Greeny News

In praise of taking the classroom outdoors

When was the last time your class has helped to build a wind turbine, or wander from a natural subject of an art lesson? Today on cribsheet we 're celebrating the nature and sustainability education. And ask - the students had enough?

We have recently asked how green is your school, and were with what we found in our inbox, detailing several innovative activities used delighted children about the environment. Here 'sa sample ...

Roberts Primary School in Dudley has a purpose-built environmental education center and four-acre nature trail, that 's now in his 12th Year. The site has a pond, traditional hedges and an orchard of 60-year-old trees. For teaching, there is a garden patch, a greenhouse built with plastic bottles and a sensory garden. Manager Guy de Szathmary tells us that the environmental area:

advocate, interesting, fun, "hands-on" ways to learn about sustainable development and the natural environment and the 'to life', how can we as people and will impact our local, national and international environment .

Each year through the centre, 60 primary schools learn about biodiversity, sustainable energy and nature, and seven schools have achieved their national Green Flag for sustainability.

In East Sussex, Ringmer Community College has placed the issue of sustainability learning at the center of the curriculum. The school 's Environmental Coordinator Stephen Greenblatt writes that the school undertakes a major project to introduce renewable energies on the website. Their energy-saving approach involves all students and staff: 220 eco-reps conduct extensive recycling and energy monitoring and remind teachers, less paper and energy use. The students have participated in the grant application, planning and construction process for a 7.5kw solar panel and a 2.5 kW wind turbine, discuss ideas with architects and project managers.

At Redby Primary in Sunderland, says headteacher Val Shield, a "green team" and elected eco monitors report their progress in school assemblies, and raise awareness of energy-saving measures such as cycling to school.

The RSPB is also concerned that teachers have ample resources to teach outdoors. A survey of teachers revealed more wanted access to outside classrooms and facilities. So today, 50 nature reserves and outdoor teaching centres around the country are hosting visits from schools – and inviting their local MP along to see the benefit of learning in the great outdoors.

Pupils' creativity is being stifled by the sats creative writing test: this was the main message of the sats review. Lord Bew's report into sats published yesterday gave a scathing assessment of the test, judging that it probed for formulaic answers. This acknowledges the dissatisfaction felt by those schools who boycotted the tests, and others who objected, as Jessica Shepherd writes:

In the fifties it was normal for children to stay at school late to do activities which really could have been described as hobbies - music, woodwork, metalwork, model railways etc. The school provided the space and resources which were not available to most people at home. All sorts of things which we enjoyed and helped to set us up for life. What is wrong with that?

Are league tables good for schools? Warwick Mansell reports in the TES that other countries remain resistant to the approach.

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Private view for teachers

The Saatchi Gallery is seen holding a private view for teachers, his exhibition The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture on Friday 1 July from 7-9pm. It 'll a free tour, exhibition tours and refreshments. To book please E-Mail-admin@saatchigallery.com, your name and school contact details.

Time: 1 July, 9.15-12.45.

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