Bournville Primary School Achieves Prestigious OPAL Platinum Award
By Schools Correspondent
Bournville Primary School in Weston-super-Mare North Somerset, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Platinum Award, the highest level of recognition within the programme, following a final assessment carried out by OPAL mentor Rachel Murray.
This outstanding achievement places the school among the top 2% of primary schools nationally for the quality of its outdoor play provision.
The award marks the culmination of a two-year journey in which the school has transformed its approach to play, ensuring that every child benefits from what the school describes as “amazing playtimes, every child, every day.”
During the final assessment, the school’s outdoor environment was recognised as a vibrant, inclusive and dynamic space where children demonstrate independence, creativity and excellent behaviour.
Pupils engaged in a wide variety of high-quality play experiences, including den building, climbing, construction, sand and water play, and imaginative exploration.
The report praised the balance of active, adventurous play with quieter, reflective opportunities, ensuring that all children can access play in ways that meet their individual needs.
This achievement reflects the dedication and vision of the entire school community.
Strong leadership from Headteacher Marie Berry, alongside the OPAL Working Party and wider staff team, has been instrumental in embedding a culture where play is valued as a fundamental part of children’s development and wellbeing.
The school also acknowledged the continued support of parents, carers and ELAN* whose contributions have helped deliver this whole-school transformation.
Speaking about the award, the school expressed pride in the collective effort
“This recognition celebrates the creativity, commitment and collaboration of our entire community. We are incredibly proud of the environment we have created for our children and the positive impact it will have for years to come.”
The OPAL Platinum Award is a testament to the school’s commitment to providing high-quality play opportunities that support children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing and social development.
Bournville Primary School looks forward to building on this success and continuing to innovate in outdoor play for the benefit of all pupils.
