The Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel comprises of the nominated representatives of the Chief Officers of Local Authorities in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It provides a forum for sharing and developing good practice in Outdoor Learning / Learning Outside the Classroom.

The Panel is organised through the offices of a Executive Chair and Secretary and steered by an Elected Board.
Executive Chair: Mike Penny (Greenwich), Secretary: Suzanne Holroyd (Blackpool), Treasurer: Ken Fordham (Retired), Paul Bond (South East), Antony Reed (South West), Kevin Jackson (Midlands), Mark Falkingham (East), Ian Kirkby (North East), Suzanne Holroyd (North West) and Rachel Jones (Wales/Cymru).
Further co opted officers are Graham Lodge (Norfolk) covering LOTC QB.
Stephen Brown is the part time Development Officer OEAP.

The Board is kept informed through the work of the regional groups. A number of project working groups exist to take forward specific tasks on behalf of the whole Panel. The bi-annual National Panel Meeting is held in the Spring and the Autumn. Any documents produced by the Panel are in the form of best practice guidance for its members and only become policy when they are adopted or adapted by individual LAs.

In addition individual members represent the interests of the Panel on other national bodies, including The English Outdoor Council, The Learning Outside the Classroom Council and National Governing Bodies of Outdoor Sports.

The Panel may be represented on other relevant bodies or functions by the Chair or other elected officers nominated by the Chair.

The Panel works closely with the DfE and LOTC Council. It endorses the LOTC Quality Badge through its members accepting the badge.
Also works with other representative bodies in the public and private sector such as the British Activities Holiday Association, The Royal Geographic Society and the Adventure Activities Licensing Service.  more...

Panel Membership
To become a full member of the Panel you must be nominated by and represent the Chief Officer of a Local Authority in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. There will be an annual fee payable to cover registration.

If you have just been appointed to the role of Outdoor Education Adviser or LOTC Adviser please do not hesitate to contact Stephen who will be pleased to welcome you into the Panel and explain how the Panel works and put you in touch with your regional group -  stephenbrown.47@btinternet.com