The Grounds

We are very proud of our grounds and are continuously working to develop them. Please use the site drawing to take a tour around them. From rather bleak beginnings on a very windy site we have worked with the help of neighbours, parents, teachers children and very many friends to transform a cluster of standard school buildings on poor soil to a rich environment. The adults and children use the outdoor classroom as much as they do the indoors. We teach subjects through a series of projects such as the 'sunflowers'. The children grow their own sunflowers from seed, they harvest them, record what they find and make use of the data in maths and to develop their ICT skills. We research the sunflower through art and history. We write about them. We learn about the seed to seed cycle for science. We learn about sunflowers as a crop, and how oil is produced. We can enjoy the visual and tactile appeal of these striking plants and every child takes a sunflower home as the project ends.

We approach learning with the idea that it is easier to remember what you have felt, seen, touched, tasted and smelled and, most importantly apply a range of learning strategies to see how different subjects relate to each other.Teaching subjects in isolation can often mean they remain isolated.

We have planted woodlands, built several ponds, developed mature woodland at the edge of our site, planted glades of bluebell and other spring bulbs,. In our shared field daisies and dandelions can grow freely without being 'controlled' by weedkillers. We have parkland areas; areas where rotting vegatation can provide habitats for wildlife. We grow vegetables and have a wealth of fruit giving trees: plum, apple, pear and cherry. Our Arboretum is designed to have representative samples of all trees found in Northern Europe.We have planted a lot of willow, a very versatile resource. We have devised a system of interesting pathways where, end to end, they make interconnecting pathways to explore. Woven into the natural world we have challenging and interesting structures to appeal to all of us - two tree houses, a viewing platform, tunnels, a bridge, boardwalks, hard and soft areas to explore. We have a geology trail including our own stonehenge and massive stones brought in to represent the geological regions of the British Isles. We have a small heard of sheep to care for and learn about.

The development and improvement of our 'outdoor classroom' has been a long term project. None of it would have been possible without a vision and continued support. Visitors to the site are very welcome and we are proud to be a pilot school for school grounds development. Work continues to develop this valuable resource.

(Above Right) Part of our environmental alphabet.
(Right) Co-operating on a bear hunt