NPTC Group of Colleges had the privilege of attending the launch of Ysgol Y Bannau’s new outdoor classroom, nicknamed by the students ‘adarl wyllt’ (wild area!). It follows the donation of land from the College and a monetary donation for a new building.
Ysgol Y Bannau is a primary school within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The school reaches a wide catchment area, from Brecon to the English Border, catering for students aged 5-11 where the Welsh language plays a prominent part in teaching and everyday life at the school.
The land used for the classroom is big enough to hold 20 students. The hut, built by a local talented carpenter, is made from locally sourced oak, with the back walls made of board and front canvas, so it can be rolled up in the summer.
The students have access to an amazing outdoor space in which they now have a rich and unique learning experience. They regularly use the area to tell stories, feed birds, collect leaves and learn new skills such as building fires, creating fences from twigs and sticks, and building dens.
The launch was accompanied by entertainment including music, Welsh songs and reciting Welsh poems, all performed by the students.
Vice Chair Governor, Tim Morgan, was the main leader in the campaign to get the outdoor hut built for the children. He arranged with other parents to plant trees and flowers in the area and got in contact with one of the parents to plan and build the structure.
Natalie Downton, Marketing Assistant at Brecon Beacons College said: “This was a great event and was fantastic to see the community come together to celebrate the hard work that went into getting the outdoor classroom ready for the children. We look forward to the partnership growing in the future.”
