From lessons and sport to extracurricular fun, Katie Hughes looks at how rural schools are making the most of their abundant grounds to get students to abandon their screens for the great outdoors.

Recent research shows that independent schools give pupils, on average, access to 10 times more outdoor space than their state-educated peers. So, how are schools using this green space and why is it so important?

Evidence from environmental psychologists shows that green space can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function for children – boosting attention span, problem-solving abilities and academic performance. And independent senior schools are well tuned into these findings. Schools aren’t just ensuring that pupils have plenty of exposure to green space, they’re also providing a huge range of outdoor learning opportunities, with far-reaching benefits.

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