La Mare awarded gold mark for learning outside classroom

The school has been awarded a gold mark by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Headteacher Alison Elliott said the mark was a fantastic achievement for all the staff.

‘We’re thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts, and we look forward to continuing to embed learning outside the classroom within our school curriculum to help more children achieve their potential,’ she said.

The award covers all activities outside the usual classroom, such as extra-curricular clubs, visitors to the school, residential trips and sea swimming, as well as regular uses of the school grounds.

Year 2 teacher and outdoor learning lead Jen Chalker said outdoor learning had a range of different benefits, including helping students who work better outside a classroom environment and giving them more confidence.

‘It is about boosting their self-esteem and allowing them to work in a different way, as well as try activities involving risk taking,’ she said.

‘It gives them the opportunity to try a range of activities they may not have tried before. It is exciting for them.’

The outdoor activities take place all year round, although there are fewer in the winter.

During the summer, the school tries to take the children sea swimming three times, subject to weather, tides and jellyfish.‘It’s just a walk down the road to Cobo,’ she said.

The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is a UK-wide charity that champions all learning that happens beyond the classroom.

Chief executive Anne Hunt said that learning outside the classroom had many proven educational benefits.

‘Achieving the Gold LOtC Mark demonstrates that La Mare De Carteret Primary School is committed to developing and delivering genuinely valuable learning outside the classroom experiences for its children, and I congratulate the school on achieving this award,’ she said.