Scotland outdoor education bill advances to stage two with extra funding

A Scottish government bill promising four nights and five days of residential outdoor education for every pupil is moving toward stage two after a funding deal was secured. The Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill had been at risk of stalling if ministers did not table a financial resolution by the end of the week, but a new package is now expected to keep the proposal alive. The measure was first tabled by Conservative MSP Liz Smith, who has put the potential cost at up to £40 million a year. Children’s Minister Natalie Don-Innes had previously signaled that the proposals were unaffordable, but lawmakers anticipate she will confirm in a parliamentary statement that the government will provide the funds to allow the legislation to proceed. The bill is set to move to stage two, under which MSPs can proposed amendments and the measure would be scrutinized by a committee before a full vote.

Under the plan, every pupil would be entitled to four nights and five days of outdoor learning. Smith has argued the experience can be transformative and help level up opportunities for all pupils, noting that access to residential outdoor education is currently uneven by postcode. The cost could be between £25m and £40m a year, depending on take-up and delivery. Supporters say the policy would address a long-standing disparity, since research from the University of Edinburgh has shown that only about a third of secondary schools and a quarter of primary schools currently offer this kind of experience. Critics, including some opposition politicians, have warned that funding for outdoor education should not displace other school activities. Local government body Cosla has also raised questions about practicalities such as staffing, transport, and how schools would balance outdoor trips with other curriculum-based trips.

At stage two, MSPs can propose changes to the bill, and amendments are debated before a committee. Proponents say outdoor education can contribute to attendance, behaviour, and self-discipline while also providing a link to subjects such as geography, history, and the arts. Proponents also argue the measure could help extend access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and rural areas who may not otherwise experience the outdoors through school.

Opposition politicians warned that blocking the bill would risk thwarting the will of Parliament. They cited concerns about cost, logistics, and the potential impact on other education budgets. Don-Innes has cautioned that ring-fencing cash for outdoor education could come at a price to other areas unless overall funding is increased. She asked officials where cuts could be made in education and which areas would bear the impact, including teachers, schools, nurseries, or colleges. Cosla, meanwhile, underscored the need for clarity on staffing, transport, and how schools would manage competing trips in geography, history, or the arts.

With the funding issue resolved, the government says the bill can proceed to stage two, but the path ahead remains subject to parliamentary scrutiny. If stage two progresses, the proposal would move to committee for detailed examination of amendments, followed by a potential full parliamentary vote. The University of Edinburgh research cited by supporters highlighted the low current provision of residential outdoor education and the potential equity benefits of universal access. Critics, however, maintain that the up-front costs are high and that delivering four nights and five days across all schools would require careful planning and ongoing financial commitment.

Observers say the legislation would mark a significant expansion of outdoor education in Scotland, with implications for school timetables, transport, staff, and the wider curriculum. The government has signaled it intends to press ahead, but the timetable will depend on the outcomes of stage two deliberations and the committee's findings. As the debate continues in Parliament, the question remains whether the funding arrangement can be sustained alongside other priorities in education and whether the programme can be scaled to deliver consistent opportunities across Scotland.