The collapse of the Inspiring Learning Group earlier this month led to the immediate closure of seven Kingswood centres.
Three further centres remain open after being acquired by outdoor education company PGL, while the Inspiring Learning North Devon Centre has been acquired by Halsbury Travel Group.
Kingswood is currently contacting all customers who have a confirmed or a provisional booking for 2025.
PGL has confirmed that all planned residentials at the three centres it has acquired – covering more than 50,000 young people in 2025 – will go ahead.
It has also committed to supporting customers affected by the closures. A statement from PGL said: “PGL has pledged its full support to the administrators of the Inspiring Learning Group, agreeing to facilitate as many trips as possible, with no financial impact to parents or guardians.
“PGL will accept bookings from impacted customers at the price previously agreed with Kingswood, and further reduce that price to recognise any monies previously paid to Kingswood.”
PGL chief executive Anthony Jones said: “We know how important a milestone in a young person’s journey a school residential provides, and are mindful of the potential impact should they miss out on this life-changing experience.
“With this in mind, PGL has pledged its support from the outset, offering to work with the administrators of the Inspiring Learning Group to proactively facilitate as many trips as possible booked with the closing centres, with no financial impact to parents.”
And this week, the Field Studies Council has also said it would be reaching out to schools affected by the closures and will do its best to support any schools unable to take advantage of PGL’s offer.
Mark Castle, chief executive of the Field Studies Council, said: "We're here to support schools affected by this situation who may not be able to take advantage of the PGL rescue package. Our priority is ensuring that young people don't miss out on these transformative educational experiences that are already under threat from increasing financial pressures. We are ready, as are others in the sector to support schools in finding alternative arrangements for their residential trips.”
He added: "Our thoughts are also with the Kingswood employees who have lost their jobs. These are dedicated professionals who have inspired countless young people through outdoor education. The loss of such a significant provider highlights the mounting pressures facing the outdoor education sector.”
The seven Kingswood centres that have closed are
- West Runton, Norfolk
- Green Park, Buckinghamshire
- Dukeswood House, Northumberland
- Peak Venture, South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire, near Wolverhampton
- Ryde, Isle of Wight
- Colomendy, North Wales
A statement from Kingswood said: “We are very sorry to let you know that we have gone into administration. Unfortunately, seven of our centres will now close, and any planned trips to these will not be fulfilled by Kingswood. We appreciate that this news will be difficult to absorb.”
The three sites acquired by PGL are Overstrand Hall in Cromer, Norfolk, Dearne Valley in Doncaster, and Grosvenor Hall in Ashford, Kent. These will continue to operate under the PGL banner and PGL confirmed that residential bookings at these three centres will “go ahead as planned”.
The Field Studies Council, which is a charity and operates a number of outdoor centres across England, Wales and Scotland, is concerned that the closures come at a time when increasing numbers of students are missing out on outdoor experiences as a standard part of their education. It is now pushing for this to be addressed in the government’s on-going Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Mr Castle said: “Those who would benefit most from these opportunities are often at the greatest risk of missing out. This increasing inequality is something we have regularly raised with government, including in our recent response to the Curriculum Review in England.
“We strongly believe that outdoor learning and fieldwork residentials, along with all the benefits they bring, need to be firmly embedded in the curriculum rather than being left to chance or ability to pay.”
Kingswood launched in 1983 with the opening of its first centre in the village of Kingswood, Staffordshire.
- For details of the PGL support offer for schools affected by the closures, visit https://pglbeyond.com/kingswood-support
- Schools interested in seeking support from the Field Studies Council can visit www.field-studies-council.org/changes-at-kingswood