Cribsheet 24.06.11

In praise of taking the classroom outdoors

When was the last time your class helped to build a wind turbine, or made a nature ramble the subject of an art lesson? Today on cribsheet we're celebrating the great outdoors and sustainability education. And asking – are pupils getting enough of it?

We recently asked you how green is your school, and were delighted with what we found in our inbox, detailing various innovative activities being used teach children about the environment. Here's a sample...

Roberts Primary School in Dudley has a purpose-built environmental education centre and four-acre nature trail that's now in its 12th year. The site boasts a pond, traditional hedge and an orchard of 60-year-old trees. For teaching, there is a gardening patch, a greenhouse built using plastic bottles, and a sensory garden. Manager Guy de Szathmary tells us the environment zone is:

committed to providing interesting, fun, "hands-on" ways to learn about sustainable development and the natural environment and to 'bring to life' how we as people can and do impact our local, national and international environments.

Each year through the centre, 60 primary schools learn about biodiversity, sustainable energy and nature, and seven schools have achieved their national Green Flag for sustainability.

In East Sussex, Ringmer Community College has put learning about sustainability at the heart of the curriculum. The school's environmental co-ordinator Stephen Green writes that the college is undertaking a major project to introduce renewable energy to the site. Their energy-saving approach involves all pupils and staff: 220 eco reps undertake extensive recycling and energy monitoring, and remind teachers to use less paper and energy. Students have been involved in the funding application, planning and construction process for a 7.5Kw solar panel and a 2.5Kw wind turbine, discussing ideas with architects and project managers.

At Redby Primary in Sunderland, says headteacher Val Shield, a "green team" and elected eco monitors report their progress in school assemblies, and raise awareness of energy-saving measures such as cycling to school.

The RSPB is also concerned that teachers have ample resources to teach outdoors. A survey of teachers revealed more wanted access to outside classrooms and facilities. So today, 50 nature reserves and outdoor teaching centres around the country are hosting visits from schools – and inviting their local MP along to see the benefit of learning in the great outdoors.

Teachers looking for environmentally-friendly lesson plans need go no further than www.afindica.com. The book of the same name - launched last week - introduces children to eight ethical elephants, and teaches children about their own personalities as well as the environment. A lesson plan series to go with the book includes 48 lesson ideas at Key Stage 2, with plans for every curriculum subject. There is also a Natural History Museum pack for teachers who want to incorporate a school trip. Afindica is supporting the charities Elephant Family and The Aspinall Foundation.

There's never been a more important time to educate kids about the environment, and schools are well-placed to lead the way. Thanks for your responses, and may the good work continue – both in the classroom and outside of it.

Education news from the Guardian

A quarter of secondary schools in England are breaking the law by not teaching religious studies. According to a poll by National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (Natre), schools are starting to "kill off" the subject despite the law saying that state schools must teach the subject to under-16s.

Pupils' creativity is being stifled by the sats creative writing test: this was the main message of the sats review. Lord Bew's report into sats published yesterday gave a scathing assessment of the test, judging that it probed for formulaic answers. This acknowledges the dissatisfaction felt by those schools who boycotted the tests, and others who objected, as Jessica Shepherd writes:

Children's authors, including Michael Rosen, Roger McGough and Darren Shan, warned in April last year that Sats were killing children's creativity.

The review now recommends the test be scrapped, and children assessed throughout the year.

Is Michael Gove right to suggest extending school opening hours in evenings to offer kids after-hours classes and activities? A spiky debate is underway. With hours like that, why not just pack Harry and Chloe off to boarding school, asked Belinda Webb yesterday, prompting hundreds of responses about flexible working, family values and whether it's better for kids to be busy in schools than sitting in front of the telly. As physiocrat writes:

In the fifties it was normal for children to stay at school late to do activities which really could have been described as hobbies - music, woodwork, metalwork, model railways etc. The school provided the space and resources which were not available to most people at home. All sorts of things which we enjoyed and helped to set us up for life. What is wrong with that?

Looking ahead, the Guardian's cuts blog will be running special content throughout next week relating to Thursday's strikes that will include teaching staff. Members of the National Union of Teachers, University and College Union and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers will join the national day of action against proposed public sector cuts, billed as the J30 strike. Our extensive blog coverage will include Q&As, updates and interactive maps showing where services will be affected, including school closures and planned demonstrations.

Education news from around the web

Are league tables good for schools? Warwick Mansell reports in the TES that other countries remain resistant to the approach.

Budget cuts mean historic sites are forced to shut to school trips, reports the TES.

Eton teachers may join Thursday strike, reports the TES, while Michael Gove has written to schools to appeal to their "moral duty" to stay open says the BBC. Gove's letter is here in full.

And the Telegraph's Tom Chivers takes Michael Gove - a man once noted as a regular cultural egg-head on the BBC's Newsnight Review - to task for claiming Great Expectations was penned by Shakespeare.

Free Pottermore teaching resources

This literacy-based treasure hunt related to JK Rowling's online game Pottermore is ideal for a fun lesson for KS2 and KS3.

On the Guardian professional network

Live chat: Improving HE's green credentials.

Inequality, power and privilege in the struggle for the humanities.

Don't let immigration caps leave academics out in the cold.

Private view for teachers

The Saatchi gallery is holding a private view for teachers to see its exhibition The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture on Friday 1 July from 7-9pm. It'll include a free guided tour, exhibition guides and refreshments. Please email admin@saatchigallery.com to book, providing your name and school contact details.

Guardian Education Centre seminars for teachers

Reading for Pleasure

This half-day conference for primary school teachers will help you inspire students to read with pleasure and maintain the reading habit. Andy Stanton, author of the Mr Gum series, will be joined by Julia Eccleshare, Guardian children's books editor, and reading development experts.

Time: 1 July, 9.15-12.45.

Cost: £48, including refreshments and resources.

Insight into Journalism: investigative and features journalism

This seminar, part of our popular Insight into Journalism series, gives secondary school teachers and college tutors the chance to spend a day at the Guardian. You'll meet specialist journalists from the investigations team, find out from writers what makes a good features article and learn about commissioning, editing and interview techniques.

Time: 8 July, 9.15-4.30.

Cost: £72, including lunch and resources.

Education seminars from Guardian Professional

Distinctiveness and branding in higher education

Higher education institutions will struggle in the marketplace unless they stand out from competitors and make sense to stakeholders. The Guardian's half-day seminar in partnership with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education will explore what it takes to develop and maintain a distinctive brand that attracts students, staff and funders. Participants will hear from experts, examine case studies and have the opportunity to network with peers.

28 June, London.

Making the most of media opportunities to enhance your school's profile

Whether it's sharing good news or handling a crisis, headteachers and school management teams need to be able to handle the media in all of its forms. This one-day seminar in association with the NAHT is essential for new and aspiring heads as well as established school leaders who wish to update their knowledge. It includes a session on social media.

20 September, London.