Secondary schools landscape development
Secondary schools often have a very different set of considerations to the primary sector. They will typically have larger student numbers, underdeveloped sites, lack of relevant play opportunities and less nature connections for starters. Combine solutions for these with greater student participation potential, and you have tremendous possibilities for your landscape.
Harness your school community to help update, reorganise and create useful outdoor spaces. Look at developing outdoor learning environments, break out space, nature connections and positive interaction.
This is a great opportunity to enhance the positive messages about the outdoors which children received in early years and primary education.
Benefits for secondary schools:
- More coherent, connected and logical site layout
- Enhance learning outcomes
- Provide effective spaces for forest schools
- Offer effective places for T-level learning
- Strengthen nature connections
- Heighten mindfulness and well being
- Foster collaboration and participation
- Encourage play and performance opportunities
- Provide breakout space
- Involve students in design and construction
- Ideal for Duke of Edinburgh award tasks
At Leyton Sixth Form College, we worked with their Duke of Edinburgh students to create an area suitable for T-Level forest schools curriculum learning. See LSC case study.
Jack Hunt School, under the inspirational teaching of assistant head Kerry Cliffe, achieved in their forest secondary school learning: “Over a period of 6 weeks, students reading levels increased on average by 10 months for each group when compared to other students with similar CAT scores”.
