Durham City’s Wharton Park has won national recognition for providing high-quality educational visits.
The park has received a Learning outside the Classroom Quality Badge thanks to the services it offers to local children on school trips.
The badge, presented by the Council for Learning outside the Classroom, is given to venues that ensure a good-quality learning experience in a safe environment.
Durham County Council’s parks and countryside education officer, Louise Porter, said, “Being awarded the LotC Quality Badge is fantastic for all the staff here as it recognises their hard work and dedication.”
“We look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from across the county and further afield to Wharton Park to take advantage of everything we have to offer.”
Wharton Park boasts a heritage centre with a specially designed education room. The park offers a variety of workshops linked to the school curriculum, including activities which give youngsters an experience of the natural world.
The chief executive of the Council for Learning outside the Classroom, Elaine Skates, said, “Educational visits are among the most memorable learning experiences in a child’s school life.”
“The LotC Quality Badge offers teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value they can build on in class long after the visit, but that they also have the appropriate risk management structure in place.”
“Learning outside the classroom has many proven educational benefits and the badge will reduce red tape and provide assurances for schools, thereby assuring that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning experiences outside the classroom.”
“I congratulate Wharton Park on being awarded the LotC Quality Badge.”
Wharton Park, which has commanding views of Durham Castle and Cathedral, recently benefitted from a £3 million restoration project. This project provided the park with a new heritage centre, play areas, a café and even a miniature car track.
To learn more about Wharton Park, please go to https://www.durham.gov.uk/whartonpark.
(The featured image shows pupils from Neville’s Cross Primary School and Nursery paying an educational visit to Wharton Park.)
