Learning Outside the Classroom

In RE, Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) experiences provide opportunities for:

• engagement with faith communities
• spiritual, social, moral and cultural development
• visits to places of worship and other spaces, both religious and non-religious
• young people to ask big questions or reflect

LOtC is about raising achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance. It is not only about what we learn, but importantly how and where we learn.

The RE Council LOtC website has two main sections: 

1. RE trails 

This section:

• looks at the value of an RE trail
• provides a toolkit for developing a trail and gives some examples trails in urban and rural locations. Google maps enable the viewer to explore a street view of the places to be visited. Teachers could explore these trails with pupils or use them as models for creating their own
• gives links to other trails and resources

2. Sacred Spaces

We believe... that getting pupils outside the classroom and into sacred spaces can not only improve the quality of religious education but contribute to pupils' spiritual development as well as giving many opportunities for exciting cross-curricular learning.

This section provides some inspiring and real examples of the compelling learning experiences that have taken place across the country, and beyond. Case study contributors responded to a series of questions and points: 

• What were we trying to achieve?
• Who was involved?
• Preparation
• What was the impact of the experience?
• Follow up