Reimagining Education with Dave Slater, to benefit every child
Dave Slater, CEO of Co Adventurers Ltd, has a background in education and extensive experience working with vulnerable children. He is passionate about creating innovative learning environments and aims to inspire young people through hands-on, inclusive education. He is also the author of The Day the Giant Came to Forest School. During a photo shoot at his new St Thomas facility, Dave shared his vision for making education accessible to every child.
Dave Slater, who leads the team of 15 innovative educators at Co Adventurers Limited, providing “adventurous learning together”.
Al: Dave, tell us who you are, about the company, and your position.
Dave: My name is Dave Slater. I'm the CEO of Co Adventurers Ltd. We are a company working with children at risk of exclusion or those disengaging with education. We run an alternative provision education company.
Al: What inspired you to pursue this model of alternative educational provision?
Dave: I was inspired by the years I spent working in Uganda, East Africa, with street children and children affected by war. When I returned to the UK, I saw a need for a different educational model that could better support children here. The organisation began in Exmouth during the 2020 lockdown, initially providing learning activities and outdoor opportunities for the children of key workers.
Al: We’re sitting in a very interesting room. Is this a classroom or a workshop?
Dave: This is a classroom and a joinery shop where young people can engage in craft activities, from carving to basic joinery. We put the learner at the centre – whatever they want to create, we facilitate that learning.
Al: It sounds like you make education an adventure. Why the name Co Adventurers?
Dave: The name Co Adventurers represents joining the adventure of learning with young people. Instead of top-down learning where a teacher dictates lessons, we meet young people where they are and build learning around their interests – whether it’s carpentry, computer science, or historical clothing design.
Al: Tell us about the different Co Adventurers locations, especially this new building.
Dave Slater: We have three sites:
1. Learning rooms in Exmouth for small group work.
2. A site at Littleham Primary School for forest school and outdoor adventure activities.
3. This new site at St Thomas offers various classrooms and workshop spaces tailored to student needs, including a ‘crash and bash’ room for physical activities.
Al: What exactly happens in this room?
Dave: This is the Carpentry and Joinery section, where young people can engage in various craft activities.
“Every child deserves an education tailored to their journey.”
Dave Slater, CEO of Co Adventurers (left) along with Vanessa Briggs, Co Adventurers Curriculum and Safeguarding Lead (right) at the new St Thomas Learning facility.
Al: You also have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. Could you tell us more about that?
Dave: Inspired by my work in Uganda, we reinvest part of our income into sponsoring education in East Africa, currently supporting children in Uganda and developing projects in South Sudan.
Al: So, how does CoAdventurers’ mission align with your personal philosophy?
Dave: I believe every child deserves an education tailored to their journey. Some of the young people we work with have experienced trauma, undiagnosed autism, or exclusion from school and we aim to support them in their learning adventure.
Al: Could you share an example of a child positively impacted by Co Adventurers?
Dave: We work with children who have been out of school due to various challenges. One learner, for example, arrived with severe confidence issues but, through therapeutic activities, has been gradually reintegrated into an appropriate educational setting.
Al Gibson: Tell us a little about your team.
Dave: Our team consists of teachers, learning mentors, outdoor instructors and forest school educators. A key part of our approach is attachment-based mentoring, pairing the right adult with the right young person for long-term positive impact.
Al: What is your long-term vision for Co Adventurers? You mentioned becoming a fully registered independent school.
Dave: Yes, we’re working towards full registration as an independent school. As an alternative provision, we can currently only offer up to 15 hours a week, but we believe full-time engagement will bring greater long-term benefits for students.
Al: Finally, what would you say to a parent or teacher considering sending a child to CoAdventurers?
Dave: For parents, we offer a wraparound service that supports not just the young person but also navigates the complex educational system. We liaise with social workers, councils, and other professionals to ensure a clear pathway for each child.
For teachers, our safeguarding policies and structured approach ensure a safe and supportive environment. Most importantly, we don’t give up on a child. We meet them where they are and support them to thrive in their own way.
Follow David Slater on LinkedIn
PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Smith, Thomas Smith Videography