NEWS Children learning life skills at Forest School


short bursts. We find that the children learn better doing things that they enjoy, so at Forest School we’re getting loads of interaction and language out of them because they’re relaxed and in an environment that they like.” The children have been doing Forest School with the Trust since January and Rachael believes


children, peer interaction is a challenge. But they’re learning how to play together through games at Forest School. Even the quieter children who are less interested in interacting with their peers will be running around playing hide-and- seek. Understanding the rules of a game sounds simple but for our children it can be so difficult. Yet they’re learning and understanding because we’re bringing them outside and doing these activities with them every week. As soon as we get to the woods they’re suggesting games to play together, and communicating and interacting with adults and peers, which is fab.”


Sometimes getting children out of the classroom and into nature can teach them meaningful lessons that will help them back in school and in life generally. On Outdoor Classroom Day 2018, The Lancashire Wildlife Trust invited Millstead Special Needs Primary School to Springfield Park in Liverpool for a day of Forest School. Rachael Sharpe, a teacher at the school,


explained that the children in her class all have an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and that developing communication and social interaction skills with them is an important target in their everyday lessons. She said: “We do learning sitting at a table back in the classroom but only in


uwww.lancswt.org.uk


that they’re becoming more independent during Forest School, exploring the woods without having an adult constantly standing over each of them, and she has noticed that they are learning how to play with each other. “A big change we’re seeing is how they


interact with each other. For this cohort of ASC Full marks for Solihull maths star Conor


Solihull superstar Conor Collins showed dedication adds-up to success after earning full marks in two prestigious national mathematics competitions. The 13-year-old pupil at Solihull School scored a perfect 60 out of 60 in the Intermediate Maths Olympiad


organised by the UK Mathematics Trust. His outstanding performance has earned him a prize and medal from the UKMT and glowing praise from his


teachers at the leading independent school. To add to this, Conor also scored full marks in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. More than 315,000 candidates


sat the paper across the UK and only 44 pupils managed this feat. Mark Bishop, head of mathematics at Solihull School, said: “Conor’s success is amazing, especially as he is a year younger than the age group for which


the Olympiad is intended. “He certainly has few equals, as only six pupils in the whole of the UK earned full marks in the Olympiad exam, while only 44 pupils achieved top marks


in the UKMT challenge. It all adds up to superb performances by Conor.” Conor revealed there was only one question he found tricky in the Olympiad competition, as he breezed his way to answering all questions correctly. He said: “The last question was hard and took a lot of time but most of them were quite easy.” Aged just 13, he is already studying number theory and geometry at undergraduate level even though he has not taken his GCSEs or A Levels yet.


uwww.solsch.org.uk


Eleven thousand volunteers go back to school to broaden students’ jobs horizons


More than eleven thousand former students across Britain have this year volunteered at their old state school in partnership with Future First, an education charity. By volunteering, these alumni have helped to broaden students’ jobs horizons and boost their aspirations for the future. Their contribution represents more than 20,000


hours of free volunteering time, an invaluable boost for state schools currently grappling with limited budgets. Future First has helped these state schools to tap into the time, talent, and resource of their former students, bringing them back to school to act as career role models for


the next generation. 4,500 different employers have been represented as part of the initiative. And more than 110,000 young people have benefited. Matt Lent, CEO of Future First said, “This is an


astonishing number of volunteering hours and shows the willingness of former students to support current students at their old state schools. Students can’t be what they can’t see, and it is vital that we equip them with a broad knowledge of available careers and give them the skills they need to achieve. “Private schools have always understood the value of linking students past and present and


6 www.education-today.co.uk


now state schools are realising this too. Alumni are an untapped resource of talent and skills. It’s inspirational and very motivating for students to see that if someone who sat at the same desk as them has gone on to succeed, they can too.” Charlie Pullen, a PhD student who volunteered


at his old school Varndean School in Brighton, said, “"These students were having dedicated time to learn how to be confident. I wish I had had classes that taught me how to look someone in the eye and speak with assurance when I was their age."


uwww.futurefirst.org.uk June 2018


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