URBAN OUTDOOR EDUCATION

That this House notes the significant contribution that residential courses make to improving educational standards, personal and social development and health amongst children and young people; congratulates the University of East London on producing a feasibility study on a proposal for a residential urban education centre at the Olympic Park for the Field Studies Council (FSC) a leading education charity, which operates 17 field centres in the UK with over 100,000 visitors attending day and residential courses each year; considers that such a centre would have a hugely positive impact on young people and their schools and families and provide great benefits to students from the whole of the UK and from overseas; further notes with interest that the FSC has particularly strong and well established links with London schools; and therefore commends the FSC's proposal for an urban education centre at the Olympic Park which aims to become a world-leading centre of excellence in urban studies, offering many community-based education links whilst also specialising in education for sustainable development.