It is essential that the grounds of all educational institutions are a sustainable learning and recreational resource. Playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces must not compromise the world that young people will inherit. This issue needs to be considered from the outset as the siting of facilities, their form and orientation are all key factors in environmental design.

“Gardening, growing vegetables and getting your hands dirty is a fantastic way to bring lessons to life. Learning outside the classroom is not some optional extra. It should excite young people, deepen their understanding of classroom subjects and is vital for young people to become independent, confident and motivated.”- Sarah McCarthy Fry, Under-Secretary of State for Schools and Learners

Sustainable development is a key part of the National Curriculum. Schools that have been practicing sustainable energy for more than a year and integrating it in their culture can apply for a Schools Award from Ashden. They must be able to demonstrate they’ve made actual energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and possibly generated renewable energy. The Ashden Awards prize money of up to £15,000 per project. Deadline for UK schools applications: 2nd December 2008.

Ofsted have launched their own Sustainable Development Action Plan, with a range of targets and plans to embed more sustainable practices across the department. These include ‘A Sustainable Approach to Inspection and Regulation’ and also an indication that Ofsted will be utilising the Sustainable Development Commission’s report Every Child’s Future Matters to ‘extend our understanding and interpretation of SD in relation to Every Child Matters outcomes’.

Ofsted’s action plan for 2008-09 aims to build upon the sustainable development work that Ofsted has been pursuing over the last year, setting new targets that they will report against annually.

   Where do I go for help with grounds design?
 
Greenstone Design

• offer a full design and project management service to schools interested in
  improving their outdoor learning environments.
  
• will work with you to develop anything from a Whole Site Strategy, or a small sensory garden. It's up to you.
  
• will facilitate your design process, pulling all your ideas together into one coherent plan.
  
• include a scaled overall plan, and detailed report documenting your aims, vision and Action Plan for developing the grounds into the design.
  
• design outdoor classrooms, school orchards, school allotment gardens, low maintenance sensory gardens, wildlife gardens, and stimulating play spaces, with appropriate drainage, shade, and shelter designed in.
  
  
• include art made by the children, and importantly create a sense of fun
  

• will design your school grounds to facilitate LOTC, to suit the national curriculum. Public, private, state & church schools all benefit from purpose-designed facilities
  
• will assist with on-site staff training where required, as part of the school ‘Going Green’, embracing LOTC, and importantly, working with the National Curriculum.
  
• will design College grounds & university grounds to meet the requirements of the new Land Based diplomas, horticulture degrees. We can assist with staff training too.

• can assist with grant applications to off-set the cost of the grounds’ upgrade. (Note: some environmental grants include payment for designer's fees as part of the grounds development project)
  
  

What will it cost?

A typical 2 hour consultation, where Gayle Souter-Brown will visit your school to discuss your needs, assess your ideas, explore the site and produce a follow-up report detailing your ground's development potential, will cost £200.

School grounds design plans cost from £800, depending on the size and complexity of the job.

Project management of the installation varies with the size of the job, ensures you get what we planned hassle free, and costs from £600.

With bespoke grounds design for your school, expect to save £1000s. You will find suppliers of equipment that may look great but breaks the budget. You may find free designs for various areas of your grounds. However, without a school grounds designer who as a trained teacher understands both the pressures of school life, and the demands of the national curriculum you are unlikely to achieve all you need from your grounds.

Gayle Souter-Brown designs cost-effective cross-curricular study and play spaces.

• An infant school in Surrey had an outdoor classroom built, playground landscaped and planted with edible fruit trees, climbers and vegetables, raised beds and a story telling area, for £8,000.
  
• A primary school in Hampshire had a wheelchair-accessible low maintenance wildlife garden planted around a new wildlife pond, with outdoor classroom installed for £15,000.

For more information see our About Us, School Grounds and LOTC Grounds Design pages.