Current schools: OPAL school visit - St Mark's Primary School

Play makes up 20% of children's primary school life. See how this OPAL school is making playtime a key part of their day.

This event is for schools currently going through the OPAL Primary Programme.

How do we develop our best teams? How can playtime support us to foster our school's values in all our children - resilience, courage, tenacity, kindness? How do children get their playthings out and put them away? What are the solutions to foxes and sandpits?

Agenda

12pm-1pm Observation of playtime

Come and see a platinum OPAL playtime in action - ask the children about how they manage risk and the grown-ups about the changes they have seen.

1pm-2pm OPAL school networking

Discuss your journey with other OPAL school colleagues - share your successes, top tips and ways to overcome some of the challenges.

2pm-2:30pm Evaluation and close

About St Mark's Primary School

St Mark’s is a two-form entry community school set in the heart of Hanwell, which is part of the London Borough of Ealing. St Mark’s benefits from magnificent outdoor space, including a large field, hard pitch, 'tiny forest' and a nature area with a pond.

St Mark's started its OPAL journey in January 2024 and worked tirelessly to implement cultural and environmental changes over the course of 18 months. This resulted in the school being awarded an OPAL Platinum Award for the quality of its play provision and dedicated leadership. During this time, the school has seen a huge improvement in children’s lunchtime behaviour and attitudes, with children enjoying a rich, engaging and challenging play offer.

St Mark’s now gives their children time, space and permission to play across the whole site, all year round. They can access slacklines for balancing, slopes to slide down, large loose parts, den building, digging, wheels and much more.

On the International Day of Play, come and see for yourself the joy of OPAL play at St Mark’s!

Additional information

Parking is not available on site. The school is a 10-minute walk from Hanwell Station (Elizabeth Line) and a 20-minute walk from Boston Manor Station (Piccadilly Line). Several buses also serve the area.

Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own lunch.

This event will be led by OPAL Mentor, Nicola Barrett.

Only two tickets per school. If you can no longer come, please let us know so we can release your place to another school.