A Winchester school has created a new outdoor classroom for lessons in the sunshine and fresh air.

St Swithun’s Junior School in Alresford Road has opened a new outdoor classroom to make lessons more fun for young pupils.

St Swithun’s junior school headmistress Mrs Rebecca Lyons-Smith has opened the new outdoor classroom in the school grounds. Set near the junior school building, amongst trees and alongside open fields, the new classroom is a safe space for children to learn new skills whilst being outside in the fresh air.

Mrs Lyons-Smith said “I came to St Swithun’s with a passion for outdoor education - not simply because I believe fresh air, exercise and fun are essential to our mental well-being; but because beyond the classroom children are able to show off a wealth of skills, aptitudes and personal qualities that can remain hidden in a traditional, academic environment. The new outdoor classroom will be a real asset to everyone at school”.

The opening of the classroom took place on national “Outdoor Classroom Day”, a global initiative involving over a million children. The whole junior school enjoyed a full day of outdoor activities, including toasting pancakes on the campfire, tree bark rubbings, and blindfolded walks in the woods.