Otterbourne Primary builds an outdoor classroom

Pupils outside the structure with head teacher Alison Langrish
Pupils outside the structure with head teacher Alison Langrish
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

COME rain or shine, it’s outside for pupils at a Hampshire primary school.

Otterbourne Church of England Primary School, near Winchester, has just finished building an outdoor classroom.

There are no tables or chairs in the octagonal-shaped room but low-level windows so the 251 pupils can watch the wildlife in the boggy meadow, a Site of Special Conservation Interest.

Head teacher Alison Langrish said: “We don’t call it a classroom. Children love being outdoors.

“It’s adults who don’t like going out when it’s raining or wet.”

The school enlisted the help of parents who offered their professional expertise and helped raise £123,000 to build the timber eco-lodge.

The roof of the structure is made of recycled tyres and a pod houses the kitchen and has an air-source heating pump.

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos