The RSPB owns more than 180 nature reserves. In this programme we follow teacher Ailsa Martin taking her class of Year 4 pupils from Bowes Primary School, north London on a trip to their nearest RSPB reserve, Rye Meads in Hertfordshire. For many of the children visiting the countryside is a completely new experience. Education Officer at the reserve Caroline Gellor leads the innovative curriculum-linked activities, which include exploring 'mini-beast world', a pond-dipping session, and introducing the children to the joys of bird watching from a specially-constructed hide. We also observe how the out-of-classroom learning transfers back in to the classroom when the class returns to school. Professional RSPB educators provide field teaching at more than 40 locations, allowing more than 50,000 school children from all over the UK to enjoy real-world learning.

Video Series: Getting Out of the Classroom
Release Date 2007