education projects

Our Education-based programmes are very cross-cutting and often incorporate aspects of Community, Environment and Sport, to name but a few. If you can't find what you are looking for here, please check some of our other sections.

The future holds many challenges for young people. As places of learning, schools have a special role to play in this future. Groundwork can support schools by offering a range of Alternative Curriculum activities, which can benefit pupils in many ways - from building respect for their local environment and wider community, to encouraging a sense of social responsibility.

We pride ourselves in our ability to deliver programmes which can also support wider initiatives, such as the DfEs National Framework for Sustainable Schools. Our practical work can encompass the eight ‘doorways’ through which schools may choose to initiate or extend their sustainable school activity, such as food, energy, travel, waste, school grounds development, inclusion / participation and local well-being.

We can engage pupils of all abilities, including those at risk of ‘dropping out’, through practical ‘hands on’ activities such as food growing and recycling; whilst programmes such as Citizenship and Life Skills promote self confidence and team work. We can deliver environmental activities on allotments, within school grounds or on local green spaces. We strive to provide positive and new learning experiences, working in partnership to link our programmes to wider regeneration activity and global issues wherever possible. Possible opportunities include:

Active Citizenship Programmes
Working in partnership with youth services and schools, we develop activity based programmes aimed at increasing participation. We use diversionary activities such as sports, outdoor pursuits and practical skills development. Increasing young people’s sense of enjoyment and achievement leads to them making a positive contribution to their community.

School Grounds & Play Provision
Studies prove that increased quality of school environment improves emotional well being and reduces bullying. Groundwork encourages the involvement of the whole school community in consultation and action to improve their school grounds. We have Learning through Landscape Accredited Trainers available.

Nature Link / Farm Link
Groundwork can coordinate and lead school visits to local nature reserves, open spaces and farms, providing additional support through teacher training provision and site specific education packs.

Heritage Projects
Groundwork’s projects encourage young people to appreciate the whole environment, including natural and built heritage. Through investigating the cultural, social and industrial heritage of their area they develop local pride and respect for their environment.

Waste Education
Groundwork’s waste education programmes raise awareness of the need to minimise waste and give practical advice on how, what and where to recycle.

Food Growing & Healthy Eating
Many schools have community allotments nearby or want to create their own growing area within their school grounds. We can deliver programmes involving food growing from seed to harvest, with opportunities to eat and learn about what you grow along the way!

Forest Schools
Using the outdoors, we explore and investigate the natural environment with young people, providing new and active opportunities for guided learning. This programme is delivered by working with small groups on team and individual learning targets, promoting confidence, self awareness and personal/social development.

Forest schools survey please click here to participate

Film & Media Production
We have a dedicated team available to work on digital media - from video production, sound recording or multimedia; such as web sites and interactive DVD Rom, located in Somercotes. Our equipment allows us to deliver programme elements both within and beyond the studio.

We will be pleased to discuss any of these options (or others!) with you and advise on the cost of providing them for your school. We can often suggest other sources of funding to supplement funding direct from schools.

Should you require more information on projects promoting sustainable education please contact Sam Maw on 01773 535 232.

VISIT SOME OF OUR EDUCATION PROJECTS:

Supergrounds
Funded by the RBS Group, in partnership with Learning Through Landscapes, the Supergrounds project provides a £4000 grant, along with professional advice and assistance to help schools improve their grounds.

Wild Derby Sustainable School Grounds Project
A partnership project with Derby City Council, to help city schools improve their school grounds for the benefit of wildlife, pupils and the local community.