From Sherbourne to Svalbard

The Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust has chosen to grant funds to support an incredible initiative in 2025: in April, Sherbourne Fields Special School in the Midlands, a school for those with learning and other disabilities, is undertaking an expedition to Svalbard in Norway.

The expedition to Svalbard will be the school’s most arduous yet. A large part of the funding for this expedition is coming from a charitable grant from Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust, who distribute the surplus profits generated by Ramble Worldwide to organisations and individuals that encourage people to get into the outdoors – especially those who couldn’t do that without support. The expedition will also be led by Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust patron and Polar explorer, Mark Wood, who has been working with the school for the past 10 years. 

Head Teacher Shivaun Duffy believes in reinforcing classroom learning with challenges, which in turn also challenge us to see things differently. The journey to Svalbard will test students with complex needs. Teachers have also been challenged to gain the skills to support the students north of the Arctic Circle, and the host organisation in Norway has been pushing its own boundaries to learn how to support the children, including one who uses an electric wheelchair.

Mark Wood acknowledges that Svalbard is a demanding place to travel to, saying, ‘the whole area, the environment, is intense to begin with and then you have to do the challenges involved. The trip [in 2025] will take place during the summer months…but it’s a pretty gnarly area to go to.’ He summarised the expedition as a ‘showcase of young people doing extraordinary things.’

Leading an expedition to Svalbard builds on 10 years of previous expeditions that Mark has led for Sherbourne School, to places like Scafell Pike, the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Snowdon, Carrauntoohil, Croagh Patrick and Ben Nevis. All these ascents have been focussed on building self-esteem, confidence, resilience and working as a team, encouraging young people with a range of special needs to discover they can explore the great outdoors, while showing them what they are capable of.

These annual adventures have become a highlight of the Sherbourne Fields School year, and something that the whole school celebrates. While 10 students will make the journey to Svalbard, students across the whole school will travel their own path in creating and striving towards challenges of their own.

Head Teacher Shivaun stresses that the school is putting a great deal of effort into cascading the achievements to the rest of the school and the wider community by linking the challenge to everyday activities – evidence suggest that showcasing the achievement can not only build personal qualities but can change the view of what disabled people can achieve when given the opportunity.

Preparation is key to the success of an expedition like this. Throughout the build-up to the expedition in April 2025, the Sherbourne School will be undertaking a series of initiatives, from helping students research Svalbard and its environment and animals, to encouraging team building through games and activities.

The children will also gain experience of sled dogs and being around them, with a visit from Sled Dogs as Therapy. Acclimatisation training will include visits to Planet Ice and Tamworth Snow Dome to experience lower temperatures, snow and ice, while an off-road team walk will mean the students get used to being out together as a group.