Education and learning

 

Summary

Forest school is a unique educational experience using the outdoor environment of the forest as a classroom. Forest Schools are becoming widespread in England and Wales.

An evaluation of two Forest School projects by the New Economics Foundation highlighted how they can increase young people’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Forest School provides opportunities for learning particularly for those who do not do as well in the school classroom.

The New Economics Foundation also produced a self -appraisal methodology so that Forest School leaders and teachers can evaluate other Forest Schools.

Key findings

A marvellous opportunity for children to learn
A participatory evaluation of Forest School in England and Wales. ^(PDF-1527K)

The evaluation outlines propositions of how Forest School makes a difference:

• Increases self esteem and self confidence
• Improves people’s ability to work together
• Counters a lack of motivation and negative attitude
• Encourages an improved understanding of the outdoors
• Increases the skills and knowledge of those who take part.

See also: O'Brien, L and Murray, R. (2007). Forest School and its impacts on young children: case studies in Britain. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 6: 249-265.

Research objectives

• Produce a list of activities undertaken in Forest School and their immediate outputs
• Explore the possible outcomes of the activities and establish six propositions about what Forest School can achieve
• Develop a hypothesis for how activities lead to those outcomes
• Collect evidence to demonstrate that changes have taken place
• Develop an easy to use Self-Appraisal Toolkit for these and other Forest School projects to carry out similar evaluations.

Funders and partners

The Forestry Commission funded this piece of work under the social forestry programme.

The research was undertaken by the New Economics Foundation and managed by Forest Research.

Forestry Commission Policy

The Forestry Commission supports the Forest Education Initiative in its work with Forest School. Through this process and through other education initiatives the Forestry Commission wants to encourage children and young people to better understand the importance of woodlands and use them as a learning environment.

Status

This research has been completed:

• Phase 1 - Forest School in Wales.
  Report is available.
• Phase 2 - Pilot sites in England.
  Undertaken in partnership with Forest Research.
  Report is available.

Contact

Liz O'Brien
Forest Research
Wrecclesham
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: 01420 526155
Fax: 01420 520558
Email: liz.obrien@forestry.gsi.gov.uk