New Forest School to open at St John the Baptist CE School in Ruyton-XI-Towns

St John the Baptist CE School in Ruyton-XI-Towns is holding a ceremony on Friday 13 June 2014, at 9.30am, to celebrate the opening of their new Forest School area at Drumbles Wood.

The new Forest School, which has been provided and prepared by local farmer John Gittins, will be officially opened by Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, and local vicar Rev Les Foster will be carrying out a blessing of the woodland, with the whole school and parents invited to attend.

Local Shropshire Councillor Nick Bardsley will also be attending.

Julie Ball, Headteacher at St John the Baptist CE School, said:

“The pupils are really excited about the prospect of the new woodland and are already designing signs for the entrance.  The younger children and the school’s council members have created a list of activities and items they would like in the woods, and will be sharing their ideas with the whole school through their classroom discussions.

“The woodland setting is a fantastic outdoor learning facility, including access to wildlife, woodland habitats, and the local river – with a specially-designed landing stage for easy access to carry out river studies and surveys.  It has the benefit of a fabulous shelter for recording work and developing learning ideas; it is also great when it rains, not that the children are worried about a bit of water.

“The Forest School concept has been supported by John Gittins, who has provided the school with access to his woodland over the past nine years for which the school are very grateful.  The move to the new woodland will allow the children all-year-round access and enable the Forest School work to develop across all the age ranges from reception to Year Six.”

Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“I’m delighted that the school has invited me to open this fantastic new facility, which I hope will provide pupils with many years’ enjoyment, excitement and education.”

John Gittins has worked closely with Mrs Sharon Jones, the school’s Forest School Leader, and Shropshire Council, to set up the new Forest School.