School Leader CPD

At World Challenge we take personal and professional development seriously.

So whether a student, teacher, Expedition Leader or member of staff, we aim to provide quality learning experiences to ensure that everyone has developed in one way or another as a result of their interaction with World Challenge.

 As a School Leader, with a key role in supporting the Expedition Leader to ensure the well-being of the expedition team, we provide a range of compulsory and voluntary training programmes. This way, as a minimum, you are fully prepared for expedition but for those who would like to further develop specialist skills in this area, you have the opportunity to do so through our heavily subsidised (or free) optional professional development programmes.

We understand that not everyone wants to become an Expedition Leader so we have put together a training development programme for School leaders that reflects your personal needs. It is developed with your CPD - (Continued Professional Development) in mind.

The CPD training programme

• For the main school leader – the main point of contact (only one per school) and travels on expedition
• For an additional school leader – accompanies the main School Leader on expedition when there is a larger number of students.

Compulsory training

There are certain training elements that are compulsory for all School leaders.

Expedition Preparation Conference (EPC)

• A 1-day conference to prepare you for your expedition (only for 3 or 4 week expeditions) with talks and workshops on everything from health & safety to expedition scenarios

First Aid - Remote and Emergency Care (REC)

• Every School Leader going on a World Challenge expedition must have a 2-day/16-hr first aid certificate
• 1 free first aid course per team

Expedition training

• A training weekend (School Leaders included!), for 3-4 week expeditions, to give the team practical skills to handle life on expedition from handling the budget to camping skills
  

The type and level of training available is dependent on the number of expeditions you have completed with World Challenge, regardless of whether you have moved school or not. Most courses are free for the main School Leaders in recognition of the additional responsibilities they have undertaken, some carry a nominal charge to contribute towards costs. All training course related costs are included except transport to and from the location of the training.

First or Second World Challenge expedition

As your first expedition can often be a little daunting we do not want to overload you with more information than you need. Therefore, you are only required to take part in the compulsory training with the choice of attending the below course if you would like.

Initial School Leader Training Days

This is an optional one day course for School Leaders who are new to the World Challenge experience. The aim of the day is to discuss the roles of a School Leader and to give you some practical skills that will help you run your team meetings. The course will involve an optional evening social so you can meet and talk to other School Leaders and World Challenge staff.

Jungle Training Course

This course is designed for School Leaders who are going to destinations that have a jungle phase in order to develop the necessary practical and technical skills as well as to discuss jungle related health and hygiene topics. It is run by one of our in-house jungle experts.

Altitude Training Course

This course is designed for School Leaders who are going to a high altitude destination or whose expedition involves any altitude work. The aim of the course is to give School Leaders practical skills to aid them in mountainous environments and to learn more about the effects of altitude on the body and how to reduce those effects. The course will be run by a qualified doctor who specialises in expedition medicine.

Third World Challenge expedition

Now you are really becoming an expert! In recognition of this we would like to give you the opportunity to do a National Governing Body (NGB) course that will give you something tangible to take away from the experience you have gained on your World Challenge expedition. In addition, you are able to apply for one of either the Jungle or Altitude courses as detailed previously.

Mountain Leader (summer) training (ML)

This is a nationally recognised course from the Mountain Leader Training Board. It is a week long training course in a ‘mountainous’ region of the UK. This will teach you various aspects of safe conduct in the in the mountains from navigation and map work to managing groups in a mountainous environment. (N.B. before you book onto this course you must register, at your own cost, with the Mountain Leader Training Board and you must have logged 20 quality mountain days).

Fourth World Challenge expedition

As you will now have accumulated a wealth of experience on World Challenge expeditions, perhaps you will be keen to consolidate that experience and complete one of the following courses. In addition, you are able to apply for one of either the Jungle or Altitude courses or the Continued Development Training as detailed previously.

Mountain Leader (summer) assessment (ML)

This is a week long assessment course to evaluate whether you have sufficient experience and skills to lead groups in mountainous environments. You must complete a log-book of evidence to prove your experience of mountainous environments between your training and assessment. (N.B. you will need to have gained the required experience between the training and assessment courses).

Far From Help course

This four-day course is run by our consultant doctor and elaborates on the skills you have learnt from the two day First Aid course. You will be discussing and practicing not only first aid but also continued care of patients to prepare you for a worst-case scenario when assistance cannot get to you quickly.

We truly value your commitment and loyalty so please talk to your School Support Coordinator about any specific Professional Development requirements you may have and we will do our very best to meet your specific needs. From time to time we run School Leader expeditions to Morocco and we will make you aware of these when they become available.