Slapton Ley Outdoor Residential Centre Devon Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use adventure and outdoor learning to expand children’s experiences and teach curriculum focused work to inspire everyone about the environment.

Primary field trips enable you to pick and choose from a range of exciting adventure or curriculum sessions to build your own trip. A visit to our centre will immerse primary school children in the natural world, taking in its sights, sounds and smells.

For secondary and A level groups we offer geography, biology and environmental science courses. Courses can be tailored to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Slapton Ley is located within South Devon close to field sites in Dartmoor National Park and cities such as Plymouth and Torbay. Students can study and experience many outdoor environmental issues in locations from coastal to country and urban areas. Perfect for residential geography and biology trips at all ages.

Slapton is located within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to field sites in Dartmoor National Park and urban centres in Plymouth and Torbay.

The centre is close to the coastline and Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, as well as a variety of field sites. Slapton Ley is within easy reach of the M5 and mainline train station at Totnes.

Outdoor Learning courses are created to complement the curriculum, and engage pupils with subjects in fresh, hands-on ways.

Adventure learning encourages children to push beyond their comfort zones and discover what they’re capable of. With carefully tailored, age-appropriate challenges, every child is supported to grow their knowledge and learn in new and exciting ways.

• All our residential centres will provide you with:
• A qualified tutor to oversee your trip
• Pre-trip planning including itinerary, kit lists, and risk assessments
• Centres with up to 180 beds, offering flexible rooming options and all bedding included
• Healthy filling meals from dinner on your first day to a packed lunch on your last day
• We hold Learning Outside the Classroom’s Quality Badge so there is less paperwork for you

LOtC

The GA Secondary Geography Quality Mark

SGQM Centre of Excellence

DofE Approved Activity Provider

John Muir Award

Geography:

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human and environmental geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We can deliver geography courses from KS2 to A level.

KS2 pupils can use maps, stories and games to explore the woods. Discover the plants and animals that live here and design and build dens.

For KS4 and A level students we link all of our courses to the exam board requirements for each subject and can tailor the course to your specific needs.

Science:

We can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. Students undertake ecological investigations in a variety of inspiring habitats and complete relevant required practicals, from a range of a range of topics.

We also offer contextualised learning opportunities for KS3 science, where pupils explore a local environment, habitat or ecosystem, eg rocky shore, freshwater or woodland.

Students will look at a variety of plants and common animals using age appropriate classification keys to identify living things we find in our woodland and in our pond habitats.

KS2 pupils can look at a range of habitats, learning about microhabitats and how they provide the basic needs for living things. Pupils can learn to identify the different structures of plants and name a variety of common animals. We will mini beast hunt and observe them in their microhabitats.

Primary:

We have a wide range of activities such as minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climbing, bushcraft, orienteering.

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and problem-solving activities.

We can cater for groups of various sizes. Courses have a minimum of 10 students and have a maximum capacity of 178

Our courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom. Tailored resources will be supplied to use before and after your trip to prepare students and encourage follow-up work to be completed.

We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on the Field Studies Council.

A detailed risk assessment for activities and teaching sites is undertaken which forms the basis of a dynamic approach to assessment by trained staff whilst in the field.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100

or enquiries@field-studies-council.org

We are always looking for ways to make trips affordable for all schools. We currently offer:

15% off for new residential customers

Late availability offer – 25% off school residential trips with an arrival date during the next three months

Off-peak pricing available 

–Different price bands are offered throughout the year to offer value for money. Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Talk to our team about the best options for your group.

Prices include: 

Course planning; fully risk assessed teaching sites; accommodation; specialist tutors; teaching resources; fieldwork equipment; classrooms and food. The only thing you need to add-on is transport. We even provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

Prices include: 

course planning; fully risk assessed teaching sites; accommodation; specialist tutors; teaching resources; fieldwork equipment; classrooms and food. The only thing you need to add-on is transport. We even provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

Please contact us regarding your needs, although we provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres. We provide a full kit list here

All field teachers are trained in first aid and group management.

Capacity: We have four accommodation buildings with a total of 178 beds. 

Car Parking: There are limited parking facilities available at the centre. 

Catering: Self-catering is also considered upon specific request.

Children’s Facilities: We have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.

Common Room: There are several sitting rooms with TV’s or one for relaxing and chilling out. They are equipped with comfy sofas and chairs.

Disabled Facilities: There are two accessible ground floor triple bedrooms in Chell building.

Games Room: There are two games rooms with a range of recreational activities. 

Kitchen: Fully catered services for most dietary needs are available, as well as packed lunch making services. Self catering may be available to groups hiring the whole centre.

Linen: All bedding is provided. Please strip your beds on departure.

Outdoor Clothing: You can hire, wellingtons, small rucksacks, waterproof trousers and coats

Outdoor Facilities: Extensive range of on-site and off-site activities. 

Shop: Our shop sells drinks, snacks and souvenirs of your stay as well as a selection of Field Studies Council publications. 

Wi-Fi: Free guest Wi-Fi is available throughout the centre.

Workrooms: There are eight workrooms, all with smartboards/AV projectors. 

Disabled Facilities: There are two accessible ground floor triple bedrooms in Chell building.

Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm

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By road – 20 miles (30km) from A38. Take A384 slip road to A381 Buckfastleigh/Totnes/Dartmouth/Kingsbridge. Turn left onto A381. Continue onto the A381 towards Harberton. Continue, then turn left onto A3122 towards Dartmouth. Pass Dartmouth Golf Club on the left then turn right to follow signs for Slapton. The Field Studies Centre is located on the right-hand side about one kilometre from the main road.

By train – The nearest train station is Totes (13 miles). Totnes Station is on the Southwest Main Line and is under 3 hours direct from Birmingham New Street and London Paddington. You could then use a taxi service, which takes around 30-40 minutes, to reach the Slapton Ley Field Centre.

By bus – The no. 3 bus Service from Plymouth or Dartmouth to Slapton via Kingsbridge is operated by Stagecoach. The bus stops on Slapton Line and at the village bus stop outside the Centre.

On foot/bicycle – For the more energetic, the Nature Reserve is on the route of a national trail, the Southwest Coastal Path and near Route 28 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.

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