Every child in Scotland is to be given a week of free outdoor adventure education, under government plans to boost confidence and develop leadership skills in schoolchildren.

All 11-year-olds will be offered a five-day adventure break involving activities such as kayaking, climbing and abseiling, to help them to learn team-building skills before they start secondary school.

The initiative, which will be announced by the Scottish National party next month, is designed to improve educational attainment and curb obesity by encouraging children to take more exercise and to divert wayward youngsters from criminal activity.

Ministers are concerned that many high-performing pupils fall behind educationally and engage in anti-social behaviour because they struggle to make the transition from primary to secondary school.

Initially, the scheme will be offered to children from Scotland’s most deprived communities before being rolled out across the country.

Currently, Scotland’s four outdoor education centres provide training for 20,000 youngsters from schools, youth organisations and special-needs groups. Extending this to cover a one-week residential stay for 53,000 pupils a year would cost about £10m.

“We are committed to improving outdoor learning for children,” said a spokeswoman for the Scottish government. “It promotes cross-curricular learning as well as encouraging physical activity.

“Our new framework for learning and teaching, which Fiona Hyslop \<NO>education minister\] will launch on June 10, will set out further details.”

Last week, Gavin Hastings, the former Scotland rugby international, said he supported an expansion of outdoor education opportunities for children. “At the moment we are sorely lacking something like this in too many of our schools — a scheme that encourages both personal development and physical activity,” he said.

Many outdoor centres have closed in recent years due to a lack of funding. However, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres, the umbrella body for the sector, claims that existing facilities could be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to cater for the new scheme.

“Residential outdoor learning is a powerful way to help prepare children and young people to meet future challenges,” said a spokesman.

“It can provide the qualities, skills and knowledge that children and young people need to succeed in the world of work and to engage effectively in society.”

Last week, the Scottish Tories called for an expansion in the provision of outdoor education.

Liz Smith, the party’s spokeswoman for children, schools and skills, said: “Education in an outdoor environment provides one of the most valuable and rewarding learning experiences for a wide range of pupils, regardless of background or ability.

“I firmly believe that this experience would enrich the lives of the pupils involved, provide them with a knowledge and appreciation of unfamiliar environments and communities, helping them to build confidence and self-esteem.

“In an age when there is growing national concern about young people’s lifestyles, and when many children from some of the more deprived areas do not get the same opportunities as their counterparts elsewhere, it is time for a new policy that will have lasting benefits for pupils.”

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