Our work with secondary schools
In January 2023, we were granted the exciting opportunity to become a member of the innovative Sheffield SAFE Taskforce, a Department for Education funded crime reduction programme for schools. This opportunity enabled us to expand our reach and engage some of the most vulnerable and at risk groups from Sheffield secondary schools.
We connected these young people to the outdoors to bring about positive change and personal development, helping them to reach their full potential.
Bespoke interventions were delivered in the enchanting surroundings of the Peak District National Park and Grenoside Woods using tried and tested outdoor adventure challenges (rock climbing, caving, abseiling) and creative bushcraft tasks to engage students in a new way of learning and living.
Through the SAFE programme, Adventure Expeditions developed expertise in working with a wide range of secondary schools facing different issues. We have increased our understanding of our students’ individual needs, their risk factors, and how to offer effective interventions to address these.
As the SAFE programme draws to a close in March 2025, Adventure Expeditions are committed to continuing our collaborative work with secondary schools, including offering our expertise to new schools throughout the region.
The SAFE Programme - Support, Attend, Fulfil, Exceed
The SAFE Programme was initiated by the Department for Education in response to the Beating Crime Plan, July 2021. Work began in January 2022 to identify ten UK regions highly affected by youth violence and provide each with an experienced taskforce of members to help tackle issues. SAFE was a schools-led programme, where secondary schools took charge of deciding appropriate interventions and designating places to relevant students. In Sheffield the SAFE Programme was overseen by Learn Sheffield.
The overarching aims of the SAFE Programme were to:
- Reduce involvement in serious violence
- Improve social and emotional regulation
- Improve attendance, reduce exclusions/ suspensions
- Improve behaviour in school and in the local area
Adventure Expeditions as a SAFE Programme Provider
Adventure Expeditions was selected by Learn Sheffield as a provider capable of meeting the aims of SAFE through delivery of outdoor adventure activities. We began delivery in January 2023 and delivery continued until March 2025. In the summer of 2023, in response to positive feedback from our partner schools, our allocations increased allowing us to work with even more new schools across Sheffield.
Our exciting activities act as a vehicle to challenge groups to engage physically and emotionally. Outdoor adventure activities were especially effective at motivating those students who were otherwise difficult to engage in mainstream education. Our experienced, multi-disciplinary team then worked to develop a whole range of practical and emotional skills with the young people through activities that were out of their comfort zones and pushed them to be more open and trusting with each other and staff. From this position we were able to focus on developing prosocial skills and personal growth which aimed to improve: attendance, attainment, confidence, conflict resolution, team work and anger management. We found developing these areas reduced risk factors in young people, improved behaviour in school, and helped students work towards the wider aims of the SAFE Programme.
Adventure Education - Our current offer to secondary schools
We used our expertise gained from designing and delivering the SAFE Programme to develop a range of Adventure Education provisions suitable for secondary schools to engage your learners on both shorter and longer term basis.
Adventure Expeditions is not currently established as an Alternative Provision provider for secondary schools. However, our involvement in the SAFE Programme means we have the equivalent quality assurance as a safe and effective provider of Secondary Education.
The schools we have worked with to date have reported participants of Adventure Education interventions see improvement in the following areas:
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Negotiation skills
- Patience, attention, focus
- Confidence
- Self-esteem
- Self-regulation (managing emotions, self control, mindfulness)
- Resilience
- Flexible thinking and adaptability
- Practical skills
- Physical health
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
We encourage secondary schools to contact us to find out more about our provisions and how we can work with your school. We have worked with schools who were able to redirect Alternative Provision budgets to fund our provision for their students, and schools who found alternative means of funding. Download our Schools Brochure 2025 to find out more:
Brochure
Our Activities
Weaselling - a dynamic exploration of locations like Higgar Tor, Burbage or Stanage where participants crawl, climb, and squeeze through the gaps and tunnels in the boulder fields.
Climbing - participants will be coached in climbing and belaying techniques by our climbing instructors and will climb rope routes at Stanage, Burbage, Millstone Edge and Lawrencefield. We also offer an indoor session at Awesome Walls in Sheffield.
Abseiling - our abseiling team sets up a thirty metre line from Millers Dale bridge for participants to abseil down over the river Wye. This provides a unique and high octane activity for participants.
Caving - the group gets the opportunity to explore Giant’s Cave above Castleton with our knowledgeable caving instructors, an accessible but exciting cave with a range of tunnels, climbs, and a waterfall.
Bushcraft - at our site in Grenoside woods we teach survival skills like fire lighting, shelter building, foraging, and cookery. Using knives, axes, and saws to process wood for fires and for making handmade tools.
Walking - we offer a range of walks in the Peak District from explorative walks around Padley Gorge to challenging ridge walks from Mam Tor to Hope.
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Teacher Feedback
Here’s what one teacher’s said about outdoor learning with Adventure Expeditions:
‘Outdoor education has proven to be incredibly beneficial for young people of Ecclesfield offering them experiences that foster personal growth, resilience, and a deeper connection with the environment.
Being in nature encourages physical activity, which has improved mental and physical health, reduced stress, and enhanced overall well-being. Outdoor learning also promotes problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills, skills that our young people need in life situations, helping them to move forward and learn to navigate issues in a hands-on way.
Additionally, time spent in natural settings has improved focus, boosted confidence, and built self-reliance— qualities that translate to better performance in school and in personal relationships. By stepping out of the traditional classroom, the young people have gained a broader perspective on their place in the world, along with a sense of responsibility towards protecting it.’
Student Mentor and Engagement Officer, Ecclesfield School
Student Feedback
Here’s what students said about our activities …
‘I felt calmer outdoors, in school there are 30 kids in one class and people misbehave. Out here there’s 14 of us and so we get more attention and can learn more. I have learnt about safety outdoors, it’s improved my confidence to spend time outside now, not just on these days.’
Year 8 Student, Ecclesfield School
‘Abseiling was my favourite thing because at first you might be scared of it and not like it but once you’ve done it, you want to do it again! It taught me to face my fears... I also liked walking, it was relaxing and I enjoyed exploring’.
Year 10 Student, Ecclesfield School
‘Rock climbing was one of my favourite activities. I feel more confident when rock climbing now. Also, I learnt to be more patient, to listen and follow instructions because I knew with something like rock climbing you need to listen to the instructors to stay safe. At the beginning I found this difficult but by the end I found I could pay attention more and not be distracted.’
Year 7 Student, Ecclesfield School