Skills for Life: Preparing for an Outdoor Expedition
Preparing for an outdoor expedition is Pearson Skills for Life Unit SfL 30, in which learners get to know expedition equipment, plan an expedition and practise skills such as packing a rucksack and navigating, with a focus on safety, teamwork and the environment. It is one 20 hour unit that learners combine with others into a Pearson Skills for Life or Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma, achieved once at a single level from Entry 1 to Level 2. Literacy sits in naming and explaining equipment, following and writing an expedition plan, and explaining decisions at Level 2. Numeracy demand is low: Pearson maps map reading, grid references, scale and travel time, but no criterion requires them.
- Awarding body
- Pearson
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 20
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): One assessment criterion at each of Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3: learners list, outline or identify expedition equipment and take part safely in practical expedition activities, from recognising at least three items and basic outdoor features at Entry 1 to identifying five items and following a simple expedition plan at Entry 3. There are no mandatory evidence requirements; the centre sets its own assignment (Pearson's Authorised Assignment Brief is optional), assesses it internally, and Pearson quality assures it through standards verification. Graded Pass or Fail. 20 guided learning hours.
- Level 1 and Level 2: One assessment criterion at each level: Level 1 learners describe expedition equipment and take part in expedition planning and practical activities, contributing to a basic expedition plan, and Level 2 learners explain the purpose of a wide range of equipment, prepare a basic plan and solve problems such as unexpected weather. Evidence type is chosen by the centre, internally assessed by the centre and quality assured by Pearson through standards verification. All activities are teacher supervised. Graded Pass or Fail. 20 guided learning hours.
Skills that use Position
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Reading maps and navigating with a compass
Entry 2 learners recognise key map symbols and Level 1 learners use a map and compass to navigate, both given as examples of the practical skills learners can show. Pearson's annex mapping names map reading, grid references and scale as numeracy. Because these are examples rather than requirements, the numeracy is taught content, although most centres' practical tasks will include navigation.
Numeracy: Position, Angle, Calculation
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils give four figure grid references for six features on an Ordnance Survey map extract of their local area.
- Year 8
- Pupils use the map scale to measure the length of a route in kilometres and follow a compass direction across the school field.
- Year 9
- Pupils take a bearing between two points on a 1:25,000 map, walk it on the ground with a compass, and give six figure grid references for each checkpoint.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit SfL 30, Essential information for assessment decisions, Entry 2, page 138, and Level 1, page 139; Annexe C, SfL 30 Numeracy Links, page 166
“setting up a tent or using a map and compass to navigate”
Progression step 3
I can use grid references to specify location.
I can use angle as a measure of rotation.
Progression step 4
I can apply understanding of bearings and scale to interpret maps and plans, and to create plans and drawings to scale.
I can use ratio and proportion including map scales.
Good to know
- The unit is "SfL 30" with "20" guided learning hours in the unit summary table (Section 3, page 6), and "Learners can only achieve each unit once, at a single level" (Rules of Combination, page 6).
- Each level sets a minimum number of equipment items, from "at least three basic items of expedition equipment" at Entry 1 to "at least five items of expedition equipment" at Entry 3 (Essential information for assessment decisions, page 138).
- Centres choose the evidence: "there are no mandatory evidence requirements and centres can select the type of evidence" (page 138), so Entry learners can point to or name items rather than write about them.
- Learners can be assessed "in Welsh or English" (Language of assessment, page 8).
- The page 137 footer reads "Submission 5 draft", dated April 2026, while every other page reads Issue 1, August 2026, and the annexes call the unit "Preparation for an Outdoor Expedition" (pages 159 to 178). These look like editing errors.
- AI must be acknowledged and work must be in learners' own words: "If AI is used, the final submission must be in the learner's own words and reflect their own effort" (Requirements relating to permitted/prohibited resources, page 140).
Links with other qualifications
WJEC has no Preparing for an outdoor expedition unit, so there is no WJEC version to compare. The closest WJEC Skills Suite unit is Skills in the natural environment, which also uses map scales, planning notes and descriptions of outdoor features, and Teamwork shares group discussion and decision making. GCSE Geography shares map reading, grid references and scale, and planning fieldwork routes. GCSE English Language and Literature and GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature share writing clear instructions and plans and explaining reasons, and VCSE Sport and Leisure shares planning safe outdoor activities.
Source: Pearson Entry Level 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life Award, Certificate and Diploma specification, Issue 1, August 2026, Unit SfL 30: Preparing for an outdoor expedition.