process in and outside of school and very easy for my son to load his evidence. As well as helping the local community, learning a new skill etc he met new people and i... See more
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Company details
About School of Outdoors
Written by the company
We constantly asking the following three questions of everyone involved, and in every situation.
1. Is it the best it can be?
2. Has there been impact?
3. Have there been meaningful connections?
Underpinning our vision and these questions is a deep rooted belief in our outdoor education and meaningful experiences in the outdoors. This is borne from the directors own journeys through the outdoors, from novice, to leader, to champion of programmes and qualifications for others.
The benefits of outdoor experiences are widely evidenced, and our belief in its ability to build confidence, skills, team work, leadership and a greater love for the outdoor environment is the foundation of all we do. We aim to build programmes that offer positive experiences for every participant. We recognise that everyone has different needs; talk to us, and we will do all we can to understand and respond to those needs.
We care. A lot. We care that every participant on every single one of courses has an enjoyable and meaningful learning journey. That our Staff are valued and deserve investment, time and to be heard. We care about connection and belonging, and design our programmes to offer every participant and Staff member the opportunity to feel part of something with consequence.
We strive for excellence, but recognise that we are also only human. We want to be the very best we can be, so we need our participants, Staff and customers to tell us what we are doing right, and if there is anything we could do better. Belonging means being heard and valued, we hope to foster an environment where everyone feels that way. Only then can we be the best we can be.
1. Is it the best it can be?
2. Has there been impact?
3. Have there been meaningful connections?
Underpinning our vision and these questions is a deep rooted belief in our outdoor education and meaningful experiences in the outdoors. This is borne from the directors own journeys through the outdoors, from novice, to leader, to champion of programmes and qualifications for others.
The benefits of outdoor experiences are widely evidenced, and our belief in its ability to build confidence, skills, team work, leadership and a greater love for the outdoor environment is the foundation of all we do. We aim to build programmes that offer positive experiences for every participant. We recognise that everyone has different needs; talk to us, and we will do all we can to understand and respond to those needs.
We care. A lot. We care that every participant on every single one of courses has an enjoyable and meaningful learning journey. That our Staff are valued and deserve investment, time and to be heard. We care about connection and belonging, and design our programmes to offer every participant and Staff member the opportunity to feel part of something with consequence.
We strive for excellence, but recognise that we are also only human. We want to be the very best we can be, so we need our participants, Staff and customers to tell us what we are doing right, and if there is anything we could do better. Belonging means being heard and valued, we hope to foster an environment where everyone feels that way. Only then can we be the best we can be.
Contact info
Sutherland Walk, HP21 7NS, Aylesbury, United Kingdom
- 0129 633 6644
- info@schoolofourdoors.uk
- schoolofoutdoors.uk
4.2
Great
147 reviews
No history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 24 hours
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What a fantastic experience!
Fantastic experience for my daughter. She thoroughly enjoyed completing her hike and felt reassured by her group leader at all times. It was lovely to hear that the leader encouraged everyone to work as a team and to see the positives in each other
June 28, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Zoe,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your daughter had such a fantastic experience with us. It’s great to know she thoroughly enjoyed her hike and felt reassured by her group leader throughout.
We believe that teamwork and positive encouragement are key to a successful adventure, and it’s lovely to hear that her leader fostered such a supportive environment.
Thank you again for sharing your feedback. If there’s anything more we can do to support your daughter in future adventures, please let us know. We hope to welcome her back for more exciting experiences soon!
Dominic
My son really enjoyed his DofE…
My son really enjoyed his DofE experience and hopefully he will do it again.
The staff members are very caring and accommodating. He had to be taken to A&E due to an accident and they took him and made sure he’s been ok until I got there. Then in the middle of the night after he got “all clear” he’s been allowed to join back in.
Thank you.
June 28, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Kasia,
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re so glad to hear that your son enjoyed his DofE experience with us and is considering doing it again.
I’m sorry to hear about his accident, but I’m pleased that Danielle and Laurence were able to provide the care and support he needed during that time. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants, and it’s great to know that they made sure he was okay and could rejoin the group once he was given the all-clear.
Thank you again for your feedback, and if there’s anything more we can do for you or your son in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We hope to see him back for his Silver soon.
Dominic
During my expedition I received…
During my expedition I received excellent help and feedback from the staff and had a very enjoyable expedition during my time.
July 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable expedition and received excellent help and feedback from our staff. It’s our goal to provide a supportive and positive experience for all participants, so it’s wonderful to know that we achieved that during your time with us.
If there’s anything more we can do to enhance your experience in the future, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We look forward to seeing you on another adventure soon!
My child thoroughly enjoyed her DofE…
My child thoroughly enjoyed her DofE experience with School of Outdoors. The assessors both for the practice walk and the real thing were really supportive and nurturing and my child and her team felt confident in completing the camp out and walk part of the award.
July 6, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that both of your children have had such positive experiences with the School of Outdoors for their DofE Expeditions. It’s fantastic to know that our assessors were supportive and nurturing, helping them feel confident during both the practice and real expeditions.
We are committed to providing an encouraging and safe environment where all participants can enjoy their journey and achieve their goals. It’s great to hear that your children felt well-supported throughout their adventures with us.
If there’s anything more we can do to assist them in their future DofE endeavors or other outdoor challenges, please let us know. We look forward to seeing them for their next level of DofE
Thank you again for your kind words and trust in us.
Dominic
bronze dofe was amazing!!
it was so much fun!! the instructors were helpful and nice too. lovely routes and would 100% participate again! thank you to my team and leaders for being amazing and making it so enjoyable.
May 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Abigail,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had so much fun and that our instructors and leaders made your experience enjoyable. It’s great to know you appreciated the routes, and we're glad to hear you’d participate again!
We truly value your feedback, and if there’s anything we could do to make your next adventure even better, please let us know. We’re always looking for ways to improve and ensure every trip is a 5-star experience.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we can't wait to welcome you back!
Dominic
My son had a great time and managed…
My son had a great time and managed well without a mobile phone making new friends along the way.
The support and preparation from the school of the outdoors was very good.
April 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear that your son had a great time and successfully managed without a mobile phone, making new friends along the way. It’s wonderful to see young people embracing the adventure and connecting with others during their DofE experience.
We’re also glad to hear that you found the support and preparation from the School of Outdoors to be very good. Our team works hard to ensure that every participant feels well-prepared and supported throughout their journey.
Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome your son back for more adventures in the future!
DEFO recomend
The best instructor taught us so much about outdoor survival, I can say I enjoyed my DofE experience and would recomend!
July 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you for the 5* review
They are helpful from start to finish…
They are helpful from start to finish from the very first meeting on zoom to the day they finished for us parents. My son said the team are kind caring and helpful and you could have a laugh with them.
June 27, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Abigail,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your son had so much fun and that our instructors and leaders made his experience enjoyable. It’s great to know he appreciated the routes, and we're glad to hear he would participate again!
We truly value your feedback, and if there’s anything we could do to make his next adventure even better, please let us know. We’re always looking for ways to improve and ensure every trip is a 5-star experience.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we can't wait to welcome him back!
Dominic
Good structure and support to the…
Good structure and support to the children.
June 16, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Neill,
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you appreciated the structure and support provided to the children during the expedition. Our team works hard to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all participants, so it’s great to know that this was reflected in your experience.
If there’s anything we could do to make the experience even better, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Your feedback is important to us as we strive to provide the best possible experience for all our participants and their families.
Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to have the opportunity to support your child in future adventures!
Well organised
Well organised and my children both got a lot out of it.
April 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you Rachel
Should never have gone ahead
Should never have gone ahead. Severe weather warning for high winds, yet the event was not rescheduled. Instructor did not meet up with my daughter's group where she should have met them - their contact was sporadic. Children were not re-routed from walking under the trees and anyone with outdoors experience knows the dangers of falling branches. My child's group had to rely on another instructor for guidance at meetup points. The campsite chosen for the night was on an open plateau - a poor place to camp with the strength of the wind. A very late call to cancel the camping was made, with the children to be dropped back the next morning. I was very disappointed in how it was run.
March 28, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m very sorry to hear about your experience and the concerns you have regarding the expedition during the severe weather conditions. The safety of all participants is our highest priority, and I sincerely apologise that the event did not meet your expectations.
I want to start by recognising your daughter’s fantastic effort and positive attitude throughout the expeditions, especially given the challenging weather. Despite the weather, she remained upbeat and was a key member of her group, helping to keep spirits high with her cheerful demeanour and even leading a yoga session during a break.
Regarding the weather, we closely monitored the forecasts and took into consideration the yellow weather warning for strong winds. Unfortunately, the weather did take an unexpected turn with thunder and lightning, which was not predicted. In light of this, our team made several on-the-spot decisions to ensure the safety of all participants, including changing plans and ultimately cancelling the camping for the night.
I’m sorry to hear that your daughter felt that relying on other instructors from our company for guidance was negative, however the whole staffing team work together to provide remote supervision as per the DofE guidance for qualifying expeditions.
We appreciate your feedback and take it very seriously as it helps us improve our operations. If you would like to discuss this further or have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Thank you again for bringing these issues to our attention.
Dominic
0129 633 6644
Good experience
My son really enjoyed the experience and felt well supported
April 18, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you
Very friendly guide that gave very good…
Very friendly guide that gave very good tips towards not only passing but enjoying the journey.
July 19, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Yicheng,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you found our guide friendly and the tips helpful for not only completing your Bronze DofE but also enjoying the journey. It’s wonderful to know that our team contributed to making your expedition a positive experience.
We hope to see you back next year for your Silver DofE! If there’s anything we can do to make your next adventure even better, please let us know. Your feedback helps us improve and ensure every participant has an amazing time.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure!
Dominic
Great Gold and Bronze experience
My sons have done gold and bronze with the School of Outdoors and everything was well run, thorough and made enjoyable
July 4, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Ali,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear that both of your sons had a great experience with us for their Gold and Bronze awards. It’s wonderful to know that everything was well-run, thorough, and enjoyable for them.
We strive to make every expedition a memorable and positive experience, so it’s fantastic to hear that we met your expectations. If there’s anything more we can do to support your sons in their future adventures, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to see your family back for more outdoor adventures soon!
Very helpgul intructors
The instructor was very helpful of my health condition and was very polite and helped me push through to succeeding and passing my dofe bronze
June 29, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Luca,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re really pleased to hear that our instructor was able to support you with your health condition and help you succeed in completing your DofE Bronze award. It’s wonderful to know that their polite and encouraging approach made a positive difference for you.
Your determination and perseverance are truly inspiring, and we’re glad we could be a part of your journey. If there’s anything else we can do to support you in the future, especially as you consider your next steps in DofE, please let us know.
Congratulations on your achievement, and we hope to see you again for your Silver award!
Dominic
My daughter completed DofE gold with…
My daughter completed DofE gold with these guys and they had an awesome time despite truly awful weather conditions. The leaders clearly really enjoyed their jobs, cared about the kids and are good at what they do!
July 16, 2023
Unprompted review
Very well organised
Very well organised, good comms. Excellent that kids were allowed to take extra layers that they didn’t have to carry as their expedition was in minus temps.
March 25, 2023
Unprompted review
Great way to learn life skills
Great way to learn life skills, adventure, explore the country in safety and generally cope with making decisions as a team not just for oneself.
May 9, 2023
Unprompted review
Trustworthy and Reliable
Detailed information conveyed both to the child and parent. Trustworthy and reliable school with lots of opportunities to build confidence and explore outdoors in a safe environment.
May 9, 2023
Unprompted review
Fairly good experience for my child.
February 13, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you for the review. If you have any info on how we can improve please drop us an email @ info@schoolofoutdoors.uk
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