Eco-Schools & Outdoor Learning
Eco-Schools & Outdoor Learning
Why they make a difference at Rosehill School and for our wider community
At Rosehill School we are committed to outdoor learning as this teaches life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity. Essentially, it improves children's health and wellbeing.
Being an Eco-School has had a positive impact on our school community, as not only has it promoted an increase in outdoor learning, it has helped empower our pupils to raise environmental awareness, improve the school environment and also has created financial savings for the school. Furthermore, it engages the wider local community and links to our broad and balanced curriculum.
Making a difference to pupils’ lives
Our Outdoor Learning and Eco-Schools programme provides a unique opportunity for pupils to lead change within the school and is having a positive impact on our wider community. The programme started in 2019, where the Student Council encouraged pupils of all ages and abilities to work together to develop their knowledge and environmental awareness. Together the school redeveloped our Woodland Walk Area to make it into a safe haven for wildlife.
Independent research into Outdoor Learning and Eco-School programmes in England found evidence of the positive impacts on pupils, including increased confidence, development of leaderships skills, improved pupil well-being and behaviour and greater motivation at school.
Waste less and save money
As well as the pupil benefits, which are having a hugely positive effect on the whole school community, we are reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint. Our school is trying to use less water and energy and produce less waste – in turn saving money that is being allocated elsewhere in the school. Examples of activities we are doing to achieve this include; placing time clocks in outdoor lights and hot water boilers and turning lights off, when they are not needed.
Pupils across KS3-5 have ensured that a clear system is in place for recycling and they regularly promote the concept of reusing and upcycling.
Being part of something global
Eco-Schools is a global initiative, therefore our pupils will join millions of children from 67 countries in creating change for the benefit of future generations!
Projects
Developing the Outdoor Learning Environment
We have developed our outdoor quad area to provide well-defined learning zones e.g. the maths zone and the recycling zone. We now have an Outdoor Classroom called the DEN and a Sensory Circuit.
The People's Forest
As part of Rosehill’s Eco-Schools work worked with ‘Robin Hood’ in establishing The People’s Forest!
Alongside the work of Nottingham City, as part of the celebration of the redevelopment of Nottingham Castle 2020-2022, The Castle Trust worked with Rosehill and other primary schools in Nottingham to plant oak trees.
This means that Rosehill is now part of the spiral of oaks running from Nottingham Castle all the way to the heart of Sherwood Forest, The Major Oak.
The People’s Forest project was launched by Nottingham Open Spaces Forum, who bought together all of the ‘friends’ groups of all of Nottingham city’s parks and open spaces.
The project has reconnected the city with Sherwood Forest through the planting of trees in schools, community gardens and other open spaces and creates a network of ‘forest school’ activities, embedding an enthusiasm for caring for our environment in all of the city’s young people and for future generations.
Examples of Eco-Schools Committee Meetings/Actions
Date | Agenda/Action | Attendees |
| Committee meetings and actions 2022-2023 | Watch this space! | |
Committee meetings and actions 2021-2022
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Committee meetings and actions 2020-2021
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Planting of Oak Tree | 9 pupils attended a ceremony with Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham to officially welcome the Oak Tree to Rosehill School. The Deputy Headteacher and pupils from across the school also officially opened the School's Woodland Walk. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for photographs of this event. | Pupils and staff were joined by the Nottingham City Castle Trust, parents, governors, representatives from Nottingham City Council and reporters from the BBC and Notts TV. |
(annually)
| During recycling week, we develop an awareness of items that can be recycled and reused and conserve natural resources, ecosystems and wildlife by recycling materials more consistently. We also focus on reducing the amount of waste the school produces, and upcycle and repurpose waste to reuse in different ways. We then put plans in place for the year to develop our practice. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for our impact report. | All classes from across the school took part in creating posters and developing the schools recycling provision and approaches (see examples of outcomes below). |
Outdoor Learning Week (annually)
| Spending time outdoors is important for children’s development and wellbeing. During outdoor learning week, we learn outside of the classroom, engaging in exciting activities and improving children’s health, wellbeing and happiness. We take part in activities such as archery, and have a huge climbing wall on site. We have so much fun! Scroll down to the bottom of this page for our impact report. | All classes. |
Eco-Schools Woodland Walk Project
Area of exceptional practice: Outdoor Learning
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To celebrate World Disability Day, Rosehill School was contacted by employees
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Key learning objectives / subject areas
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Outcomes for pupils / evidence
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Using new materials and designing objects of beauty
Working alongside new pupils and adults
Experiencing taking part in a whole school competition
Outdoor learning and developing life skills
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Wider community outcomes
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The Woodland Walk will now be an additional teaching and learning space to be used
The following day there was a celebration of work completed and sharing of achievements by pupil, teams and members of staff. |
volunteering to offer their support for a day’s project at school. We decided that The Woodland Walk would benefit from a make-over and also to build on some of the learning opportunities that it is able to offer. Volunteers from a local company Cognizant, alongside teachers, teaching assistants, the site manager and pupils worked extremely hard to develop the area, make resources and complete some gardening tasks. 
and woodland flowers to attract insects
by all pupils and young people at Rosehill School. This will open up opportunities for developing outside learning in additional areas of the curriculum to be enjoyed by pupils of all ages and abilities.
Recycling Week
Article from Nottingham City Council:
Rosehill plants first oak tree for the People's Forest
Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham put aside their differences to plant the FIRST oak tree in our #PeoplesForest in Nottingham.
Rosehill Special School is the first in our project with Nottingham Open Spaces Forum to plant oak trees in primaries across the city - linking the Castle to Sherwood Forest.
Read more about this amazing project here: http://www.mynottinghamnews.co.uk/robin-hood-and-sheriff-of-nottingham-plant-first-oak-tree-in-peoples-forest/
To see more photos also check out the MyNottingham Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MyNottingham/status/1232268801024155648?s=20
BBC News Report
Notts TV News Report
