Raising Achievement through Outdoor Learning

Report (click here to download the report)

Badock's Wood School is a primary school of 335 (at time of project delivery) pupils in Southmead, Bristol, in a super output area with very high indices of multiple deprivation.

In order to support the transition of the school from special measures status, the school senior management team recognised that engaging pupils in practical learning opportunities outdoors with a particular focus on active learning literacy projects would provide an excellent stimulus to change the culture of learning and raise achievement in the school. The project was successful in both of these key objectives as demonstrated by increased literacy achievement levels, acknowledgement in the Ofsted report and feedback from pupils, staff and advisory teachers.

The Heritage Lottery funded Forest of Avon Wood School project worked with the whole school engaging pupils and staff with the development of outdoor learning opportunities in neighbouring Badocks wood and the school grounds from April to July 2007.

Inset training was provided for staff and each class was involved in a tailored active learning project in the woodland providing rich stimulus for ongoing language and creative writing projects.  The project resourced and mentored staff so that ongoing use of outdoor learning has been sustained and developed in the year since the project was delivered.

Other partner agencies were involved in the project including Touchwood Enterprises from the Forest of Avon Wood Products Co-operative and the Bristol Parks ‘Nature in the City Project'.  These partners engaged pupils in the design and construction of storytelling chairs and benches in the school grounds and the production of a downloadable audio guide to the woodland.