Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools – the story so far….
Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools (PODS) was founded by headteachers Simon Thomas and Kevin Phelps in 2010 which then developed into a Professional Learning Community (PLC). The PLC was a collaboration between the Professional Learning Community in Pembrokeshire (including head teachers, teachers and local authority advisers) and key strategic partners including Darwin Science, Sports Pembrokeshire, the Field studies Council and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The partnership set out to support schools and teachers on their ‘outdoor learning journey’, and in its first few years partners delivered programmes of teacher training, ‘taster sessions’ for primary school classes and completed the publication of the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools handbook.
During this time the partnership’s work was recognised as innovative and providing an example of good practice in the field of outdoor learning in Wales. In 2011 an Estyn report highlighted the work of Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools at Tavernspite Primary School as an example of good practice in education. More recently the same organisation identified the impact of outdoor learning in contributing to high standards in schools. PODS continues to be recognised as ground breaking and an example of good practice, most recently (in 2018) by ESTYN in a report on the work of Lamphey Primary School in South Pembrokeshire.
In 2016 the partnership was successful in gaining funding from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund and the Bluestone Foundation, which enabled the appointment of as part-time Co-ordinator for PODS. With the additional resources available the partnership was able to develop a standalone website for the outdoor learning community in Pembrokeshire and work collaboratively with teachers to create new resources for learning. With the support of a Co-ordinator the partnership was able to reach a wider audience to ‘promote the use of the outdoors across the National Curriculum to develop strong, fit, healthy children who are fully acquainted with the outdoors and who have a very well developed sense of physical and emotional wellbeing’.
1n 2019 the partnership agreed to seek additional funds to continue the work of the PODS Coordinator and with the support of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Welsh Government a new project was established. Bryony Rees was appointed as the co-ordinator and works with local and national partners to support the schools of Pembrokeshire.
The emergence of a new Curriculum for Wales has provided a new impetus for our work and we continue to work alongside the teaching community in Pembrokeshire to equip schools with the tools necessary to offer exciting learning opportunities across the curriculum linked to elements of their local outdoor environment. Key to success has been the opportunity to work with outdoor learning practitioners across the county, sharing expertise and providing for our local learning communities.
In 2024, we were fortunate to receive funding from Enhancing Pembrokeshire and Blue Gem Wind, along with donations from several community councils, including Haverfordwest Town Council, Scleddau Community Council, and Newport Town Council. We also received valuable support from Llywyndu Solar Farm through the NextEnergy Solar Fund. As we look ahead to 2025, we are actively seeking further funding. If you’re interested in contributing to the PODS project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
