Summary
The Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill ("the Bill") is a Member's Bill and was introduced by Liz Smith MSP on 20 June 2024.
The Bill aims to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to experience residential outdoor education.
The Bill has three substantial provisions:
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placing a duty on education authorities and managers of grant-aided schools to secure the provision of at least one period of residential outdoor education for each pupil
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placing a duty on Scottish Ministers to prepare and publish guidance on the duty to secure the provision of residential outdoor education
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providing that the Scottish Government provide funding to local authorities and the managers of grant-aided schools to carry out the duty to secure the provision of residential outdoor education
It seeks to create new duties on local authorities and managers of a grant-aided schools to this effect.
The lead Committee at Stage 1 was the Education, Children and Young People Committee which published its report on 4 February 2025. The Education, Children and Young People Committee agreed with the general principles of the Bill. However, the paragraph of the report which stated this was agreed to on the Convener's casting vote, after a division in the Committee.
The Bill passed Stage 1 on 27 March 2025. The Bill required a Financial Resolution. A Financial Resolution may be agreed by Parliament only after a Government Minister has lodged a relevant motion. Following Stage 1, there was uncertainty over whether the Scottish Government would lodge such a motion. Liz Smith MSP and the Government held discussions particularly around concerns of the costs of the measures in the Bill.
The Government lodged a motion for a Financial Resolution on 24 September 2025 and it was agreed by Parliament the following day. The Education, Children and Young People Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 on 19 November 2025
The Scottish Parliament will consider the Bill at Stage 3 on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
The Report is attached here, or can be accessed and downloaded from this link https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/research-prepared-for-parliament/research-briefings/2025/12/10/sb-2561/pdf
