School of Outdoors

What School of Outdoors does

School of Outdoors Limited is a privately held, founder-led outdoor education provider headquartered in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, serving schools, local authorities, families, and individual learners across the South of England. Founded in 2019 by CEO Dominic Taylor, the company has scaled from approximately 800 participants in its first year to roughly 5,000 child and adult participants annually, delivering Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions (Bronze, Silver, Gold levels in walking and paddleboard modalities), nationally recognised outdoor qualifications (Outdoor First Aid Level 3, Lowland Leader, Camping Leader), and Alternative Provision programmes (Reimagine trauma-informed pathway and Work Ready earn-and-learn pathway) for disengaged young people.

The company's commercial model is built on three fee-based revenue streams priced per participant or per commissioning contract: DofE expedition programmes at £199-£560 per participant (Bronze paddleboard to Gold walking), outdoor qualifications at £154-£300 per course, and Alternative Provision commissioned by schools and local authorities for SEMH/SEND/EHCP students. A dedicated Account Manager is assigned to each school client, supported by a proprietary online portal (app.schoolofoutdoors.uk) that handles consent forms, bookings, paperwork, and post-expedition assessor reports, with GPS tracking devices used for participant safety during expeditions.

Operational differentiation rests on regulatory accreditations (AALA licensing, Mountain Training, QNUK/Ofqual-regulated First Aid), Duke of Edinburgh Approved Activity Provider status, and a senior team with 40+ years of combined expedition management experience including prior DofE Operations Manager roles. The company employs approximately 10 full-time staff supplemented by a pool of freelance Course Directors, and markets primarily through direct school engagement, local authority commissioning relationships, organic social media, and educational blog content.

Name

School of Outdoors

Legal name

School of Outdoors Limited

Website

https://schoolofoutdoors.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor education services
• DofE expedition programmes
• Outdoor leadership qualifications
• Alternative education provision
• Adventure activity licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Aylesbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. DofE Expedition Programmes: Fee-based Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold) for walking and paddleboarding, delivered to school groups and individual participants. Pricing is per participant, with minimum group size requirements.
2. Outdoor Qualifications and Training: Nationally recognised qualifications and training courses including Outdoor First Aid (Level 3), Lowland Leader, and Camping Leader, offered to individuals and professionals. Revenue is one-time fee per course (training and/or assessment).
3. Alternative Provision Programmes: Bespoke educational programmes (Reimagine, Work Ready, Outdoor Pathway) for young people not accessing formal education, delivered in partnership with schools, families, and local authorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

School of Outdoors delivers Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition programmes (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) for schools and individual participants across walking and paddleboard disciplines, alongside nationally accredited outdoor qualifications (Outdoor First Aid, Lowland Leader, Camping Leader) and Alternative Provision programmes (Reimagine and Work Ready) commissioned by schools and local authorities for disengaged learners. Services are delivered by qualified, DBS-cleared instructors using an online portal for consent, booking, and reporting, with electronic GPS tracking used to monitor expedition teams.

Product overview

School of Outdoors is an outdoor education organization offering a unified portfolio of programmes and qualifications. The core offerings include Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) expeditions via walking and paddleboard programmes at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels; nationally accredited Outdoor Qualifications (First Aid, Lowland Leader, Camping Leader, National Navigation Award); and Alternative Provision programmes (Reimagine and Work Ready) for disengaged learners. Additional training services including team building, navigation support, and leadership coaching complement the qualification offerings. The company operates as an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for DofE and is accredited by Mountain Training and QNUK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) Programmes End-to-end DofE Award expedition support at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, delivered to school groups and individual participants through walking and paddleboard expeditions, including training, practice, and qualifying expeditions, equipment, and post-expedition assessment.
• Walking Expeditions Land-based DofE walking expeditions meeting DofE requirements at Bronze (4 days/2 nights), Silver (6 days/4 nights), and Gold (10 days/6 nights) levels, delivered with qualified instructors.
• Paddleboard Expeditions Water-based DofE expeditions at Bronze and Silver levels offering an alternative to land-based expeditions, delivered by certified paddleboarding instructors.
• Outdoor Qualifications Nationally recognised outdoor training and leadership qualifications delivered to individuals and professionals, including Outdoor First Aid, Lowland Leader, Camping Leader, and National Navigation Award Scheme, accredited by Mountain Training and QNUK.
• Outdoor First Aid (Level 3) QNUK Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid (RQF) providing practical skills to manage medical emergencies in outdoor and remote environments, delivered over 16 hours.
• Lowland Leader Qualification Mountain Training-accredited qualification equipping leaders to guide groups on day walks in lowland countryside, forests, and coastal areas, delivered as separate training and assessment components.
• Camping Leader Qualification Mountain Training qualification for leading camping experiences in lowland terrain, covering campcraft skills, group management, and environmental awareness.
• Alternative Provision Bespoke educational programmes for learners who may thrive outside traditional classroom settings, including the Reimagine Programme and Work Ready Pathway, delivered in partnership with schools, families, and local authorities.
• Reimagine Programme Trauma-informed engagement-to-education pathway supporting disengaged young people through five stages: Discover, Explore, Deepen, Broaden, and Thrive, personalised to each learner.
• Work Ready Pathway Post-16 earn-and-learn business support pathway with three stages (Trainee, Assistant, Officer) preparing young people for employment through paid workplace experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 5,000 participants served annually, grown from 800 in the first year of operation (2019)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool of Outdoors is an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, delivering the Expedition section of the DofE at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. The partnership enables young people to complete the Award through guided walking and paddleboard expeditions, training, practice, and assessment. The relationship is foundational to the organisation's primary service offering.
• Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)coreOthersSchool of Outdoors holds AALA licensing, which is a regulatory requirement for providing certain adventure activities to young people under 18. This accreditation demonstrates compliance with safety standards for outdoor activities and is a legal requirement for operating in the sector.
• Mountain TrainingcoreOthersSchool of Outdoors delivers Mountain Training-accredited qualifications including Lowland Leader and Camping Leader. Mountain Training is the national awarding body for these qualifications, and School of Outdoors serves as a registered course provider for their delivery and assessment.
• Qualifications Network UK (QNUK)coreOthersSchool of Outdoors delivers the QNUK Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid (RQF), which is regulated by Ofqual. This qualification meets requirements for Emergency First Aid at Work and is recognised by outdoor industry bodies and National Governing Bodies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Bushcraft Company: Outdoor education operator running residential bushcraft and adventure programmes for school groups. Comparable on school-targeted outdoor adventures and personal development outcomes, though more niche in bushcraft.
• Acorn Adventure: UK outdoor education provider delivering adventure activity residentials and outdoor learning programmes for primary and secondary schools. Comparable on school group activity delivery and AALA-regulated outdoor programmes.
• JCA Adventure: School trip provider specialising in outdoor adventure and activity residentials for primary and secondary schools across the UK. Comparable on school group outdoor education and activity-led curriculum trips.
• Rock UK Adventure Centres: UK outdoor education provider running residential centres with school group programmes, including DofE expedition delivery and outdoor qualifications. Closely comparable to School of Outdoors on school group expeditions and AALA-regulated adventurous activities.
• Brathay Trust: Outdoor education charity running residential programmes focused on young people's personal development, including DofE and adventure programmes. Comparable on outdoor-based youth development and DofE-related expeditions.
• Caldecotte Xperience: Outdoor education centre offering school adventure programmes, water sports, and DofE expedition support. Comparable to School of Outdoors on regional school outdoor education and paddleboarding/expedition offers.
• Manor Adventure: Outdoor activity centre operator delivering residential school trips, adventure activities, and DofE programmes for UK schools. Similar scope to School of Outdoors' school-based expedition and outdoor learning offer.

Broad incumbents

• PGL (PGL Travel / PGL Beyond): UK's largest outdoor education provider, running residential activity centres and school expeditions, including DofE Approved Activity Provider programmes. Broader portfolio (centres, multi-activity programmes) than School of Outdoors, but directly comparable on school-based outdoor learning and DofE delivery.
• Outward Bound Trust: Long-established outdoor education charity delivering personal development courses and DofE expedition support for young people in the UK. Comparable on DofE expedition delivery model and youth outcomes-focused outdoor learning.
• Kingswood: National outdoor education operator with residential centres offering school trips, outdoor activities, and personal development programmes. Comparable to School of Outdoors on school-targeted outdoor learning and curriculum-led residential experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schoolofoutdoors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schoolofoutdoors
• Instagraminstagram.com/SchoolOfOutdoors

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about School of Outdoors