Dean Field Studies Centre

About the centre

The Dean Field Studies Centre is based at Parkend in the Forest of Dean. We are a residential outdoor education centre owned and operated by Bristol City Council’s Children and Young People's Service (CYPS).

As an outdoor education centre we provide adventurous outdoor activities and environmental education for primary and secondary schools as well as corporate clients. Adventure activities include rock climbing, abseiling, mountaineering, hill walking, caving, canoeing, kayaking, raft building, zip wire and high ropes course, gorge walking and orienteering. Many of these outdoor activities, including problem solving, involve teamwork as well as individual challenge.

Field Studies include work with GCSE and A’ level geography students doing environmental studies such as stream and river studies and town studies. We are licensed by The Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) to provide adventurous activities that include water sports, trekking and caving/mining.

The Great Outdoors!

The forest is a place of great natural beauty and provides an extraordinary variety of opportunities for outdoor and environmental education.

The Great Indoors!

The centre is based in a converted, Victorian iron works in the village of Parkend. It generally accommodates up to 60 students and 6+ staff in bedrooms for up to 4 people. Single rooms are available for visiting staff. Altogether there are 74 beds available.

In February 2011 we opened our new disabled suite which can accommodate up to 3 students with a staff member sleeping in an adjoining room. The centre has full central heating, and plenty of space for students to get together in a large lounge and common room.

Teaching spaces include a fully equipped classroom, lecture room and laboratory plus, of course, the woods, fields, rivers, lakes and villages of the forest. The centre also has a 15 seater minibus.

Availability, booking and fees

Excellent value for money

Once again this year's course fees are set from the restructured system of prices that take account of market forces. Despite now being entirely self-financing we have made strenuous efforts to keep our prices below that of competitors. We aim to remain affordable to parents while still maintaining a high quality of service.

Costs vary depending on the number of students attending, the activity programme undertaken, and the time of year. Some weeks are extremely popular due to coinciding with school activity weeks, end of exams etc. Out-of-season weeks can result in significantly lower prices where a high quality course can still be enjoyed at much lower cost. Where price is of particular significance to parents schools are encouraged to consider the most cost effective dates. 

We are looking forward to running a full calendar of winter weeks at bargain prices again. With a warm cosy centre and half-day activity sessions we can quickly warm everyone through with a nice hot soup before venturing back outside again for another exciting activity.  Winter courses have the added bonus that they provide time for staff to capitalise on the benefits gained on the course throughout the spring and summer terms.

Availability

Please contact Debbie Ashwood at the centre for availability and course fees.

Booking options

The centre is available throughout the year.

Term time

Term time bookings are normally Monday - Friday, but shorter/longer stays are available. You can choose:

1. Exclusive use of the centre's facilities - 60 students plus accompanying staff.
2. Shared use of the centre's facilities - for smaller groups sharing the centre.

Both include full board accommodation, bed linen, free staff places and the assistance of the centre's teaching staff in the planning and delivery of your programme.

• In the first instance please contact the centre to discuss available weeks.
• We will send you sample activity programmes as a starting point to tailor-making an activity programme to meet your needs.
• Once expected student numbers and an activity programme has been confirmed we will send you a 20% deposit to secure the booking.
• An information pack will be sent to schools before your visit. This will include everything you need to plan your programme.
• You will be invoiced for the balance of your account 4 weeks before your course.

Contact us

If you would like to discuss any arrangements for your course or have any other enquiries please feel free to contact either Ian Healey, Centre Manager or Debbie Ashwood, Centre Administrator - our contact details are on the right.

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