PROPOSALS have been put forward for Devon’s first ever ’nature primary school’ in Okehampton following the announcement earlier this week that Devon County Council had secured a £1.2-million site on the east of the town.

Devon Wildlife Trust wants to open the county’s first nature school and is one of the organisations bidding to run a second primary school in Okehampton under the free school programme.

The county council announced last week that it had secured a 1.7-hectare site to the north of Crediton Road for a new primary school of up to 420 pupils with additional provision for early years children. The town has been identified as an area where there is an urgent need for more primary school places to be provided.

A partnership between Okehampton Primary School, Okehampton College and the Diocese of Exeter is also putting forward plans to establish a new Church of England primary and nursery school on the site to service the new housing planned for the east of the town.

The Devon Wildlife Trust said today that the nature school would be a ’mainstream’ school, open to all, following the national curriculum, but one which would put outdoor learning and the natural environment at the heart of a high quality education for local children.

Devon Wildlife Trust is now talking to local authorities, people and schools in Okehampton to gauge their support for the proposal. The trust’s chief executive Harry Barton said: ’We are seeking support from members of the community across Okehampton, in particular from parents whose children would be eligible to attend primary school in 2018 or 2019 and who live in the Okehampton area or nearby.’

As part of this conversation the charity is holding a consultation day. Staff from Devon Wildlife Trust will be on hand at the Ockment Centre in North Street, Okehampton between 2pm and 7pm on Friday, February 24 to discuss the nature school proposals and answer questions. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Devon Wildlife Trust has established a long track record of working with young people since its foundation in 1962. Now the charity is keen to extend this work deepening the positive link between young people and the natural world.

Mr Barton said: ’Each year Devon Wildlife Trust supports many thousands of school children to learn through nature. Our plan to open a nature school is rooted in our experience that children thrive, are happier and their attainment improves when their learning is linked closely to the natural world around them. The positive feedback we receive from the teachers, students and parents we work with is supported by an impressive body of independent research.

’Ofsted has also reported that learning outside the classroom contributes significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development.

’We hope that Okehampton will become the first community in Devon to benefit from a nature school. The town has a fascinating history and is surrounded by wonderful countryside, with rivers, parklands and woodlands, and all within a stone’s throw of Dartmoor National Park.  I can’t think of a better place for a nature school, and I really look forward to working with teachers and the local community to make it a success.

’Our intention is not to compete with other schools. At Okehampton there is a need for more primary school places which we can help address. We want to work alongside existing local schools and become part of a thriving school community delivering high quality education.’      

Devon Wildlife Trust’s plan for a nature school is one of four being proposed by wildlife trusts in England. The others include schools at Chippenham in Wiltshire, Nuneaton in Warwickshire and Smethwick in Birmingham.

The Okehampton Nature School is still at the planning stage and success will be subject to an application to the Department of Education (DofE). This application is planned for spring 2017 with a scheduled school opening estimated as early as 2018.

However, plans for the nature school will only proceed if Devon Wildlife Trust can demonstrate strong local support.

People who wish to find out more and register their support for the plans to establish Devon’s first nature school can do so online at www.natureschools.org.uk/devon.html

People with questions about Devon Wildlife Trust’s Nature School plans are being urged to email [email protected] using the message title ‘Nature Schools’.

To find out more about the plans being put forward by Okehampton Primary, Okehampton College and the Diocese of Exeter, visit www.dartmooracademy.org