Learning Outside the Classroom

When you access the Junior School section you will read of some of our reasons for utilising our surroundings to maximum advantage.  We estimate that up to 80% of our students love being outdoors and many learn by doing, rather than utilising other styles of learning.  Learning outside the classroom has long been recognised as having huge benefits for children and young people. We have reason to be proud of our setting, one of the childhood homes of Florence Nightingale, we take our custodial role seriously, and students and staff are engaged in taking our now 130 acres back to the way it would have been in the 1860s.

As an example we have discovered the original porcelain markers in our Alpine Garden, and will soon have this gorgeous area, which is structured upon imported Irish limestone, back to its original condition.

HCS is also dedicated to providing rich learning experiences that take our pupils beyond our school gates, with school trips to enhance learning of different geographical settings, cultures, people, traditions and historical concepts.  Examples of our ‘bespoke’ approach to planning such trips include last year’s trip to New York during which students trained with the cast of ‘Billy Elliott’ prior to watching the show in the evening, and our annual trips to Iceland – even before the most recent eruptions!

All of this helps our pupils to understand the world around, them builds self confidence and tests abilities in all kinds of ways, this includes our interest in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme – 80% of our year 11 take part.

From 3-18 our pupils enjoy learning outside the classroom and take part in planned activities in every subject as part of the curriculum. When you are surrounded by beauty there is every inducement to express one’s own beautiful thoughts.  Nearly 40 students each year publish poetry precociously, and in keeping with many other activities they span age ranges 11 – 18.