South Downs Ambassador School Scheme
Ambassador Schools are schools within the South Downs
National Park that offer high-quality learning experiences and resources that link to the special qualities of the National Park.
As leaders in this area, these schools offer peer-to-peer support, inspiration and host visits for schools, colleges and other learning providers.
To see what our Ambassador Schools are up to and to make contact with the individual schools, please see their information below:
- Bury CE Primary School
Bury CE Primary school is a rural school based in the Central area of the South Downs National Park. Nestled next to the imposing South Downs ridge, where Roman’s once walked and set up home, Bury CE Primary School has worked hard to make the most of the rich and diverse landscape it has called home since 1844.
Over the past few years, Bury school has revolutionised their outdoor learning curriculum, linking the landscape around them to Design Technology and Science. This now carries its own name, The Bury Rangers. 100% of KS1 and 50% of KS2 science lessons are taught using the outdoors and all the Design and Technology curriculum can be linked to what they find around them.
Bury CE Primary School prides itself on the unique opportunities offered to children. From turning a large, unusable swimming pool into a rich wildlife pond to becoming local experts in bee keeping. The children benefit from experienced teachers, confident in utilising the outdoors to enhance learning opportunities.
Please contact the school to find out more about:
- Pollinator workshop (with or without beekeeping). Can include life cycles of invertebrates. KS1/KS2
- Pond dipping KS1/KS2
- Habitats and invertebrates KS1
- Classifications KS2
- Den building KS1/KS2
- Plant life cycles KS1
- Visiting the river KS1/KS2
See a special video below from Bury’s Head teacher, Tom Moore, explaining how special learning and teaching in the South Downs National Park can be.
- Droxford Junior School
Droxford Junior School is rural school based in the Western area of the South Downs National Park. Surrounded by farmland and based incredibly close to the beautiful River Meon, one of the South Down’s most celebrated chalk streams, the school has worked hard to develop their outdoor provision.
Over recent years, the school has focused on developing their school grounds, led by student voice and supported by community involvement. As a result, their outdoor spaces are engaging, diverse and environmentally friendly, all of which has been achieved on a shoestring budget.
The benefits of their unique locality weaves throughout their curriculum, from river studies in Science to conflict management in English.
Nowadays, Droxford is working hard to open their site to other schools so they too can benefit from this unique location.
Please contact the school to find out more about:
- Developing your school grounds
- Visits to their local river including the use of their river dipping resources and lesson plans
- 1-night residentials on the school field
- Teacher training in the outdoors
- Moulsecoomb Primary School
Moulsecoomb Primary School is our newest addition to the South Downs Ambassador School scheme and the most urban based school in the group. Luckily, this does not stop them from providing fantastic opportunities in the outdoors for their learners. Using the South Downs landscape right on their doorstep as inspiration, the school has developed a brilliant curriculum which interacts with growing food, rearing animals, exploring sustainable drainage options and developing a love of heritage.
Recently, the school has been working hard to maintain their heritage houses built right here on the school grounds. From the Iron Age through to a WW2 Anderson shelter, children are able to link evidence of human history found on the downs, with the history replicated in their school. Find out more about visiting their historical houses here.
Proud of their role within the community, Moulsecoomb can often be seen opening their doors to local groups, expanding learning opportunities way beyond the traditional classroom. It is through these links that Moulsecoomb has become involved in exciting projects within Brighton, including the Our City, Our World initiative and the Sustainable Urban Drainage Project.
Please contact the school to find out more about:
- Visiting the school’s heritage houses including self-led and facilitated visits
- How to include the local community in school projects
- Teacher training opportunities
- Growing vegetables and rearing animals on school grounds.
Why is the Ambassador School Scheme important?
Our South Downs Schools Survey (2017) recorded 69% of schools in and around the National Park visit the South Downs each year and engage with the Park’s special qualities.
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is committed to continually developing innovative approaches to engage new schools.
We know, from the Learning in the Natural Environment report 2012, that taking learning outside can present challenges for schools.
The Natural Demonstrations project, 2016, provided evidence that local brokerage, such as peer to peer support via Ambassador Schools, can help schools overcome these barriers.
What does the future look like for the Ambassador School Scheme?
We continue to look for schools who have a desire to deliver more outdoor learning but need the support, guidance and leadership of their peers to make it happen.
We also continue to look for new Ambassador Schools inside the Park to join the project. We will work with them to train and support their staff as well as develop personalised resources for their school.
For more information, please reach out via learning@southdowns.gov.uk
Keep in contact
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