Kings Langley School Outdoor Education Centre

The Kings Langley School Outdoor Education Centre is a UK-based charitable trust, registered under charity number 1033834, dedicated to providing residential outdoor education opportunities primarily for young people. It operates the Brecon Forest Farmhouse, a self-catering accommodation facility located in Mid Wales near the market town of Brecon, designed to facilitate outdoor adventurous education and field study.

History and Background

The Brecon Forest Farmhouse, a converted late seventeenth-century farmhouse with an attached eighteenth-century barn, was discovered in 1966 by a teacher from Kings Langley School. Following a lease agreement from the Forestry Commission in 1967, Hertfordshire County Council undertook the initial conversion of the property. Students from Kings Langley School contributed to further renovations, completing the conversion by April 1969, when the centre first hosted student groups.

In 1987, after the local forests were privatized, Kings Langley School secured the freehold of the farmhouse through a significant fundraising campaign. The building was subsequently listed as Grade II in 1992 following advice from CADW, the Welsh heritage body. In 1994, the Kings Langley School Outdoor Education Centre Trust was established as a registered charity to oversee the ownership, maintenance, and ongoing development of the centre.

Mission and Activities

The overarching aim of the trust is to provide affordable residential outdoor learning experiences to people of all ages, with a particular emphasis on young learners. The Centre offers opportunities to explore and learn about the outdoors in a supportive educational environment. The facilities are managed and maintained by volunteers, including experts from education, business, and industry sectors.

The Centre enables school students to participate in outdoor adventurous education, field studies, and residential courses that foster personal development, environmental awareness, and teamwork skills.

Facility Description

The Brecon Forest Farmhouse combines historical architecture with practical improvements to maintain its vernacular character, featuring exposed beams and an inglenook fireplace. The farmhouse can accommodate up to 30 people and offers self-catering amenities suited for group stays.

Governance and Fundraising

The Centre is governed by the Kings Langley School Outdoor Education Centre Trust, which is run by volunteer trustees. Funding for the upkeep and improvements of the farmhouse primarily comes from fundraising efforts by Kings Langley School’s students, parents, alumni, and staff, supplemented by donations and income from facility bookings. Donations to the trust can be gift-aided to support its charitable objectives.

Educational Impact

The Centre plays a vital role in Kings Langley School's wider educational programme, which emphasizes outdoor education and personal development. It complements activities such as international volunteering and community projects, contributing to holistic student growth and engagement with environmental and social issues.

This Centre stands as a testament to the commitment of Kings Langley School and its community to outdoor education and the preservation of a historic venue for future generations to learn and grow through hands-on, residential outdoor experiences.

[1] https://www.breconforestfarmhouse.org.uk/about-us [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1033834 [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1033834/contact-information [4] https://www.kls.herts.sch.uk/home/personal-development/camps-international/ [5] https://www.cambiumnetworks.com/resource/kings-langley-school-revolutionizes-connectivity/