NESTLED in the south eastern corner of Monmouthshire’s rolling, green landscape, Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary School makes the most of its location.

Situated in the village of Portskewett, the pupils’ education is evenly balanced between engaging outdoor learning and classroom-based activities.

But this is just one aspect of the school’s educational practices.

In unison with the aforementioned, The pupils are taught about importance of Christian values as well as the role of confidence and ambition in their individual development.

Suzanne Hamer became the head teacher in April and is keen to allow her students the chance to explore their surroundings to enhance the key educational skills while adhering to the principles of her school’s long-standing ethos.

Despite the young ages of some of her pupils, she is keen to boost the vital personal skills which the children will need as they grow into young adults, as well as the educational factor.

“We are developing life-long skills,” she said.

“and these are skills that they, the children, will need in the future.

“They are skills which can take them on to further education and into the working world but also to be successful citizens within their own community.

“We are all about these life skills now; education is only one part of it. It is looking at the bigger picture and we are the start of that educational journey and also their journey for life, developing those at this important age.”

All children across the age range are attaught in the importance of lifelong skills, from swimming lessons to safe cycling programmes for the older pupils.

The reception class started at the school just five weeks ago and Mrs Hamer is impressed with their integration, crediting the transition programme with local nurseries.

“Our youngest children are just five weeks into their school careers and are so confident already,” she said.

“We find that our outdoor learning increases their confidence but also allows them to grow as children.”

The classrooms have adjoining outdoor learning areas, all of which were designed by the pupils to cater to the needs which they themselves wanted.

“The inclusion of the children in the design projects around the school helps our pupils to feel valued and it gives them a voice," said explains Mrs Hamer,

“They have a say in what is going on and it is not just a token gesture. They can see their designs come to fruition and relatively quickly.”

The school encourages the pupils to make the most of these areas, which includes a secret garden complete with two tortoises and an area to cultivate their only vegetables and produce.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into this side of our education over the past year,” said Mrs Hamer.

“It looks like they are playing but we have carefully planned these lessons around numeracy and literacy to maximise our pupils’ education in fun environments."

“When the children are having fun and stimulated, they do not realise that they are learning.”

The school is named after the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who retired in December 2012.

Dr Williams attended the school’s tenth year anniversary in 2011 and Mrs Hamer believes that values of Christianity create a wonderful learning environment for her pupils.

“We are heavily linked with St Mary’s Church in Portskewett and this is one of the unique things about our school within our local authority,” she added.

“We recently had visitors from South Africa which is linked with our diocese and this is a wonderful opportunity for our children to experience this unique event so early in their academic career.