sres_centres@sandwell.gov.uk 

ABOUT US | AMAZING WAYS TO LEARN 

Sandwell Residential Education Service exists to provide lifelong learning opportunities for children, young people and adults to become happier and more successful. We run 4 residential centres and work with schools, colleges and employers to deliver memorable learning experiences through outdoor exploration, adventure and creative arts. 

What we do: 

 
 
 
 
 
“We believe in the potential 
of children” 
Whether it's creative arts or outdoor adventure, Key Stage 1 children or an adult group, a day visit or a residential, our approach is simple: we create exciting learning moments in memorable places and translate them in to lessons for life. 
 
Every visit provides an opportunity to: 
 
develop resilience, confidence & independence 
know how to keep physically and emotionally healthy 
become more environmentally aware 
support students' achievement 

Where we do it: 

We have centres in Shropshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Snowdonia. From a 17th century Jacobean mansion, to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the National Parks, our centres remain small, welcoming places that become your home for the visit. They are ideal for exclusive use to embed your culture, and to focus on your group’s shared experiences. 
Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning 
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A Georgian farm setting with themed outdoor learning in woodland, fields, and the Shropshire Hills. Near Newport, Shropshire 
 
Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre 
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Adventurous and environmental learning in the beautiful Wyre Forest. 
Near Bewdley, Worcestershire 
 
 
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre 
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A 400 year old Jacobean mansion creates a dramatic setting for music, drama, art, dance and animation in the UKs only dedicated residential arts centre. Staffordshire 
 
 
Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre 
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High adventure amongst the mountains, rivers, beaches and lakes of the Snowdonia National Park Snowdonia 
 
 

Who is it for?  

We work with : 
 
School groups: from Key Stage 1 to further education 
Adult groups - such as CPD & NQT programmes 
Non-school groups, such as NCS, Guides, Scouts, Youth Groups & families 
 
Our provision includes: 
 
day visits and first residentials up to multi-night visits 
Early careers and corporate development 
fully tutored programmes or venue hire for rehearsal and revision retreats 
thematic delivery to launch a topic or deepen learning 
sole occupancy available 
family learning days to engage parents and carers 
comfortable dorms, camping & glamping 
self-catered cottages available 
bespoke or ready-made programmes 
a focus on individual learning styles 
 

Why Sandwell’s Centres? 

We are at the forefront of residential education practice and development. 
 
We focus on the importance of the whole residential experience - a warm welcome, great food, strong focus on outcomes, developing positive relationships and prosocial experiences. We were proud to host the national ‘Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’ annual conference which focussed on ‘Learning Outside the Classroom and Wellbeing’, with Sandwell’s Principal Educational Psychologist, Dr Kevin Rowland MBE, delivering a key note address. We are also part of the Learning Away Consortium to help ensure more young people have access to high quality brilliant residential learning experiences.  

High quality, great value. Why pay more?  

We strive to make our programmes and inspirational venues accessible to as many young people as possible through a range of options. A fully inclusive 4 night residential is available from just £180pp, and 2 nights from £95pp. We also offer day visits, 1 night residentials, and a venue-only option for revision retreats and rehearsal space. 

Tailored learning experiences.  

Our practitioners are skilled at delivering appropriately challenging, memorable experiences and addressing a wide range of learning outcomes.  Programmes can be fully integrated with school curriculum and ethos, inclusive, designed to meet students' specific learning needs and planned so that learning is embedded and reinforced back at school. 

Small, and perfectly formed!  

Sure, you might be staying in our mansion at Ingestre or Victorian lodge in Snowdonia, but they are small centres that are your home for the week. You’ll often have the place to yourself and we pride ourselves on our sense of community and commitment to each visitor. 

Outcomes for pupils, outcomes for you.  

Compelling independent research shows that a residential experience can improve students’ engagement with learning, support students’ achievement, improve resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing, boost cohesion and a sense of belonging, and widen and develop teachers’ pedagogical skills*. 

Our biggest asset: Our people  

Our practitioners are learning professionals. They have the technical skill and qualifications to deliver high quality arts or adventure in the outdoors, but it’s their soft skills that set them aside. They can help a young person, often anxious, to express themselves, try new things, stick at something, and achieve more than they had ever thought possible. They’ll translate those experiences in to lessons for life. 
 
All of our team enjoy working with young people and work hard to create a welcoming family feel at our centres. We strive to make sure every visitor feels valued and secure within an environment that encourages them to reach their potential. 
 
We are a small team and we specialise in the whole residential experience which extends beyond an activity programme. We make sure that our centres are clean and warm, that food is home cooked and everyone is looked after, and that all staff are fully involved with resident groups to give them the best experience we can. 

Our vision for Sandwell  

SRES is proudly part of Sandwell Council's Children and Education Directorate. We work with schools and groups from all over the UK, along with several international schools. We are directly supporting Vision 2030 Sandwell. 
 
In 2030, Sandwell is a thriving, optimistic and resilient community. It’s where we call home and where we’re proud to belong – where we choose to bring up our families, where we feel safe and cared for, enjoying good health, rewarding work, feeling connected and valued in our neighbourhoods and communities, confident in the future, and benefitting fully from a revitalised West Midlands. 
 
"All centre staff clearly enjoy working at the centre. Their sense of humour, time giving, ability to encourage and their enthusiasm for all pupils to achieve more than they thought they could is an asset to outdoor education” 
 
St John’s Primary School 
"The constant assessment of each child’s skills and subsequent adaptation of the programme is an area of good practise to share with staff to reinforce positive practise.” 
 
Ham Dingle School 
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