Pupils are taking learning outdoors to take advantage of a new tepee installed on site.

Pupils in the lower school at ACS Cobham International School have been using the “giant hat” tepee as part of the school’s nature camp, which will be used for drama and music lessons, the school’s scout group and as a place to develop hands-on outdoor skills.

The camp-out was deigned by the Bushcraft Company, set up by Alex McBarnet, a former protegee of survival expert Ray Mears.

As well as team building, students will learn basic survival skills such as making a fire without matches and cooking outdoors.

Lower school headteacher Lacy Chapman said: “The benefits to students of outdoor education are extensive.

“Children can explore outdoor space by touching, feeling and engaging with the outdoor environment, skills that cannot be developed in an indoor classroom.

“The outdoor environment allows students to develop an extended portfolio of good social and cognitive skills.”