At Alice Holt Forest we offer a wide range of activities and programmes for schools and other groups throughout the year. We provide lively, hands on activities for all ages which include minibeast hunts, sensory activities, orienteering, shelter building, team building and much more. We also offer study programmes for GCSE and Post- 16 courses.
We are an education provider which was awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge in 2010. The badge is a nationally recognised benchmark that brings together all existing safety and quality badges into one easily identifiable mark of quality.
The Quality Badge scheme was designed to remove some of the ‘red tape’ associated with organising educational visits. It acts as an assurance that the Quality Badge holder meets a good standard of provision, both in terms of Health and Safety and in the quality of the education experiences on offer.
For more information about the badge and other aspects of Learning Outside the Classroom visit www.lotc.org.uk
Education programmes
We plan our education programmes to meet teachers' stated learning objectives and we assess student progress throughout the visit, adapting delivery and content to suit the audience. Monitoring and evaluation is also important to us to maintain high standards and to meet both our own objectives and those of the groups with whom we work.
We evaluate our own performance after each visit and we value feedback from teachers and group leaders. You can view the evaluation forms we use before a vist by clicking here on Primary or Secondary . Teachers and group leaders are invited to discuss all aspects of their visit, including assessment and evaluation before they bring their groups.
Details of the programmes available and of the other aspects of educational visits to Alice Holt Forest can be found on the linked pages. To book a visit or for further information please ring 01420 2366 or contact kathleen.gradidge@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or helen.wallace@forestry.gsi.gov.uk .
Partnerships
We are also keen to work with partners to offer learning opportunities to a wider audience at Alice Holt Forest and in other Forestry Commission woodlands. If you are an environmental education business or organisation, including volunteer organisations, wishing to expand your educational work and operate from new sites we would like to hear from you.
Self-guided/School run visits
If you would like to run your own educational visit to Alice Holt you are welcome to do so but we need you to make a booking with us beforehand. Please ring 01420 23666 for information and bookings.
This enables us to inform you of other activities taking place on the day which might affect your visit and gives you the opportunity to benefit from reduced coach parking charges. For Primary Schools the Easy Access Trail Discovery Trail with its accompanying Active Kids Extra is a useful activity option. In additional there is an Active Kids extra for the trail which can be sent to you on request.
Parking at Alice Holt Forest is free of charge for visits led by Alice Holt staff but parking charges apply to self guided educational visits. However, if you book in advance you will be charged at reduced rates.
Teachers, Early Years Professionals and Student teachers!
Would you like to make more effective use of your school grounds and local area? Did you know you can use the outdoors for just about every subject and often teach aspects of several subjects through one activity? Are you wanting to do more teaching outdoors but aren't sure where to start? We can help!
The Alice Holt Education team runs CPD for teachers, school support staff and early years practitioners and training days for student teachers. We have run a number of very well received courses for Early Years Practitioners and Primary School staff involving hands on experience of a range of activities with cross-curricular application, discussion of the benefits of outdoor learning and a look at risk assessment. For Secondary Schools we offer training for geography fieldwork and aspects of citizenship, particularly appropriate for NQT's and non-specialist teachers. We can provide a course especially for your school or setting staff (or for staff from a group of schools or settings) either at Alice Holt Forest or at your school.
Alternative Educational Setting placements are also available to student teachers.
For more information and booking please ring 01420 23666 or email helen.wallace@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
For further information on CPD and on student teacher placements please click on the following link: continuing professional development and training for student teachers .
For information about Alice Holt Forest and our recreational events and activities follow the link back to the Alice Holt Forest page and find events in the menu. For further information about school visits, group visits and corporate visits follow the page links on the left. You can also contact the Alice Holt Office on 01420 23666.
