London schools with a strong emphasis on outdoors education?

[Littlesock]

We have come from an extended stay in a country where children do a lot of their learning outdoors.

As we are moving back to London, I’m wondering if anyone knows of any schools that do a lot of outdoor learning? Forest school etc. I know a lot do this as it’s quite trendy at the moment, but I’m looking at schools that do it really well and a lot! State or private really.

Where in London are you moving to because most schools in central London don't even have any outdoor space, let alone outdoor education.

Schools in the commuter belt would be a better bet, and if you're considering private as well then any of the country preps would do this best eg. the likes of Moulsford, Aldro, Papplewick, Caldicot, Lambrook etc will do outdoor education/forest skills/bushwhacking as an activity, etc. Lots of the Berkshire ones run buses out from London too.

Liberty Woodland school is a forest school in South London.

I was coming on to suggest Liberty Woodland School in Morden Hall Park.

For state schools I think you are looking at weekly forest school (if anything!). I imagine you would need to explore private schools for more than that.

Thank you both! Do either of you have experience of Liberty Woodland School? I read its ofsted and it wasn’t as positive as I’d hoped! (Requires improvement.)

I know children who attend the school and they are very happy. Hadn't seen the Ofsted before. You're right it isn't great.

My very outdoor kids went to London schools and got the best that our city has to offer: arts and music projects, galleries, museums, shows etc.

But by being members of a brilliant scouts group they had all sorts of ambitious outdoor adventures and learned many skills.

As a family our holidays have been camping, fell walking, wild swimming, and there are so many great places within easy reach of London for day trips. S Downs, Sussex Weald, etc etc.

Personally I would look for great education rather than compromise on a second best ‘forest school’ in a London suburb.

Do you mind me asking if you went private or state?

Good idea about local scout groups!

My daughter goes to Little Forest Folk, the forest nursery founded by the same lady who then opened Liberty Woodland School. We have done a couple of tours of LWS and are considering it for her. It's a gorgeous site with some really impressive staff, and they do a good job of demonstrating how they instill academic rigour into what they do (since that's probably a concern of parents who think kids can't possibly be learning if they're also having fun).

The head did our tour, and when asked about the Ofsted report, she said that it was down to the inspector who apparently didn't buy into the whole idea of the forest school since it didn't look like a "real" or "proper" school. Apparently they also warned the inspector to wear appropriate footwear but she still turned up in heels and was dismayed to have to tramp through the mud. She said they are asking Ofsted to come back and reevaluate asap.

If you're interested, I highly recommend doing a tour and seeing it for yourself - don't make up your mind based on the ofsted report alone!

Hi! We are moving from abroad and considering LWS. Did you end up enrolling? If so I’d love to connect and hear more! We won’t have a chance to visit school live until September so am a bit worried about enrolling our son until we see the premises. Thanks in advance!

@Daniwithtwoboys sent you a PM :)

Read reviews,read ofsted ( required improvement) check in Facebook, because you can talk with mum's extremely unhappy

Got some mum's really upset and complaining. It sounds weird,they were another school with another name, ofsted was outstanding and now is bad. Mum's in Facebook are complaining