In a departure from my usual ramblings, this month I’m reviewing Mike Fairclough’s new book, ‘Playing With Fire’.

In this slim volume Fairclough advocates a refreshing approach to primary education which raises expectations through the handing over of responsibility for some projects to the children and the provision of outdoor learning opportunities in ways that are rare, if not unique, in British state schools.

Mr Fairclough is head teacher at West Rise School in Eastbourne. Until he arrived, this was an unremarkable school in many ways. Its catchment area of two economically challenged housing estates placed it under strain to raise children up. The story of how the school has changed makes for giddying reading. First leasing some land, then the arrival of livestock (and we’re not talking about a few hens), then the archaeology and the forest school as well as dynamic art project. For me with my belief that good education out of doors leads to a good attitude to education indoors, it was hard not to leap on the first available train to Eastbourne.

Since the adoption of the activities described in the book the school has gone from ‘poor’ to ‘good’ in academic terms and to ‘outstanding’ for behaviour and safety of pupils. To many this is a surprising outcome as the children all attend forest school sessions, go fishing, shooting and paddle-boarding as well as working on the school farm. Many have been involved in building a Bronze Age lake house and wooden causeway; all participate in hands on reconstruction archaeology. Back at the school the child-led art centre has generated enough sponsorship income to fund equipment to perpetuate activities and to engage artists in residence. The two have come together in synergies between art and nature, in particular the superbly named ‘Shelf of Death’ where skeletons found during outdoor pursuits are displayed to be used as inspiration for artistic endeavours.

While the description of all this gets the mind and heart racing with enthusiasm to dash out and do the same, I suspect that many school leadership teams will draw breath and question the pressure of time to deliver the National Curriculum and to ponder the dangers of such a set up. This is where ‘Playing With Fire’ truly sings out. Each of the negatives usually thrown at any one of the ideas or activities is systematically demolished.

The first case to be addressed is most likely to be the risk to a school’s SATs results and thus its standing. The results at West Rise demonstrate that this approach to learning, rather than risk a school’s results can have a hugely positive effect. Year on year results have improved; https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/114467 . Away from state education such activities wouldn’t be seen as in any way outlandish; they have been proven to work over and over again. The results here make the case for more of these activities in all schools.
The next argument is likely to be about health and safety. Have there been any significant accidents at the school? No. Have the HSE come down on them like a ton of bricks? No. In fact the head of the HSE thinks the whole thing is marvellous and visited to demonstrate her enthusiasm.

The greatest tool this book offers teachers and head teachers, is a method. Not all schools have the space to do everything that this school does but Mr Fairclough’s offer of a way to do at least some of it should be grasped and acted upon. Every school staff room bookshelf should have a copy of this book and all teachers should read it.