Forest School
Forest School
Dulwich College (Singapore) is the first international school in Singapore to introduce Forest School accredited by the UK's Forest School Learning Initiative (FSLI). By deeply integrating Forest School into our DUCKS early years programme, we are proud to pioneer real-world learning, risk manangement and problem-solving opportunities for young children that embrace the natural environment.
What is Forest School?
Forest School is an educational approach with a long heritage of cultivating excellence. It engages children in learning through direct interactions with and experiences in nature, embodying the Scandinavian concept of 'Friluftsliv' or 'open-air living.' This approach to education prioritises a hands-on connection with nature, nurturing a child’s s. Unlike traditional classroom environments, Forest School is set in forests or woodlands and offers children the freedom to explore, experience and learn from the rich diversity of the natural environment around them. The Forest School pedagogy values the learning process over specific outcomes, focusing on developing what Self Determination Theory highlights as the three fundamental psychological requirements of success - autonomy, competence and relatedness.
The uniqueness of Forest School lies in its emphasis on outdoor learning as a lifelong process. Children engage in activities that range from the practical and physical—such as building shelters and identifying plant species—to the imaginative and social, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world. Through these experiences, children develop key life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and risk assessment, equipping them with the tools to navigate both their environment and personal challenges.
How is Forest School Taught at Dulwich College (Singapore)?
At Dulwich College (Singapore), we have embraced the foundational ideologies of Forest School and enhanced them with advanced educational research and practices. Our aim is to cultivate within our students a blend of tenacity, ethical understanding, self-reflection, critical thinking, and practical skills such as risk management and personal well-being. Instruction at our Forest School is highly individualised, offering students the freedom to follow their own interests within the context of the natural world. Our educators act as facilitators rather than directors, guiding the learning process through coaching and by subtly modifying environmental factors to challenge and support students in their self-directed exploration.
The Forest School experience at Dulwich College (Singapore) features a progressive 'skills ladder' focused on specific developmental goals for different age groups, aiming to nurture voracious learners, capable leaders and compassionate individuals.
These stages are designed not only to instil academic knowledge but also to develop empathetic, environmentally conscious and socially responsible leaders of tomorrow.
Pioneering Pedagogical Innovation through Forest School
At Dulwich College (Singapore), our commitment to educational excellence is rooted in a pioneering spirit, where we continually seek to refine and advance our pedagogical approaches. This is clearly demonstrated through how we are leading the way in integrating ground-breaking educational concepts into our Forest School.
Firstly, we have integrated the Compassionate Systems Framework, a mental architecture that fosters holistic understanding and mindfulness at both intellectual and personal levels. Through this framework, students employ Systems Thinking Tools to approach problems comprehensively and act with reasoned compassion to enact positive change. This ground-breaking initiative allows even our youngest learners, starting at the tender age of two, to authentically engage with complex systems and cultivate their compassionate integrity.
The Compassionate Systems Framework is coupled with a curated selection of regenerative landscape management and carbon sequestration strategies from the fields of Permaculture, Syntropic Agriculture and Regenerative Agriculture. These disciplines offer a suite of apolitical skills essential for the guardianship of our planet. Permaculture, as defined by the Permaculture Research Institute, is a harmonious integration of landscape and people — providing a symbiotic relationship between the land, resources, community and the environment. It encompasses a spectrum of disciplines, from agriculture and water management to energy, forestry, and community building, all designed to create productive ecosystems that mimic the efficiency of nature.
Most recently we have been researching the psychology around excellence in learning, which has led us to Self Determination Theory. Similar to how we need shelter, food and water to physically thrive, SDT identifies the three psychological basic needs of Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness that when fulfilled allow humans to thrive and excel. We have taken this information and subtly adjusted how we interact with our students to maximise the impact of those interactions.
By weaving the principles of Compassionate Systems, Permaculture and SDT with our established Forest School methodology, we equip our students with the cognitive tools to tackle significant personal and global issues confidently and effectively. This synergy of concepts prepares them to think globally and act locally, helping them to Live Worldwise: equipped with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make a positive impact on the world.
