Welcome to Larkhill Rise

Larkhill Rise Forest School is a wonderful facility for the school and is intended to take children out of the classroom and help them learn in a different environment. This facility is used primarily by St Paul’s, Bright Futures nursery school and Alder Grange Community Technology School, but it will also be available for use by local charities.

Our Forest School sessions started in January 2015 in an area of school grounds called Larkhill Rise.

Larkhill Rise was developed as an outdoor classroom in 2005, but sadly the area was underused and staff who were new to school, were unaware of this amazing resource on our doorstep.

In 2013 Larkhill Rise was redeveloped through a series of Big Dig Projects which involved staff, pupils, parents, governors and members of the local community.

Larkhill Raise remains a community resource and from September 2014 was relaunched and has been used as part of our 0-16 Campus by Bright Futures Nursery, St Paul’s and Alder Grange to deliver Forest School Sessions and Outdoor Learning to practically support the curriculum.

Larkhill Rise Forest School includes an outdoor classroom, mud slide, mud pit, climbing ropes, tyre swing, fire pit, mud kitchen, pond, outdoor composting toilet, allotment, polytunnel and a willow tunnel.

The land has been cleared and trees trimmed thanks to parents, children, staff and the local community during our ‘Big Dig’ events. The area is fully enclosed with fencing. Buildings and facilities will be added as money becomes available.

Parent Nusrat Karim said: “Larkhill Rise Forest School is a wonderful resource for my children. I am delighted that the schools and nursery are proactively providing different learning activities to engage them and boost their confidence.”

MP Jake Berry said: “St Paul’s school is a real example of how to make your school family an integral part of the wider Rossendale community. This outstanding project has drawn in local parents, pupils and teachers, along with other local people who are working together to improve the learning environment”.