Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education is aimed at developing the whole self, building confidence, life skills and an awareness of others. This is achieved through positive learning experiences in a range of challenging environments and situations, which encourage development.

Our outdoor activities include Climbing, Sailing and Canoeing.

The flagship opportunity is our Overseas Expedition, which is usually to India. Pupils who sign up for this will have the trip of a lifetime, trekking through some of the most amazing mountain environments on the planet. This expedition runs every other year during the summer holiday period, and is usually four weeks in duration.

Climbing & Mountaineering

Pupils have access to the Leys Climbing and Mountaineering Club (LCMC), which provides an avenue for pupils to develop their interest in mountaineering further. The school climbing wall is used weekly for LCMC training sessions, CCF Adventure training, and also Games and PE. Pupils are offered the opportunity to develop their Mountaineering interests further with trips to the Peak District, North Wales and Scotland.

Sailing

The majority of our sailing takes place at Huntingdon Sailing Club, a lake 20 minutes away. There we have a strong fleet of boats including, 2 Bosuns, 6 Laser Picos, and 2 Laser 2000s.

Pupils are able to access sailing in two main ways:- Firstly through the Outdoor Education games programme, which includes sailing in the Autumn and Summer terms. The sailing in this programme is more about getting young people on the water and giving them confidence in the boats. Secondly through our CCF Navy. It is with the Navy that the pupils get to stretch their sailing further by completing RYA courses and also the opportunity to sail different craft including larger sailing boats and powered craft.

Canoeing & Kayaking

A thriving canoe club operates at The Leys known as the Leys Canoe & Kayak Club (LCKC), with weekly meetings either in the swimming pool or on the nearby River Cam (Granta). In the pool, paddlers have the opportunity to refine their boat handling skills, including rolling, and perhaps enjoy a game of canoe polo.

On the Cam, both kayaks and open canoes are available to allow pupils to develop and improve the different paddling techniques involved, on a delightful stretch of the river between the city and Grantchester. Several staff have BCU Instructor qualifications, thus ensuring that training is both effective and safe. D of E expeditions using canoeing as the mode of travel are offered at Gold Award level, with training trips and assessment on the River Wye. With a trailer, expeditions of this type can be undertaken by the Leys School Canoe Club, led by the Head of Outdoor Education.

Pupils will also get the opportunity to paddle other rivers and take visits to white water centres. Pupils also get the opportunity to canoe and kayak through the CCF’s Adventure Training programme, both in school and on annual camps.