LATHALLAN has been heralded as a “rich and engaging outdoor learning environment” in an Education Scotland inspection report on the inspiring North East School.
The Johnshaven-based Independent School, which caters for Nursery, Junior and Senior School pupils received a glowing reference from the inspectors for their outdoor learning programme.
Lathallan earned praise at Holyrood earlier this year from North East Region MSP Liam Kerr after they were confirmed as the leading Independent School in Scotland for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for the fourth consecutive year.
And with a varied outdoor learning programme which includes rock scrambling lessons for nursery pupils, lessons in the school’s newly constructed treehouse classroom and an on-site school farm, Lathallan has attracted praise from Education Scotland.
Education Scotland has rated the school and nursery as “Good” across all areas and, crucially, called on Lathallan, a 19thcentury school castle that caters for around 200 pupils, to share its outdoor learning expertise with other schools across the country in a report released today (December 11th, 2018).
Under the title Practice worth sharing more widely, Education Scotland highlighted: “The high-quality outdoor learning provision, where teachers and instructors enable every child and young person to benefit from a rich and engaging outdoor learning environment beyond the school classroom.”
Lathallan Headmaster Richard Toley said: “Education Scotland has confirmed our belief that we exemplify sector leading best practice in outdoor learning in asking us to share it with others throughout Scotland.
“We are immensely proud of the outdoor learning we offer at Lathallan. We have extensive and inspiring grounds at our school but it is our teachers and staff who make us sector leaders in this field.
“Outdoor learning is becoming an increasingly integral part of Curriculum for Excellence and that is why we have enhanced out surroundings significantly in recent years.
“We have an engaging and ambitious Outdoor Education programme that has earned praise in the Scottish Parliament for the number of pupils achieving Gold at D of E.
“Our treehouse and school farm are both significant enhancements to inspire our pupils to take learning outside of the classroom and we are committed to continually enhancing the educational opportunities on offer at Lathallan.
“We were praised in a range of other areas by the inspectors and have noted areas that we are continuing to improve on and we are always striving for excellence both as a school and for our pupils.”