STAFF at Altarnun Primary School recently took part in an Adventure Learning Training and Staff Development day at Gulval School in Penzance, alongside schools from Liskeard and Tywardreath.

Working with Cornwall Outdoors, staff from Gulval School hosted various workshops and activities to inspire and test.

Principals, teachers and teaching assistants all rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in as they developed new skills, overcame fears, stepped outside of their comfort zone, banked a wealth of knowledge and exciting new ideas, made friends, shared resources and, as a result, have planned even more exciting learning opportunities for pupils.

Andy Barclay, from Cornwall Outdoors, said: “Everyone was fantastic, determined, committed and always ready and willing to have a go. Lucky children!”

Organiser of the event and principal of Gulval School, Paul Baker said: “Thanks to Commando Joe’s and Cornwall Outdoors for leading exciting workshops and sharing your wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise with us all. Our journey towards excellence continues.”

Katie Dalton, principal of Altarnun Primary School said: “Myself and my team thoroughly enjoyed the two days of collaborative outdoor learning INSET training, and are keen to utilise many of these new skills in our school, so we can all set off on our journey of adventurous learning together.

“Already, Altarnun staff have mapped out a short-term, medium-term and long-term plan for this, and this began with an outdoor session on the heart and its circulatory system for Class 3, with children playing key roles and passing cones around to represent blood. This was followed up in class later, as they explored a real pig’s heart first hand.”

Adventure Learning Academy Trust (ALAT) firmly believe that learning through adventure has a proven track record in developing those personal qualities — independence, problem-solving ability, discipline, working within a team and confidence — which are in demand in the modern workplace and underpin successful social development.

Learning through adventure provides a reliable means for developing a distinctive school ethos, supportive of personal development, the achievement of high standards, and encouraging student and parental choice.