After the five day expedition in Wales led by the School of Outdoors, the children's coach did not arrive. They ended up having to stay overnight. Lee, the head instructor was AMAZING. He went abov... See more
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
See what reviewers are saying
Our son missed the training event on 2/3/26 due to illness on the day. He was later told there would be some sort of catch up event which never materialised. We were called the day before the camp (1... See more
Company replied
We have used School of Outdoors for Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh. Very professional, great communications and also made it fun. Map reading and survival skills are an absolute must, and it g... See more
Company replied
Both my boys’ school uses School of Outdoors for the Expedition part of the DofE. Our younger son completed his Bronze part with them and our older one the Gold one. The company were excellent!! V... See more
Company replied
Company details
About School of Outdoors
Written by the company
We constantly asking the following three questions of everyone involved, and in every situation.
1. Is it the best it can be?
2. Has there been impact?
3. Have there been meaningful connections?
Underpinning our vision and these questions is a deep rooted belief in our outdoor education and meaningful experiences in the outdoors. This is borne from the directors own journeys through the outdoors, from novice, to leader, to champion of programmes and qualifications for others.
The benefits of outdoor experiences are widely evidenced, and our belief in its ability to build confidence, skills, team work, leadership and a greater love for the outdoor environment is the foundation of all we do. We aim to build programmes that offer positive experiences for every participant. We recognise that everyone has different needs; talk to us, and we will do all we can to understand and respond to those needs.
We care. A lot. We care that every participant on every single one of courses has an enjoyable and meaningful learning journey. That our Staff are valued and deserve investment, time and to be heard. We care about connection and belonging, and design our programmes to offer every participant and Staff member the opportunity to feel part of something with consequence.
We strive for excellence, but recognise that we are also only human. We want to be the very best we can be, so we need our participants, Staff and customers to tell us what we are doing right, and if there is anything we could do better. Belonging means being heard and valued, we hope to foster an environment where everyone feels that way. Only then can we be the best we can be.
1. Is it the best it can be?
2. Has there been impact?
3. Have there been meaningful connections?
Underpinning our vision and these questions is a deep rooted belief in our outdoor education and meaningful experiences in the outdoors. This is borne from the directors own journeys through the outdoors, from novice, to leader, to champion of programmes and qualifications for others.
The benefits of outdoor experiences are widely evidenced, and our belief in its ability to build confidence, skills, team work, leadership and a greater love for the outdoor environment is the foundation of all we do. We aim to build programmes that offer positive experiences for every participant. We recognise that everyone has different needs; talk to us, and we will do all we can to understand and respond to those needs.
We care. A lot. We care that every participant on every single one of courses has an enjoyable and meaningful learning journey. That our Staff are valued and deserve investment, time and to be heard. We care about connection and belonging, and design our programmes to offer every participant and Staff member the opportunity to feel part of something with consequence.
We strive for excellence, but recognise that we are also only human. We want to be the very best we can be, so we need our participants, Staff and customers to tell us what we are doing right, and if there is anything we could do better. Belonging means being heard and valued, we hope to foster an environment where everyone feels that way. Only then can we be the best we can be.
Contact info
Sutherland Walk, HP21 7NS, Aylesbury, United Kingdom
- 0129 633 6644
- info@schoolofourdoors.uk
- schoolofoutdoors.uk
4.3
Excellent
148 reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 24 hours
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
Brilliant experience!
Great tutors, well prepared and knowledgeable. My son had a brilliant experience!
11 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Glad your son had a brilliant experience.
DofE
The instructor was very nice and helpful with the overall experience, she helped to set up the tents and assemble cookery as well as assist on mapping a route
22 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you so much for your review! We’re glad to hear that you had a positive experience and found the instructor to be nice and helpful. It’s great to know that her assistance with setting up tents, assembling the cookery, and mapping routes made a difference in your DofE journey.
We always aim to provide a supportive and enriching experience for all our participants, and your feedback helps us continue to improve. If there’s anything more we could have done to make it a 5-star experience, please let us know!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you for the 5*
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was a fun…
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was a fun and informative experience for my daughter. It pushed her to try new things, as well as teaching her valuable life skills. Overall, it was rewarding and memorable.
9 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your daughter had a fun and informative experience with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It’s fantastic to know that the program pushed her to try new things and helped her learn valuable life skills along the way.
We strive to make each expedition both rewarding and memorable, so it’s great to hear that her experience was just that. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback with us!
We hope to see your daughter continue her DofE journey with us in the future!
Helpful staff and great experience
Well organised expeditions, was given support from instructors when needed
19 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you for the 5*
Absolutely amazing!!
This company I used for my bronze and silver DofE! The emails and support they have from when we signed up was amazing and really nice to know that support is available should we have any questions or concerns. The instructors they provided for all of our events whether that was training days, practice expeditions or qualifying expediting, we’re kind and caring and an amazing people who really cared about there work!!
28 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Amelia,
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us for both your Bronze and Silver DofE awards. It’s wonderful to know that our emails and support from the moment you signed up were helpful and reassuring.
We’re also delighted to hear that our instructors made a positive impact throughout your journey, from training days to practice and qualifying expeditions. Our team takes great pride in their work and truly cares about each participant’s experience, so it’s fantastic to hear that this came through.
Thank you again for your kind words and for choosing us for your DofE journey. If you decide to go for the Gold award or any other adventure, we’d be more than happy to support you!
Dominic
I would definately recommend the school of outdoors
Everyone working at the school of outdoors is so friendly and doing D of E with them was a lot of fun. The instructors were helpful but also gave us the independance that we needed.
2 May 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review and recommendation! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your DofE experience with the School of Outdoors. It’s wonderful to know that you found our team friendly and that the instructors provided the perfect balance of support and independence.
We believe in empowering our participants to learn and grow through their adventures, and it’s great to hear that this approach resonated with you. If there’s anything else we can do to make future experiences even better, please feel free to reach out.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we hope to see you back for your gold soon!
Dominic
Great organization and support for attendees
Company was well organised,great instructions,on top of what students needed to do from a physical perspective as well as also supporting psychologically. Highly recommended
22 April 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and recommendation! We’re delighted to hear that you found our organization and support to be great throughout your experience with us. We strive to provide clear instructions and comprehensive support, both physically and psychologically, to ensure that every participant feels prepared and confident.
It’s fantastic to know that our efforts made a positive impact on your experience. If there’s anything more we can do to enhance future adventures, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more outdoor adventures!
Dominic
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you Isabella
The assessors were really friendly and…
The assessors were really friendly and gave us a lot of useful advice. I had a really great time and the tents they had for us were really easy to put up. We could plot a route for each day, though the intended route was clear, and on the final day we were supposed to re-trace a route I had taken on bronze (I did it with the same company through school) , which was irritating. Overall I had a really good time on DofE, thank you!
17 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi James,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We’re glad to hear that you had a great time on your DofE expedition and found the assessors friendly and helpful. It’s also wonderful to know that the tents were easy to set up and that you enjoyed plotting your routes each day.
I’m sorry to hear that retracing a route from your Bronze expedition was a bit frustrating. We appreciate your feedback on this and will take it into account for future planning to ensure a more varied experience.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope to see you again for your gold.
Dominic
Very well organised with experienced…
Very well organised with experienced and knowledgable staff. Felt very safe and enjoyed the experience.
21 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank you Deborah
Brilliant instructors
Brilliant instructors, kind, helpful, really pushed me towards my goals and motivated me through the weekend of my expedition.
23 March 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Glad you had a good expedition.
Bronze dofe
Clear instructions, friendly instructors. Useful to be able to hire a bag.
12 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Anna,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review! We're delighted to hear that you found our instructions clear and our instructors friendly. Our team always aims to provide the best experience possible, so it's great to know that you appreciated the bag hire option as well.
If there’s anything we could do to make your experience a full 5-star one, we’d love to hear your feedback. We're always looking for ways to improve!
We hope to see your son again on his next adventure!
Dominic
Fantastic opportunity
Supportive throughout the whole process in and outside of school and very easy for my son to load his evidence. As well as helping the local community, learning a new skill etc he met new people and improved his confidence. My son enjoyed his first year and is looking forward to his taking part in his silver.
31 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Amanda,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that your son had such a positive experience with us and found the process easy and supportive both in and outside of school. It’s wonderful to know that he not only learned new skills and helped the local community but also met new friends and gained confidence along the way.
We’re excited that he’s looking forward to participating in the Silver award next year! If there’s anything we can do to support him further, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we can't wait to see him continue his journey with us!
Dominic
Highly recommended!
We have used School of Outdoors for Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh. Very professional, great communications and also made it fun.
Map reading and survival skills are an absolute must, and it gets the young people outdoors.
Too many people rely on tech and panic when the battery gets under 50%
Looking forward to booking Gold with them.
1 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review and recommendation! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us for both the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards. Our team strives to provide a professional, well-communicated, and enjoyable experience, so it’s great to know that we achieved that for you.
We couldn’t agree more about the importance of map reading and survival skills—getting young people outdoors and helping them become more self-reliant is at the core of what we do.
We’re excited that you’re looking forward to booking the Gold award with us! If there’s anything we can do to make your next adventure even better, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we can’t wait to see you for the next expedition!
Dominic
Unhelpful team
My son really enjoyed the trip, unfortunately the service from the company was very poor due in part to poor communication with the school. I was charged for a rucksack I did not need but the company refused to refund me choosing to hide behind T&Cs before ignoring my request for common sense. The communication between Outdoors and schools need to be clearer.
28 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi Paul,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. I’m glad to hear that your son enjoyed the expedition; that’s always our primary goal.
I apologize for any confusion regarding the communication between us and your son's school. We strive to ensure that all necessary information is clearly communicated, and I’m sorry to hear that this may not have been the case for your trip. We will certainly work closely with the school to improve this for future expeditions.
Regarding the rucksack charge, I understand your frustration. We do our best to keep additional costs low, which is why we offer the backpack hire at a minimal fee of £10. However, I appreciate your feedback on our refund policy, and we will be reviewing our terms and conditions for future expeditions to better serve our customers.
Thank you again for your comments, and if there’s anything more we can do to assist, please let us know.
Dominic
Great overall experience
Great overall experience. The leaders were knowledgeable and kept the groups safe.
21 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with us for both the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. It's great to know that our professional approach, clear communication, and focus on fun made a difference.
We completely agree that map reading and survival skills are essential, especially in today's tech-reliant world. It's so important for young people to get outdoors and learn these valuable skills.
We’re excited to hear that you’re looking forward to booking the Gold award with us! If there’s anything we can do to make the experience even better, please let us know.
Thanks again for your wonderful feedback, and we can’t wait to see you or your child on the next adventure!
The experience was brilliant
The experience was brilliant.
The staff were were very knowledgeable and supportive.
Both the trial and final expedition were well organised.
12 July 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Hi David,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a brilliant experience with us. It’s fantastic to know that our knowledgeable and supportive staff made a positive impact and that both the trial and final expeditions were well-organized for you.
We always strive to provide the best possible experience for our participants, and it’s great to hear that we achieved that for you. If there’s anything else we can do to support you on future adventures, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thanks again for your kind words, and we look forward to seeing you on your next expedition!
Dominic
Our guide took great care of us.
Our guide took great care of us and was properly engaged with us during conversation. He also taught us how to overcome tough situations.
7 June 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from School of Outdoors
Thank You Alex
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.
Learn more about other kinds of reviews.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.