Wilder Schools Mile Cross session 5 (credit: NWT)
Wilder Schools
We are currently facing a biodiversity crisis and providing children with regular and meaningful opportunities to connect with nature has become more important than ever before.
What is Wilder Schools?
Launched in autumn 2023, our Wilder Schools pilot project is a three-year programme working with schools to enable children to connect with nature and care for wildlife in their school grounds. The pilot project has been kindly supported by Friends of Holt Hall, Stuart Heath Charitable Settlement, John Jarrold Trust, and our Children and Nature Fund.
Through nature-based, curriculum-linked sessions, our Wilder Schools programme aims to improve children's wellbeing and learning, and to empower school communities to maximise the biodiversity of their sites.
Our Wilder Schools programme helps implementation of the Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy through supporting all four pillars of a school's Climate Action Plan.
Programme outline
Below is a summary of the three-year programme. Please note: this is a guide and may vary slightly from school to school as each setting has different needs and interests.
Year 1 – Discovery and action-planning
NWT work with one year group to collectively decide on and carry out action for biodiversity in school grounds, through school-based curriculum-linked sessions.
NWT reserve visit.
Two twilight sessions with school staff.
Year 2 – School-based action
NWT support of school Eco-group to continue momentum built in year 1.
Partner-led session with curriculum / wellbeing / biodiversity focus.
Two twilight sessions with school staff.
Year 3 – Building a network
NWT continue to support Eco group action in school, as well as wider community action to build resilience of biodiversity action in school for the long-term.
Two twilight sessions with school staff.
Wilder Schools celebration event.
Wilder Schools Toolkit
As part of the project, we have developed a brand new toolkit, packed with resources! The Wilder Schools Toolkit provides straightforward ideas, activity plans, and information to support schools and other settings in implementing changes to benefit children and wildlife in their grounds. The toolkit is divided into the three pillars of the programme: actions for wildlife, wellbeing activities, and curriculum-linked activities. This pack is free to download and use, whatever your setting!
Our Wilder Schools
Pilot schools
For the pilot, we have been working with three Norfolk schools – Angel Road Junior School, Fairhaven Primary School and Mile Cross Primary School.
Take a look at the work we have been doing with our three Wilder Schools. Click on each school to find out more.
New schools joining the programme in 2025!
Thanks to generous funding from Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 Community Fund, we’re able to support children from three additional Norfolk primary schools to get hands on with nature as part of our Wilder Schools project from autumn 2025!
We are delighted to be working with Rollesby Primary School, Loddon Junior School and Hillside Avenue Primary and Infant School as our new Wilder Schools. We’ll be working with all three schools to inspire their children and school communities to take action for nature, bring outdoor learning into the classroom, and develop pupils’ skills and confidence to help them feel part of a wilder future.
Interested in becoming a Wilder School?
For more information about what the programme involves, please see our 'Wilder Schools information and recruitment pack' below:
Wilder Schools information and recruitment pack
Applications for 2025 are now closed, but keep an eye out for news and updates on when our next round of applications goes live!
If you have any queries about the Wilder Schools programme, or about becoming a Wilder School, please do get in touch via email: educationenquiries@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk.
Thank you for your interest in Wilder Schools!