We’re delighted to support Mark Harrison and St John the Evangelist Primary School in expanding an innovative gardening intervention for disadvantaged pupils. The project will transform a disused pre-school building into a dedicated intervention space, including a mini greenhouse, creating opportunities for many more pupils to benefit from gardening-based activities.
The school has already piloted the gardening intervention on a small scale, with encouraging internal data showing improvements in behaviour, increased attendance and improved mood among participating pupils. The school believes that creating a larger, dedicated space will enable the intervention to reach more disadvantaged learners and build on these early successes.
By providing a positive, nurturing environment where pupils can engage in practical activities, develop confidence and enjoy learning outside the traditional classroom setting, the project aims to improve pupils’ engagement and readiness to learn. Through expanding an approach that is already showing promise, St John the Evangelist Primary School is helping to remove barriers to learning and create the conditions for disadvantaged pupils to thrive.