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At Future School, learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom. In fact, we believe that outdoor education is just as important for students' wellbeing and development. Even though reading, writing and maths always remains an important part of every day, we believe that students are still learning through movement, challenges and new experiences. The ability to engage in outdoor learning gives students the chance to try things for themselves, work alongside others, and engage with learning in a way that feels active and real.
We are lucky that our campus is located a short distance away from many outdoor activities, with afternoons often spent exploring the local rock pools and learning more about the environment around them.
This term, students have taken part in a range of activities including sailing, archery, swimming, tennis, bouldering, and parkour. These experiences are not treated as occasional rewards or end of term activities, but as intentionally chosen activities that are woven into school life as part of a broader approach to learning.
One of the highlights this term was our sailing group’s trip out to Rangitoto Island, where students navigated across the harbour before arriving on the island for a bit of exploration. This type of experience is something that many students will remember long after a normal school day has faded. Being out on the water, making decisions together, and learning in a completely different environment creates excitement and independence relevant to that experience that can be difficult to replicate inside a classroom.
Students also visited Flow Academy for Parkour, working through obstacle courses, jumps and climbing challenges with professional instructors. What stood out here was how students attempted courses that they initially thought were impossible. Yet by encouraging each other and being allowed to develop their skills and confidence at their own pace they became more comfortable, step by step, trying, failing, adjusting and trying again. Out on the tennis courts and at the bouldering sessions, students were taught how to develop their coordination, focus, and consistency through games and climbs.
What makes Future School different is that these experiences are not separated from learning, they are part of it. Through these outdoor and sport experiences, students learn how to problem solve in a slightly different way; through a more physical and hands on way than a standard education may not provide.
Rather than expecting students to spend every day sitting at desks filling out worksheets, we aim to create an environment where learning actually feels connected to the real world, giving students the best chance to then integrate into other environments as they grow up. Moving between focused academic sessions and practical experiences encourages each individual to approach their learning with curiosity, confidence and engagement. You never know how the students will respond or react to changes, but we believe that being able to slowly palace them into these different areas, in a controlled way, can be valuable in helping develop their own learning and resilience, even if it’s not explicitly seen.
By being based in Takapuna also allows us to make the most of our surroundings and whether that is learning by the beach, being active outdoors, or simply stepping outside the traditional classroom environment, Future School truly believes in giving students opportunities to learn in different ways that feel dynamic, memorable and meaningful to them.
At Future School, education is not just about getting through the school day; It’s about giving students experiences that help them discover what they’re capable of.