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Grange Primary School’s Willow Dome classroom is an outstanding success

The outdoor classroom can be adapted to all kinds of uses, including fundraising onesie days!
The outdoor classroom can be adapted to all kinds of uses, including fundraising onesie days!

How can you make a classroom so inviting that the time pupils spend in it has to be rationed to make sure everyone gets their fair share?

The answer is you ask Dundee University architecture students to design it and then you build it outdoors.

The Willow Dome has become the favourite spot for the children at Grange Primary in Monifieth.

Delighted head teacher Lorraine Will said: “The children absolutely love it and there is always a race to see who can get there at lunchtimes and intervals, with a lot of kids choosing to go there to read or work on their art.

“We want to make sure that everyone has the chance to enjoy this wonderful space so we had to introduce rationing.

“It also provides shelter so children can still get outside if the weather isn’t great and we’re delighted with the finished structure and want to thank everyone who helped make this a reality.

“In terms of teaching, we don’t want to be rigid about time-tabling classes to take place here at the same time every week, so it’s fluid according to the curricular activity while ensuring all classes have the chance to learn in a different environment.”

The Willow Dome can take up to 30 pupils at a time and features a series of curved plywood ribs with a canvas cover to provide shelter from the elements.

By removing the physical aspects of the conventional classroom, the informal set-up allows for a more discussion-orientated lesson to take place.

More than 60 second-year architecture students submitted designs for the contest, with the one by Stephen Samson winning a vote of pupils, parents and staff.

Stephen, who is originally from South Africa, said the idea was sparked by childhood memories of being taught outdoors.

“My primary school had a willow tree in the playing fields, and I remember it being one of the most popular places for us to sit under, whether it was for a class or during lunch break, so this formed the ideology for the concept.

“The willow tree was often referred to as ‘the tree of dreaming’ by the early Celts, and this acts as a reminder that an aspiration driven by creativity and dedication can become a reality.”

The idea of having an outdoor classroom came from a member of Grange’s parent council and sparked a £17,000 fundraising campaign.

Mrs Will said: “We couldn’t be happier with the work the students did for us, and the final design, which is just absolutely brilliant.

“The idea behind the outdoor classroom is to maximise our lovely school grounds, and fits with the Curriculum for Excellence requirements to use the outdoor environment to support learning.”