Ant, some schools offer a "fixed curriculum" but at the end of the day, it's about concentrating on specific tasks/aspects.
On
my list for the next few months are:
1: Situational Awareness (learning how to make the correct decisions)
2: Flying in Turbulence
3: Forced "short field" landings.
4: Outlandings and precautionaries (fields, roads etc)
5: Crosswinds (speed, approach, control)
Initial training teaches you to be prepared and to execute these tasks safely. To fly well within the limits and to control the aircraft properly in good conditions....now think about this....
...you are on a cross country, over undulating terrain and it's bumpy. That comforting "hum" from behind starts to splutter and choke. The rev's start dropping... the plane lurches slightly as the prop eventually stops. It all goes quiet. Your heart starts pumping as you scan for a landing spot... all you see is hills and trees and bush scrub. Suddenly you see it...that small space 700 ft below and to your right...is it?...yes it is...your only option....
...I leave it up to you to decide what the outcome will be?
This type of training will def help you to be a prepared as possible for that (hopefully never) occasion. Whether we like it or not, sooner or later we will end up in a situation that demands more than we are usually capable of. Yes, it's that moment of realisation that usually co incides with a swear word or two "Why the F#2k did I take off??" Too late, here I am and I need to get down safely...are you prepared enough?
It's
not about learning to fly in the K@K so that you can go out every weekend and do it....it's about learning how to make the best of a bad situation by having the right tools in the tool box.
Two terrible landings were part of the learning process 
