Gardening in Schools – A vital tool for children’s learning

New research by the Royal Horticultural Society Gardening in Schools – A vital tool for children’s learning shows the enormous impact gardening plays in a child’s wellbeing, learning and development.  Commissioned by the RHS from independent researchers the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), the report highlights how schools which actively use a garden, develop ‘resilient,’ ‘ready to learn’ and ‘responsible’ children – 3R attributes that make up well-balanced, happier, healthy, rounded individuals.  The RHS believes these 3 R’s can be learnt when gardening is used as a teaching tool, not just an extra-curricular activity.

The NFER surveyed a selection of 1,300 school teachers and studied in-depth 10 schools belonging to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, from a large urban London primary to small village school in Yorkshire, to discover that gardening in schools encourages children to:
  • Become stronger, more active learners capable of thinking independently and adapting their skills and knowledge to new challenges at school and in future;
  • Gain a more resilient, confident and responsible approach to life so they can achieve their goals and play a positive role in society;
  • Learn vital jobs skills such as presentation skills, communication and team work, and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit;
  • Embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle as an important tool for success at school and beyond;
Develop the ability to work and communicate with people from all ages and backgrounds.
The NFER surveyed a selection of 1,300 school teachers and studied in-depth 10 schools belonging to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, from a large urban London primary to small village school in Yorkshire, to discover that gardening in schools encourages children to:
  • Become stronger, more active learners capable of thinking independently and adapting their skills and knowledge to new challenges at school and in future;
  • Gain a more resilient, confident and responsible approach to life so they can achieve their goals and play a positive role in society;
  • Learn vital jobs skills such as presentation skills, communication and team work, and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit;
  • Embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle as an important tool for success at school and beyond;
Develop the ability to work and communicate with people from all ages and backgrounds.
To download the full report, click here.

This page is related to

Sectors
Farming and countryside
School grounds
Subjects
PSHE education
Key stages
Early years
Key stage 1
Key stage 2
Key stage 3