Spilsby school outclasses the competition

The Lady Jane Franklin School in Spilsby has won a National Learning Outside the Classroom Award for its inspiring approach to getting children out and about.

The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Awards for Excellence & Innovation are presented in recognition of schools’ commitment to providing a creative curriculum that challenges young people and offers regular, real-world, hands-on experiences.

The Lady Jane Franklin School, along with 27 other shortlisted schools, underwent a rigorous judging process to demonstrate the breadth, diversity and impact of their learning outside the classroom provision. At Lady Jane Franklin, the whole school participates in weekly activities from growing and selling produce on the school allotment as part of their food technology lessons to building, renovating and learning to ride motorcycles.

Senior students also take part in a year-long outdoor education programme of sailing and water sports, rock climbing and mountain biking which help build confidence, leadership and team-building skills. The extensive programme of residential activities involves the students in the organisation and planning of the programme from camping in the Lake District to an ecology project, ‘In the footsteps of Gerald Durrell’, in Corfu.

The national award for Best LOtC Provision for Special Educational Needs was received at an award ceremony in Nottingham. John Craig, Headteacher, said: “We are extremely proud to receive this award. Our teachers work hard to ensure all of our pupils’ benefit from a programme of learning that motivates, engages and develops their skills and understanding of the world around them. The impact of our creative curriculum and LOtC activities on our pupils has been fantastic and this award reflects our success.”

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, said: “Once again our schools are receiving national recognition for the excellent, innovative ways in which they are providing education to make a difference for young people. Learning is not just about sitting at a desk listening to the teacher and the experiences children can benefit from outside the classroom can be important in their development. The Lady Jane Franklin School is a shining example of this.”