Our Expedition Leaders

Leader ratios

All Outlook expeditions will be led by a qualified Expedition Leader. If the expedition group has 13 or more students, an Outlook Assistant Leader will also accompany the expedition.

Carefully selected

Outlook has a rigorous Expedition Leader selection policy and aims to have all Expedition Leaders in place at least 4 months before departure. Candidates must pass a 5-stage selection process:

1. Application
2. Provisional vetting of qualifications and experience
3. Expedition Leader 2 day assessment course and interview
4. Reference checking, verification of qualifications and ECRB
5. Parents & students meet the Expedition Leader

Qualifications and experience

All Outlook Expedition Leaders hold a Mountain Leader qualification suitable to the expedition itinerary and an expedition first aid qualification. An Expedition Leader’s qualifications, transferable skills and previous experience travelling in the developing world are all considered when matching an Expedition Leader to a group.

All Expedition Leaders must possess an enhanced disclosure certificate cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) / Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO). Once a candidate has been selected as an Expedition Leader they are allocated an expedition group based on how the Link Teacher, destination and itinerary matches their experience and personality.

Leaders work with the group at Expedition Training

This gives an opportunity for the leader to build relationships with the team and Link Teacher before going overseas.  It's also a chance to find out about individuals; their strengths, weaknesses and any special requirements or worries they may have.

Outlook's Leader Guarantee

Finally, the Link Teacher, expedition participants and parents meet their Expedition Leader and if they feel that he or she is not suitable for their group, then Outlook will replace them with a new Expedition Leader.