My name is Dominic Taylor, and I’m the Founder and CEO of School of Outdoors.

My journey into outdoor education began through my own experience completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels — experiences that built confidence, purpose and a strong sense of belonging through challenge and adventure.

Before founding School of Outdoors, I held senior leadership roles across education and youth services, including Operations Manager for DofE in the South East, CEO of a youth charity supporting disadvantaged young people, and Chief Operating Officer at a selective secondary boys’ boarding school during its journey to an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Why do you like being part of School of Outdoors? 

I love being part of School of Outdoors because it brings together everything I care about quality, connection, and impact.

Each year we work with around 5,000 child and adult participants, growing from just 800 participants in our first year, and we receive over 8,000 pieces of feedback annually. Even constructive feedback matters deeply to me, as it drives continual improvement and helps us get it right.

More about me…

When I am not working I love to travel and spend time with friends and family

I’m Jonathan, and I’m responsible for the educational offer at School of Outdoors, overseeing our Mountain Training courses, First Aid provision, and the development and delivery of our Alternative Provision programmes. I am also currently developing our apprenticeship programmes to further expand the opportunities available to young people.

I bring over 25 years of experience working across education, youth services, with a strong background in managing outdoor education programmes and ensuring the compliance and safety of all activities. More recently, my work has included overseeing general health and safety compliance for schools and further education settings, including Reading School and St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College. Throughout my career, I have focused on creating safe, high-quality educational experiences that support both personal development and positive outcomes for young people.

Why I enjoy being part of School of Outdoors

I am passionate about the outdoors and the genuine benefits it brings to health and wellbeing. Through our Alternative Provision programmes, I’m particularly motivated by helping young people rediscover their passion for learning and re-engage with education in a meaningful way. Being part of School of Outdoors allows me to combine my commitment to education with my belief in the power of outdoor experiences to change lives.

More about me…

Outside of School of Outdoors, I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter. I am also a trustee for Surrey Search and Rescue, where I have volunteered as a Search Technician since 2017.

My name is Alex, and I’m a Director at School of Outdoors, where I’m responsible for the growth and development of our Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) delivery and wider outdoor programmes.

I bring over 20 years of experience working with the DofE, including six years as a DofE Manager for a local authority and seven years as an Operations Officer supporting the successful development of DofE Centres across the southeast. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on building high-quality programmes that give young people meaningful opportunities to challenge themselves, develop confidence, and thrive outdoors.

At School of Outdoors, I work closely with our team and partners to ensure our programmes are safe, well-managed, and continually evolving to meet the needs of our participants.

Why I enjoy being part of School of Outdoors

I’m passionate about outdoor education and the positive impact it has on young people. Being part of School of Outdoors allows me to help shape experiences that build resilience, independence, and a lifelong connection with the outdoors.

More about me…

Outside of School of Outdoors, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children and walking my dog.

My name is George, and I am the Resourcing & Operations Manager at School of Outdoors.

Before joining I worked as an event logistics manager for one of the UK’s largest running events companies, ensuring seamless delivery of all event materials to over 300 running events per year.

Using this experience, at School of Outdoors I oversee the behind the scenes planning to ensure that every DofE event is fully resourced with the right equipment, vehicles and instructors. I have always taken pride in creating smooth, well-organised operations that allow events to run seamlessly.

Why do you like being a part of School of Outdoors?

I have always been someone who loves the outdoors and being active. Thinking back to when I took part in DofE when I was younger, it is a great opportunity for people to grow and learn new skills all whilst staying active and being in the great outdoors. To be someone that can help deliver these valuable expeditions to other people is a privilege to me.

More about me…

Outside of work I am a big football fan and still play recreationally whilst also competing several times a year in county level cross country running.

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My name is Kat, and I am the Head of School and SENCO for Alternative Provision at School of Outdoors.

During my time with the organisation, I have worked in a range of roles, most recently as Outdoor Operations & Scheduling Manager. I am a DofE instructor and course director, lead our professional development programme, and deliver Lowland Leader awards and first aid training for outdoor instructors.

Before joining School of Outdoors, I was Head of Physics in a secondary school, where I designed and delivered targeted interventions to support young people with learning difficulties. During this time, I also ran a highly successful in-house Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, supporting around 200 participants across all three award levels.

At School of Outdoors, my role is to ensure that our Alternative Provision programme supports, stretches, and challenges young people, helping them to build confidence, develop skills, and access the best possible future opportunities.

Why do you like being part of School of Outdoors?

I first became involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award because I loved the opportunity to get to know students on a more human level — supporting them through challenges while having fun in the outdoors. My main motivation is to give young people a positively life-changing experience, where they develop teamwork skills, resilience, and confidence in being safe outdoors.

I feel very privileged to work for a company that shares these values and actively encourages me to continue developing my own skills.

More about me…

Outside of work, I enjoy going climbing and spending time with friends — often down the pub for a pint of tea. A fun fact about me is that I love travelling, meeting people from all over the world, and seeking out new experiences.

My name is Jamie, and I’m the Accounts Assistant at School of Outdoors, where I’m responsible for ensuring transactions and payments are accurately allocated and categorised, as well as supporting payroll processes. I take pride in being detail-focused and reliable, helping to keep financial operations running smoothly.

I’ve held a wide range of roles throughout my career, including positions in Electrical & Security, Project Management, Operations Management, Chief Operating Officer, Law Enforcement, and as Director of a small business. This diverse background has given me a strong understanding of how different organisations function and allows me to bring a practical, well-rounded approach to my work.

Why do you like being a part of School of Outdoors?

School of Outdoors is a great company to work for — it’s professional, engaging, and motivating, with a relaxed and flexible working culture that supports learning and development. I’m always keen to build new skills and enjoy the opportunity to keep growing within the business.

Outside of work, I’m a big motorsport fan, particularly Formula 1 and its technical regulations. When I’m not following racing, I’m usually starting a new project or getting away in my motorhome, exploring random locations around the UK and beyond with my partner and our two dogs.

More about me…

For many years I worked as a freelance coach driver travelling across the UK and Europe, and I had the privilege of driving for Channel 4’s The Coach Trip, meeting celebrities and visiting places you’d rarely get to see.

Hi I’m Samuel Green. I am an experienced outdoor instructor and outdoor education professional with expertise across watersports, climbing, expedition leadership, and environmental learning.

With a lifelong passion for the outdoors, fostered on the moors and coasts of the southwest, and an academic background in bioarchaeology, I bring a thoughtful, holistic approach to experiential education that connects young people with both adventure and the natural world.

I have led and overseen a wide range of outdoor programmes within residential centres and expedition settings, including sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rock climbing, navigation, bushcraft, and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. I’m known for delivering high-quality, safe, and engaging sessions, while also supporting the development of learners and fellow instructors through mentoring and strong leadership.

Alongside my instructional work, I have actively contributed to conservation and sustainability initiatives through countryside management and environmental volunteering, including habitat restoration, reforestation projects, and invasive species control. This hands-on experience strengthens my ability to embed environmental responsibility within outdoor education.

I am deeply committed to creating impactful learning experiences that build confidence, resilience, and respect for the outdoors, and to maintaining the highest standards of safety, inclusion, and educational quality across all the sessions I lead.

Coming Soon.