Education

The Society aims to support schools in using the history, landscape and natural environment of the Chilterns in their curriculum, encouraging all ages to care for and enjoy their local area. The Society’s Primary Schools’ Education Programme has developed from a survey carried out in 2003. Over 60 primary schools are currently Associate Members, receiving free copies of the quarterly Chiltern News, as well as other education-related information from time to time.

Our Conservation Volunteers work alongside staff and parents at a number of schools, helping to maintain and conserve their wildlife areas as a learning resource. In addition, one school in the Luton area has a new wildlife area thanks to the Society’s partnership with HSBC. The Wycombe Wildlife Group has provided information leaflets on pond maintenance, hedge planting, and the creation and maintenance of wildlife areas for our Associate schools.

There is an extensive ‘Schools Photographs ’ section on the Society’s PhotoGroup website (here), which is available to assist schools with their studies of their local area, often enabling them to appreciate how their area has changed. In addition there are images of the historic furniture trade, as well as modern furniture design. This website is an excellent resource for schools, and continues to expand.

In a pilot scheme in 2006/07, schools in the High Wycombe area were offered transport grants for school visits. Several schools took advantage of this offer, visiting such places as the Chiltern Open Air Museum, Hambleden village, Black Park and the Chair Museum. This financial assistance enabled trips to the ‘outdoor classroom’ and we could have funded more requests than we received. A similar offer is being made to the Luton area in the current academic year.

The Society works in co-operation with the Chilterns Conservation Board in education matters. The two organisations have similar aims and complement each other.

Grant funding continues to be sought so that the Society can employ a dedicated education officer to support schools and develop resources much more comprehensively than is possible with volunteers alone.

If you would like to learn more about the Society’s work in the education field, or become an Associate Member school, please contact the Society’s office (navigate to Contact us > Society directory for details), or email Peggy Ewart, the Primary Education Programme Leader here.

 
The Chiltern Society’s education initiatives are focussed upon the benefits for pupils of making field trips to learn about the history and landscape of the Chilterns. A recent Government draft manifesto states that "every child should experience the world outside the classroom as an integral part of their learning".