Mend the Gap Funding for Student Lead Outdoor Learning Project
£15,000 Mend the Gap funding to develop outdoor learning and wellbeing facilities.
As a school, we are committed to fulfilling the actions in our Climate Action Plan, including:
- Increasing biodiversity to support local wildlife; and,
- Creating an environment where lessons can be taught outside in all subjects.
In 2024-25, Sixth Form student, Bethany, spent her final year at Little Heath working on her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) project focussed on outdoor learning. After the pandemic, she discovered that many teenagers lacked ambition and motivation, and were no longer taking part in activities such as Scouts and Guides, where time would be spent outside learning practical and creative skills, and immersing themselves in nature. With the Eco-Committee already working on a nature and wellbeing space in school, it made sense for the two groups to team up and come up with a space that works for everyone.
After surveying staff and students, Bethany started to develop ideas for a flexible outdoor space to incorporate all the students' ideas. As a keen DIYer who aspires to become an architect, she did not hesitate to put her design skills to the test, and soon we had the opportunity to pitch the project to Mend the Gap, and successfully secured a grant of £15,000 to complete the shelter and the hard landscaping, including the perimeter fence and an accessible pathway.
Work started on the project in November 2025. Once complete, the area will enhance the learning experience of our students, and the on-site nursery children, by providing a sheltered outdoor learning space that will be surrounded by nature, the opportunity to grow and cook food outside, to observe and increase biodiversity, and to focus on wellbeing.
From early spring 2026, students from all year groups will work on planting the space, building the fire pit area, and working on the wellbeing spiral. If you can help with any donations of plants, we would love to hear from you!
We are grateful to Mend the Gap for their funding and support towards this project.
You can listen to Beth talk about her involvement in the project so far in a podcast recorded by Mend the Gap for their interactive online map here: Mend the Gap: Interactive Map (click on number 14 – Little Heath School).
We will keep you up to date on the progress of the project.