At Northampton High School GDST, we believe a truly exceptional education is one filled with adventure – that’s why all girls up to the end of Year 8 have a weekly Forest School session.

We are passionate about taking learning beyond the classroom walls, and our fantastic Forest School provision is the perfect place for your daughter’s curiosity to run wild. Here, she will be empowered to explore, collaborate, and grow in an environment that is truly Made for Girls.

In the fresh air of our beautiful grounds, learning comes to life. We see girls develop the courage to be ‘10% braver’ as they master new skills, build resilience, and forge friendships. Whether building a den, identifying wildlife, or working together on a challenge, these hands-on experiences cultivate a genuine love of learning and build a foundation of self-belief that translates directly into academic confidence. 

This active, joyful approach underpins our entire educational philosophy. We know that happy, engaged children are effective learners, and time spent outdoors is brilliant for boosting wellbeing, focus, and creativity. By embracing the great outdoors, we are not just teaching subjects; we are nurturing the whole person, empowering every girl to find her voice and discover her strengths.

Forest School Builds ‘Can-Do’ Confidence

​One of the most powerful benefits of outdoor learning is its ability to cultivate genuine independence. Away from the classroom, girls are empowered to rely on their own imagination and creativity. Whether building a den, navigating a natural obstacle, or collaborating on a project, they are constantly problem-solving and making decisions.

​This is where our philosophy of being ‘10% braver’ truly comes to life. Our Forest School provides a safe, managed environment for girls to take calculated risks whether that be climbing a little higher, working with new tools, or leading a group activity. Each small achievement builds a foundation of self-belief that permeates every aspect of their lives, giving them the confidence to tackle new challenges, both academic and personal.

In nature, children learn to take risks, overcome fears, make new friends, regulate emotions, and create imaginary worlds. It’s important that adults allow children both the time and the space to play outdoors on a daily basis.

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom, Richard Louv

 

Outdoor learning is especially powerful for girls, helping them to build confidence, resilience and independence. It offers opportunities to take safe risks, develop leadership skills and gain a sense of pride in practical achievements.

Nicola Cartlidge

Adventure and Outdoor Learning Lead

Forest School Develops Academic Skills

Did you know that there is a link between climbing and writing? These seemingly two unrelated pursuits have a lot in common.

​It may seem surprising, but there is a direct and proven link between physical development and academic aptitude. Complex physical activities, such as climbing, require balance, coordination, core stability, and the ability to cross the body’s midline (where the dominant hand crosses over to the other side of the body). These are all skills that are fundamental to the development of fine motor skills necessary for writing

​At Northampton High School, we recognise that children learn through movement. Time spent actively exploring in nature enhances the brain’s ability to form neural connections, which directly improves concentration and retention back in the classroom. By fostering this holistic development from an early age in our Junior School, we are not just nurturing a love for the outdoors; we are building stronger, more effective learners poised for academic success.

Forest school sessions help children to develop essential early learning skills, such a pre-writing skills, all through movement and play.

Forest School ​Nurtures Wellbeing and Connection

​In today’s world, prioritising mental and emotional wellbeing is more important than ever. Research consistently shows that regular time spent in nature helps to reduce anxiety and stress while enhancing memory and mood. The outdoors acts as a natural ‘circuit breaker’, allowing girls the space to run, play, and reset, which helps them return to their studies feeling calmer and more focused.

​Furthermore, the outdoor environment is a brilliant unifier. It naturally encourages mixed-age play, where younger pupils learn from their older peers, and older girls develop leadership and mentoring skills. This fosters a powerful sense of community and belonging that is central to our girls’-first environment at Northampton High School.

American psychology researcher and scholar, Peter Gray PHD, confirms this. According to Gray, children benefit hugely from mixed-age play. With classrooms typically arranged by age groups, mixed-aged play is much more possible when spending time outdoors:

Young children not only acquire physical skills and knowledge about appropriate practices in their culture through such play with older children, but they also gain social skills.

Peter Gray, The Special Value of Mixed Aged Play, American Journal of Play Spring 2011

 

Autumn Forest School Event

If you would like your daughter to experience our Forest School provision, why not join us this November for our Reception Class taster session?

Happy girls learn best, and our girls are always happy when they are outside, which is why we enjoy Forest School sessions during our timetable all the way up to Year 8!

Crunch through the leaves down to our magical Forest School, where you and your daughter can experience the wonder of outdoor learning as you explore our excellent Reception Class curriculum. 

Girls aged 3-4 and their parents, grandparents and guardians are invited to join us for a fun filled morning at Forest School. We will be getting messy in our mud kitchen, testing our strength with some pumpkin hammering, crafting marvelous creations with our scavenged natural finds, and getting toasty with some warm sticky, sugary apples on our fire.

Learn more about our Reception Class offer, our small class sizes, our exciting curriculum with specialist teaching, and discover why your daughter will thrive in our girls-only school.

 

Through our Forest School curriculum, our girls are given the freedom to explore, take risks, and grow beyond the classroom. These experiences nurture creativity, build independence and resilience, as well as fostering a deep respect for nature and the world around them.

Lucy Stawt

Head of Junior School