education strategy€¦ · web viewdevelop lesson plans, teacher’s packs and resources on the...

The Royal Parks Education Strategy

2006 – 2009.

3 Year Plan 2006 – 2009

Published August 2006Contents Page 1. Introduction 32. Organisational Objectives 33. Vision 34. Education – The External Environment 45. Education - Focus for the Future 46. Education – Where are we now? 4/57. Education – Strategic Principles and

Objectives 58. Key Objectives for the Royal Parks Education

Strategy 69. Working with others – within the parks 610. Working with Other Agencies 6/711. Resourcing 712. Risks 813. Equal opportunities 814. Sustainability 8

Key Milestones for Objective 1 9/10Key Milestones for Objective 2 11/12Key Milestones for Objective 3 13/14Key Milestones for Objective 4 15/16Key Milestones for Objective 5 17/18

EDUCATION STRATEGY – SETTING THE DIRECTION

1. INTRODUCTION

The Royal Parks has developed a clear strategy for education. This strategy provides guidance and a framework for the development of more detailed work plans.

2. ORGANISATIONAL OBJECTIVES

The education strategy is aligned with the Royal Parks’ purpose and contributes to the delivery of our organisations top-level objectives.

The Royal Parks Purpose

To manage the Royal Parks effectively and efficiently; balancing the responsibility to conserve and enhance these unique environments with creative policies to encourage access and to increase opportunities for enjoyment, education, entertainment and healthy recreation.

The Royal Parks objectives

1. To protect and enhance a “world class” natural park environment for families, children and visitors

2. To understand and respond to the needs of our audiences, reflecting diversity of needs and use; enriching lives and enhancing access to culture and sport

3. To work with other organisations and volunteers to deliver clear education, health, sport and participation offers

4. To conserve and enhance the historic built environment of the Royal Parks

5. To deliver greater value for money for the taxpayer through increased income generation and reduced dependency on vote funding

6. To demonstrate organisational excellence

3. VISION

Our strategy and vision is based on the concept of “lifelong learning”, and we will provide, alone or through partnerships, access to opportunities, to develop new skills, knowledge and understanding of the natural environment.

VISION FOR EDUCATION IN THE ROYAL PARKS:

To provide unique and creative educational opportunities that engage the public and enhances enjoyment and responsible use of the parks.

To deliver our vision the strategy recognises where we are now and the external factors that may provide drivers and constraints to its implementation.

4. EDUCATION – THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

Education is at the heart of the government’s agenda and, as we move through the parliamentary cycle, delivery of real improvements to education will become more critical for government. Our opportunities lie in the unique environment and historical context of the parks.

The density of the population in the capital and surrounding areas means that there is a large (permanent) population within easy travelling distance of the parks. This density of population is expected to increase, with a forecast increase to the London population of 45,000 per annum. Populations with ready access to the parks cut right across all economic and social groups, and a diverse range of nationalities.

Central government departments, local government departments and some charitable trusts have identified priorities that overlap with the Park's education agenda. These include DCMS departments linking regeneration and sustainable issues, environmental protection, community participation, social inclusion and improvement in formal education standards. Frequently these priorities reflected in targets. For example DCMS has a Public Sector Agreement Target “to increase the take-up of cultural and sporting opportunities by people aged 16 and above from priority groups by 2008” and a strategic priority to “ further enhance access to culture and sport for children and give them the opportunity to develop their talents to the full and enjoy the benefits of participation”. We can add value and help others to deliver through partnership projects and accessing external funding.

5. EDUCATION – FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE

The Education Strategy has three main strands, which link to the delivery of our organisational objectives:

a programme of education for park users, current and future, that enables them to understand the biodiversity within the natural environment, our archives, heritage and wildlife; engaging with people so that they may enjoy the parks, understand them, look after them and protect them for further generations;

a focus on health and sport to increase participation through healthy lifestyles and activity based programmes.

The promotion of the park’s assets to support broader education and community engagement programmes, working with volunteers and partners on a project basis to add value and deliver joint objectives.

In addition to the formal education programme the team have responsibility for managing the informal educational aspects of community engagement, including leading on the communications strategy and developing a volunteer policy that supports the parks operational and sustainability strategies. This includes presenting information and activities in an exciting, interactive, manner to encourage and promote use of the parks particularly to under represented groups

6. EDUCATION – WHERE WE ARE NOW?

The education team undertook an extensive assessment of current strengths and weaknesses in the Park's education programme consulting key stakeholders and holding workshops to include a wider audience.

Key findings are highlighted below:

a. The role of education within the context of the wider organisational strategy is not clearly defined; the scope of current activity ranges from the provision of formal educational classes for schools, heritage related activities, the living history programme, horticulture experience, researching biodiversity and developing volunteer skills through co-ordinated training programmes; we work closely with the Historic Royal Palaces and are committed to support the development of a Royal Parks Guild and Archive .

b. The education budget (excluding permanent staff and associated overheads) is currently £60K per annum. Although the team of 3.5. permanent positions, supported by approximately 25 part time volunteer staff are enthusiastic and passionate about the parks’ potential role in education (94% satisfaction from evaluation forms) they are currently stretched over too wide a range of activity.

c. In addition to project grant funded activity and income generated from the formal schools programme, education attracts other support from partners e.g. The Prince’s Trust, the construction industry training board and The Heritage Lottery Fund. This may be in the form of training, staff support or materials for projects. Support in cash and kind also comes from Friends of the Park Groups and volunteers; our current partnership programmes include:

i. The Prince’s Trust - “Get into Green Spaces”:ii. The Holly Lodge Centre for people with a range of disabilities;iii. The Companion Cycling programme for people with special needs;iv. RSPB – Wild in the parks (£300,000 programme sponsored by HLF)

d. While there have been some significant successes for the education team in terms of delivery and benefit to the public, the balance of cost and benefit (financial and non financial) to the parks from some of these programmes is not always clear, particularly within in the context of an ever more constrained budget for the parks as a whole.

7. EDUCATION - STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

With limited funding and significant demand, prioritisation is key to the success of our education programme. We must understand more clearly the costs and benefits of all our activities and how these they’re fit into the organisational objectives and prioritise accordingly. This is true for both core and non-core activity.

Our strategic principles are:

creating programmes that build on the uniqueness of the parks; building quality outcomes, rather than just quantity; delivering via the optimum routes, whether on our own or in partnership; adding value to all our programmes; ensuring all programmes are fully funded;

Key successes for the education team includes:

Volunteers gave 3456 hours of support during 2004/2005. (This equates to 493 days, or the equivalent of 2.25 full time staff members.)

There were 22934 users of the range of Education and Community engagement services provided by the team , Royal Parks Staff and Volunteers in 2004/2005;

five key partnerships strengthened, namely which are HRP - Lime sculpture project, Thames Explorer- educational programme, Reed Elseveer - reed bed programme, Greenwich Asian Women’s - vaisakhi festival and The Prince’s Trust - Get into Green spaces project.

8. KEY OBJECTIVES FOR THE ROYAL PARKS EDUCATION STRATEGY

Education strategic objectives.

1. To develop high quality learning experiences for people of all ages in the natural environment of the Royal Parks.

2. To promote the unique high quality experience of the natural environment, heritage, history, health and sustainability that the parks offer to children and the difference it can make to young lives.

3. To develop and maintain partnerships with Local Authorities, conservation groups (e.g. RSPB, NT and WWT), sponsors and volunteers to optimise the educational experience of people visiting the Royal Parks.

4. To support Education Agencies, Local Authorities and schools by providing access to “green outdoor classroom” experiences, through professional training, development resource parks and direct teaching.

5. To seek new ways of working to ensure that resources are secured to enable the delivery of wider learning experiences as part of a lifelong learning approach.

9. WORKING WITH OTHERS – within the parks

Communication must ensure that staff, volunteers, partners and the public understand the role and value of education in the Royal Parks and recognise the concept of “lifelong learning” and the unique opportunities within the context of the park experience.

The core education programme focuses on objectives 1, 2 and 4 above. This requires the education team to work closely with other teams within the Royal Parks, to ensure consistency and best use of resource.

We will work with others on The Royal Parks Health Initiative, The sports team to develop integrated programmes. educational elements of the health and sports programmes with a particular focus on

tackling childhood obesity.

We will work closely with marketing, and with the parks interpretation project to improve communication, information and interpretation, increase accessibility and the quality of the visitor experience. Through this we will encourage the protection of wildlife, heritage, biodiversity and promote sustainability. We will also help develop training initiatives for staff, volunteers and supporting partnerships. We will explore career opportunities, work experiences, secondee and internships to the parks with relevant departments.

10. WORKING WITH other agencies

The parks are fabulous settings and have excellent facilities for wider educational programmes that focus on the environment and responsible and healthy use of the environment. Core funding enables limited joint funded initiatives and the evaluation of wider initiatives. The parks and their staff can provide a valuable resource to support wider education agendas but to achieve this we must understand other organisations agendas and objectives, demonstrate the value we can add through partnership or supply and secure the necessary funding to grow the parks educational programme.

The team must also work closely with schools, community groups and organisations and prioritise those activities, which fit within core funding. We will identify partnership organisations to support and engage in the delivery of the educational objectives, supporting initiatives to combat social exclusion and widening access to education and cultural activity.

We will ensure The Royal Parks education programme develops and seeks to find a place within the regional and national programme for delivering high quality education and focuses on the unique features of the parks environment, wildlife and habitats.

We will identify priority groups to engage with, develop good communication and understanding of how other cultures use the park and how those groups would engage in education programmes.

11. RESOURCING:

There is unlikely to be any increase to core funding through the next 3 years. Any increase to our core programme will be dependent upon the success of our non-core activity and our ability to secure additional funding. The current budget of £60K is allocated on the following basis:

Volunteers £ 15KConsultants/pool staff * £ 27KMaterials £ 10KAdmin £ 5KOther £ 3K

* consultants include external facilitators, trainers etc who would deliver particular project work.

25 part time volunteers support the core staff of 3.5 people. Our aim is to seek an increase the volunteers to 100 by March 2008.

The Bushy Park HLF funded programme provides one additional education post (1.0 FTE) to be employed for a 4-year period from 2007/08.

In year 1 the budget will be allocated as follows:

Core activity 80%

Partnership / joint funded programmes 15%

Evaluation of non core opportunities 5%

Our aim will be to increase funding from non-core activity to enable development of the core programme.

All campaign educational work should be encouraged by the exemplar of good internal practices. Use of recycling materials, environmentally friendly transport, turning off lights, walking to work.

12. RISKS:

The key risks that may impact the delivery of our Education Strategy and Objectives are considered to be:

KEY RISK Mitigation APPROACHInsufficient resource to meet current commitments

Competition from national museums and galleries, in line with government legislation. These organisations are being given a large amount of funding to encourage teachers to attend their facilities by offering free services. The Royal Parks are not in a position to do this.

Evaluate all commitments, and prioritise work accordingly.

Ensure the services we offer are of the highest quality, which will encourage and promote more visits.

Develop lesson plans, teacher’s packs and resources on the web to support school visits.

Interpretation of following appendix tables.

The Information on the following matrix tables in bold are pieces of work which are secured and deliverable within the specified deadlines and which relate to the objectives listed in section 8. (Page 4.)The information on the matrix tables in Italics are pieces of work that The Royal Parks aspires to deliver if the appropriate funding and support levels are reached.

13. Equal Opportunities.

The Education and Community Engagement team endeavours to deliver all of the programmes to as wide a section of the communities of London as possible. The team seeks to: ensure access for all those with disabilities. develop an understanding of the needs of varying cultures. increase The Royal Parks understanding of how different communities use and view the

Parks and all of its facilities and encourage our staff, volunteers and partnership agencies to understand fully their role in

ensuring that ‘London’s Personal Space’ is available to all.

14. Sustainability

The Education and Community Engagement team endeavours to ensure that all of the deliveries of the programmes are environmentally sustainable, linking the project resources with corporate responsibility and targets within the IS0 14001 quality assurance. We will work closely with the DCMS sustainable development programme to increase the public’s awareness of their impact on the natural environment.

KEY MILESTONES FOR OBJECTIVE 1:To develop high quality learning experiences for people of all ages, in the natural environment of the Royal Parks.KP’s for 2006 - 2009 Develop an annual adult education programme for two parks

Complete two resource booklets for family learning.Complete junior ranger’s membership pack development and administration process.

Action Year 1 Year 2 Year 3.Develop education programme to focus on the unique natural environment of the Parks.

Pilot non-school education activity for lifelong learning and evaluate at year-end. 1st session by Aug 2006. 2nd

by March 2007

Link the Adult education in the Bushy Park HLF project development September 2007.

Spring and Summer Adult education programme in Bushy, Hyde and Kensington Garden Aug 2008 and March 2009.

Continue with the schools KS2 education programme.

Establish education evaluation and monitoring procedures. June 2006 Reviewing quarterly and reporting to senior management team. Sept 06, Jan 07 April 07.

Review procedure June 2007.

Report Sept. 07, Jan 08, April 08.

Review procedure June 2008.Report Sept. 08, Jan 09, Preparation of Objectives for 2009 – 2012 – Mar 2009

Develop and establish central education resource base in Kensington gardens.

Open new Education and Volunteer premises September 2006. Establish library of resources for all of the RP education teams by March 2007

Recruit new 12 volunteers to support in maintaining library and information available to public September 2007Training vol. October to March September 2007Training vol. October to March 2008

Monitor the recruitment of volunteers to identify and target under-represented groups to support Centre.

Establish a new infrastructure of communications with the education and volunteer teams and a new training resource.

Pilot 14 week training scheme in Bushy Park January – March 2007.Review pilot and assess progress for year 2 and 3.

Provide annual volunteers training programme.

Review communications and training.

The Information on the matrix tables in BOLD are pieces of work which are secured and deliverable within the specified deadlines and which relate to the objectives listed in Section 8 (Page 7).The information on the matrix tables in ITALICS are pieces of work that The Royal Parks aspires to deliver if the appropriate funding and support levels are reached.

Establish family learning resource pack

Pilot resource pack September 2006 review and consult staff and stakeholder groups on pack by March 2007

Review completed. Initiate the resource pack for wider June 2007availability. Develop web site availability. March 2008.

Monitor and evaluate value and client group of the resource pack. March 2009

Recruit and establish an administrator and volunteer co-ordinator position.

By July 06. Evaluate and monitor Work Programme.

Reviewing the volunteer’s central database for recording participation in activities.

Volunteer Database for 2006/07 in place by March 2007 for year-end analysis.

Review. Make alterations and activate new database. March 2008.

Refine statistical information and promote.

Investigate possible goods and services, which could generate income.

Establish business principles with Director of Marketing & Strategy.

Review

Work with RPA Public Affairs section to increase the profile of the education programme. Contribute towards marketing.

Identify 4 good news stories by quarter 3 and promote service.

Develop communications grid for year 2007/08 and maintain profile.

Enhance profile.

Develop a junior rangers membership pack and annual activity sessions

Pilot junior rangers pack September to December 2006.Pilot junior rangers activity sessions December to March 2007

Pilot Junior ranger’s activities April to September 2007.Review pilot November 2007.Establish for year 3 programme. March 2008

Run Junior rangers activity session monthly. April 2008 – March 2009.

Recruit a pool of “fee paid” qualified educational staff.

Train pool staff to run any lesson plans. Make use of resource to cover annual/sick leave and peak periods. Initial recruitment July 2006.

Increase pool of educational staff. July 2007.Explore the use of field studies teachers. March 2007

Review and develop recruitment and core pool staff. March 2009


KEY MILESTONES FOR OBJECTIVE 2:

To promote the unique high quality experience of the natural environment, heritage, history, health and sustainability that the park offers to children and the difference it can make to young livesKPI’s for 2006 – 2009 Produce a Big Book learning English resource for all school bordering the Parks

Complete a living history interactive schools programme for two parks.

Action Year 1 Year 2 Year 3Develop ‘audience development plan’s to engage a wider representation from the communities of London.

Establish a structure for consultation with community groups surrounding the parks. October 2006.Develop links and relationships with groups. Pilot initial concepts. November 2006 to March 2007.

Initiate the consultation structure and develop Audience development plans for Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.July 2007.Evaluate and adapt November 2007

Carry out consultation forGreenwich and Regents Parks.March 2008

Circulate Audience development plans for the RP to date.March 2008

From research of the ADP’s Identify work programmes for the future.

Work programme agreed Work programme to be agreed. Host one feed back sessions per park on the consultation process and the findings.Hyde Park/ Kensington Gardens September 2008Greenwich Park November 2008 Regents Park January 2008

Work with Marketing to develop a communication strategy.

Develop local community group newsletters in Bushy Park March 2007.

Attend marketing meetingsCirculate draft Communications strategy.October 2006.

Publish 4 community newsletters. June 2007, September 2007, December 2007 March 2008.

Complete Communications strategy. March 2007.

Implement communications strategy.


Develop activities for involvement of young people.

Develop a ‘big book’.English Key stage 1 & 2 on environment and The Royal Parks.Distribute to 750 schools surrounding the Royal Parks.March 2007.

Evaluate with the schools.December 2007Concluding reportMarch 2008.

Develop activities with cultural groups who are under represented in the parks.

Initiate discussions and focus groups with 5 targeted groups. March 2007.Identify the needs of the community.March 2007.

Plan with group action and activities programme. June 2007.

Activate the special targeted programme for the groupsSeptember 07 – March 2008.

Activate programmes.April 21008 – March 2009.



To develop and maintain partnerships with Local Authorities, conservation groups (e.g. RSPB, NT and WWT), sponsors and volunteers to optimise the educational experience of people visiting the Royal ParksKPI’ s for 2006 – 2009 Complete the Wild in the Parks project

Complete an annual guided walks programme for four parks.Complete an annual healthy living programme for four parks.

Action Year 1 Year 2 Year 3Participate in the Wild in the Parks Project

Support development of Community Garden and sculpture. March 2007.Initiate the archive project. September 2006.Share best practise with 4 London Boroughs

Attend Borough meetings 4 per year.

Attend Steering group meetings. 6 per year.

Attend the final conference November 2008. Evaluation of the programme December 2008Training greenspace managers.

Field studies programme Work with RSPB to develop field studies leaders for KS2 school programmes in Bushy Park.

Evaluate bushy project. Feb – Mar 2007.Extend to include develop programme for Richmond Park September 2007. Greenwich Park March 2008.

Evaluate partnership

April – September 2008.

Identify further objectives November 2008 – Feb. 2009.

Work with Partners to support their development of services on offer in the Royal Parks.

Support Trustees of The Holly Lodge Centre. Attend 5 meetings per year. Companion Cycles and Horse rangers.Attend one liaison meeting per year.Support the Pembroke lodge information centre development. Attend 4 meetings March 2007.

Develop relationship with Liberty Drives March 2008.Meet with all Friends groups once a year.

Review partnership relationships. September to December 2008.

Identify progress in objective planning for 2009 - 2012


Increase staff and volunteers capacity to work with priority target groups.

Establish a regular timetable of training sessions on Community Engagement and working with specialist groups. October 2006

Run programme.July 2008

Review programme and propose recommendations for regular training for new staff and volunteers.

Develop business case for expansion of Education services

Prepare applications for Education workers for Greenwich Park and St James Park. November 2006.Support development of the Archives and historical artefact storage.November 2006

Consult on applications for expansion.July 2007.

Support development of Archivist strategy. Archivist strategy. September 2007.

Develop a schools programme to involve everyone in handling artefacts and becoming involved in the oral history programme.Programme September 2008 – January 2009Review March 2009

Establish a guided walks programme in the parks

Establish an annual programme for St James Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.July 2006.

Establish an annual programme for Bushy Park. June 2007

Establish an annual programme for Regents park June 2008

Develop a healthy living programme for the RP.

Establish a programme based on the identified needs from the Consultant for September 2006.

Run the identified programme for healthy living. October 2006 – July 2007.Profile healthy living programmes.March 2008

Evaluate involvement in healthy living. September 2008. Develop partnership programmes to carry scheme forward.Linked with objectives for 2009 - 2012



To support Education Agencies, Local Authorities and schools by providing access to “green outdoor classroom” experience, through professional training, development of resources parks and direct teaching.KPI’s for 200 6 – 2009 Develop a regular programme of CPD training available in four parks

Teachers resource for Nature trails pack available on the Web siteTeachers resource information on each park available on Web and hard copy

Action Year 1 Year 2 Year 3Establish a programme of CPD courses in Environmental education in four parks

Establish programme of 3 CPD per term for Bushy and Hyde Park July 2006.Evaluate progressFebruary 2007.

Establish programme of 3 CPD courses per term in Greenwich and Regents ParkJuly 2007.Evaluate progress Feb 2008.

Review programmes and identify objectives for new strategy.2009 – 2012.

Work with agencies and schools to explore the green classroom and out of school activities.

Link with 3 Inset training days. September 2006.3 youth groups days February 2007.and 3 promoting healthy living days.March 2007

Review progressIdentify new programme

Work with schools and local authorities to develop web site resources for teachers

Develop teachers’ resources packs for generic nature trails. March 2007. Launch on the RP web site. June 2007.Review

Develop specialist teachers’ resources nature trails for individual parks. Hyde Park andKensington Gardens June 2008Launch on RP web site. September 2008Review. November 2008

Develop two teachers’ resources for nature trails.Bushy Parks and Greenwich Park. June 2009.Launch on websiteSept 2009Evaluate impact of all trails. Review work for objectives 2009 – 2012.

Build on the Junior citizenship scheme with Park managers, Local boroughs and Police services.

Review current support systems for Junior Citizenship programmes. September 2006.Review and agree way forward with project. November 006.

Activate agreed programme. Activate agreed programme.


Increase quality and range of education sessions for Key stage 1 & 2

Review current lesson plans. September 2006.Establish newsletter for schools on programmes available. March 2007.

Increase lessons plans by 4 sessions For all education team. March 2008.

Review progress and establish new objectives for 2009 - 2012

Increase the opportunity of Education sessions with KS 3& 4

Develop focus sessions with young people and teachers.

Review current status of Key 3 & 4 activities. Develop plan of activities for 2007/8 by March 2007.

Develop the Palace for the 21st

Century programme

Initiate activities for Key stage 3&4 March 2008

Develop teacher’s resource for KS3 & 4 activities in environmental education for the web page. September 2008.

Activate web page for Key stage 3&4 March 2009

Complete publication of hard copy.March 2009



To seek new ways of working to ensure that resources are secured to enable the delivery of wider learning experiences as part of a ‘lifelong learning’ approach.KPI’s for 2006 – 2009. Complete a volunteer’s policy

Complete a careers opportunity education infrastructure including socially excluded groups, apprenticeships and work experience.Complete education development within the HLF Bushy Park Restoration project.

Action Year 1 Year 2 Year 3Recruit 100 volunteers Recruit and train 12 Guided

walk volunteers for Hyde park, Kensington Garden and St James Park. July – December 2006.Recruit and train 12 Archive volunteers.September 2006 – March 2007.Recruit and train 12 Education volunteersMarch 2007.

Recruit and train 12 volunteers for Living history programmesApril – September 2007.

Evaluate and report on progress. Identify next recruit target group.

Recruit and train the target groups identified. April 2009.

Evaluate and develop a strategy for objectives for 2009 – 2012.

Complete volunteer policy for the Royal Parks

Establish a volunteer’s forum July 2006.2 sessions between September 2006 – March 2007.Draft policy for consultation. Produce 4 Volunteers newsletter April 2006.July 2006.September 2006 –Jan 2007

Hold 4 forum meetings April 2007July 2007September 2007January 2008. Produce 4 newsletters April 2007.July 2007.September 2007January 2008.

Review and evaluate progress of project group March 2008.Produce 4 newsletters April 2008.July 2008.September 2008January 2009. Review and evaluate progress. March 2009.


Complete support education programme for career development, including work experiences, secondments and apprenticeships

Report on pilot work experience programme. September 2006.Activate introduction of work experience into London schoolsJanuary 2007 – June 2007. Princes Trust partnership project ‘Get into Green’ Spaces ‘’ September 2006 – November 2006.Evaluate December 2006.Pilot Secondment in Bushy Park July 2006

Work experiences carried out. January 2008 – June 2008.

Evaluate and report back September 2008.

Identify priorities for Objectives for 2009 – 2012. March 2009

Complete recruitment of new worker in Bushy Park

Plan and activate Recruitment process for worker, interview candidates March 2007

Prepare work plans activate. April 2007 Develop HLF education programme in the welcome centre.July 2007Monitoring information for HLFMarch 2009.

Evaluate and monitor progress.Revise objectives.


education strategy€¦ · web viewdevelop lesson plans, teacher’s packs and resources on the...

Documents