Talent Survey - Practitioners 2024/25

Introduction
This survey is being conducted by the IOL on behalf of the outdoor learning sector. The assimilated results will be published by IOL and all respondents will remain anonymous. Only answer this survey if you have worked as a teacher/instructor providing outdoor learning in the past 5 years.

The survey will close on January 31st.

Question Title

* 1. Current role / main areas of practice
(select all that apply to more than 10% of all your work)

Activity instructor – residential programmes

Activity instructor – non-residential

Curriculum based delivery – teacher or teaching assistant

Curriculum based delivery – external provider

Youth organisation instructor/youthworker

Early careers development trainer

College/University based outdoor learning professional

Forest School practitioner

Freelancer

Instructor/practitioner coach (training practitioners)

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Your age

Under 18

18-25

26-35

36-45

45+

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* 3. Gender (optional)
Please describe the gender you identify with

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* 4. Ethnicity (optional)

White

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups

Asian/Asian British

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British

Chinese

Arab

Other ethnic group

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* 5. Type of employing organisation

School

College or University

Outdoor Centre based organisation

Non-centre based organisation

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Permission to be approached for follow-up questions
Y/N & contact details

Yes

If YES please let us know your contact details:
Name and Email.

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* 7. How long have you been delivering outdoor learning?
Please give number of years for all that apply.

Paid – full-time

Paid – part time

Voluntary

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* 8. What was your last level of formal education or training before starting your career inOutdoor Learning?

GCSE

A-Level or vocational equivalent

Apprenticeship

Degree

Post-degree

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Did you have a career elsewhere before starting in outdoor learning? If yes, what in?

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* 10. How did you find your current role?

Careers advisor

Friend/family recommendation

Web/social media-based careers advice

Local outdoor centre or outdoor provider

IOL jobs pages

Other (please specify)

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* 11. How long to do you expect to stay in an Outdoor Learning career?

Maximum of 2 years

Up to 5 years

Up to 10 years

My whole professional career

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Looking forward, what would be your preferred role in the sector?

Activity practitioner (e.g. activity instructor, field work instructor, forest school leader etc)

Senior practitioner (supervising)

Instructor coach (training instructors practitioners)

Qualified teacher or teaching assistant curriculum delivery

Organisational management

Freelancer

Academic/researcher

Other (please specify)

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* 13. How much time do you spend on training and other forms of CPD

	Up to 3 hrs a month	Up to 1 day a month	Up to 2 days a month	More than 2 days amonth
Reading/researching	Reading/researching Up to 3 hrs a month	Reading/researching Up to 1 day a month	Reading/researching Up to 2 days a month	Reading/researching More than 2 days amonth
Attending training workshops	Attending training workshops Up to 3 hrs a month	Attending training workshops Up to 1 day a month	Attending training workshops Up to 2 days a month	Attending training workshops More than 2 days amonth
Attending universityor college course	Attending universityor college course Up to 3 hrs a month	Attending universityor college course Up to 1 day a month	Attending universityor college course Up to 2 days a month	Attending universityor college course More than 2 days amonth
Preparing/delivering training	Preparing/delivering training Up to 3 hrs a month	Preparing/delivering training Up to 1 day a month	Preparing/delivering training Up to 2 days a month	Preparing/delivering training More than 2 days amonth
Networking with other professionals	Networking with other professionals Up to 3 hrs a month	Networking with other professionals Up to 1 day a month	Networking with other professionals Up to 2 days a month	Networking with other professionals More than 2 days amonth
Receiving coaching or mentoring	Receiving coaching or mentoring Up to 3 hrs a month	Receiving coaching or mentoring Up to 1 day a month	Receiving coaching or mentoring Up to 2 days a month	Receiving coaching or mentoring More than 2 days amonth
Coaching or mentoring others	Coaching or mentoring others Up to 3 hrs a month	Coaching or mentoring others Up to 1 day a month	Coaching or mentoring others Up to 2 days a month	Coaching or mentoring others More than 2 days amonth
Other....	Other.... Up to 3 hrs a month	Other.... Up to 1 day a month	Other.... Up to 2 days a month	Other.... More than 2 days amonth

Question Title

* 14. What forms of support for personal & professional development can you access

Employer provided workshops

Employer provided coaching & mentoring

Apprenticeship

Employer supported further or higher education

IOL professional accreditation

Other professional accreditation

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 15. What aspects of your role do find most rewarding or frustrating
1 = rewarding/attraction to a career. 5 = frustrating/make career less attractive

	1	2	3	4	5
Remuneration	Remuneration 1	Remuneration 2	Remuneration 3	Remuneration 4	Remuneration 5
Job satisfaction	Job satisfaction 1	Job satisfaction 2	Job satisfaction 3	Job satisfaction 4	Job satisfaction 5
Perceived job security	Perceived job security 1	Perceived job security 2	Perceived job security 3	Perceived job security 4	Perceived job security 5
Mental stimulus & wellbeing	Mental stimulus & wellbeing 1	Mental stimulus & wellbeing 2	Mental stimulus & wellbeing 3	Mental stimulus & wellbeing 4	Mental stimulus & wellbeing 5
Physical fitness & wellbeing	Physical fitness & wellbeing 1	Physical fitness & wellbeing 2	Physical fitness & wellbeing 3	Physical fitness & wellbeing 4	Physical fitness & wellbeing 5
Levels of rules and regulations	Levels of rules and regulations 1	Levels of rules and regulations 2	Levels of rules and regulations 3	Levels of rules and regulations 4	Levels of rules and regulations 5
Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients	Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients 1	Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients 2	Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients 3	Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients 4	Variety of learners/beneficiaries/clients 5
Opportunities for professional progression	Opportunities for professional progression 1	Opportunities for professional progression 2	Opportunities for professional progression 3	Opportunities for professional progression 4	Opportunities for professional progression 5
Team based working	Team based working 1	Team based working 2	Team based working 3	Team based working 4	Team based working 5
Connection to nature	Connection to nature 1	Connection to nature 2	Connection to nature 3	Connection to nature 4	Connection to nature 5
Levels of outdoor adventure	Levels of outdoor adventure 1	Levels of outdoor adventure 2	Levels of outdoor adventure 3	Levels of outdoor adventure 4	Levels of outdoor adventure 5
Living/accommodation accessibility	Living/accommodation accessibility 1	Living/accommodation accessibility 2	Living/accommodation accessibility 3	Living/accommodation accessibility 4	Living/accommodation accessibility 5

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* 16. COMMENT re Q15:
Other things you most value about working in Outdoor Learning.

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* 17. QUESTION re Q15
What would cause you to leave the Outdoor Learning sector

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* 18. QUESTION re Q15
Any other concerns you have about working in Outdoor Learning

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* 19. Please provide your email address if you would like to join our mailing list to be kept informed about developments within the outdoor learning industry, jobs and training opportunities and enter into a prize draw.

Talent Survey - Practitioners 2024/25

Question Title

* 1. Current role / main areas of practice(select all that apply to more than 10% of all your work)

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* 2. Your age

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* 3. Gender (optional)Please describe the gender you identify with

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* 4. Ethnicity (optional)

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* 5. Type of employing organisation

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* 6. Permission to be approached for follow-up questionsY/N & contact details

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* 7. How long have you been delivering outdoor learning? Please give number of years for all that apply.

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* 8. What was your last level of formal education or training before starting your career inOutdoor Learning?

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* 9. Did you have a career elsewhere before starting in outdoor learning? If yes, what in?

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* 10. How did you find your current role?

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* 11. How long to do you expect to stay in an Outdoor Learning career?

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* 12. Looking forward, what would be your preferred role in the sector?

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* 13. How much time do you spend on training and other forms of CPD

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* 14. What forms of support for personal & professional development can you access

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* 15. What aspects of your role do find most rewarding or frustrating1 = rewarding/attraction to a career. 5 = frustrating/make career less attractive

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* 16. COMMENT re Q15:Other things you most value about working in Outdoor Learning.

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* 17. QUESTION re Q15What would cause you to leave the Outdoor Learning sector

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* 18. QUESTION re Q15Any other concerns you have about working in Outdoor Learning

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* 19. Please provide your email address if you would like to join our mailing list to be kept informed about developments within the outdoor learning industry, jobs and training opportunities and enter into a prize draw.

* 1. Current role / main areas of practice
(select all that apply to more than 10% of all your work)

* 3. Gender (optional)
Please describe the gender you identify with

* 6. Permission to be approached for follow-up questions
Y/N & contact details

* 7. How long have you been delivering outdoor learning?
Please give number of years for all that apply.

* 15. What aspects of your role do find most rewarding or frustrating
1 = rewarding/attraction to a career. 5 = frustrating/make career less attractive

* 16. COMMENT re Q15:
Other things you most value about working in Outdoor Learning.

* 17. QUESTION re Q15
What would cause you to leave the Outdoor Learning sector

* 18. QUESTION re Q15
Any other concerns you have about working in Outdoor Learning