A Clacton school is celebrating after becoming the first in the town to receive a prestigious Platinum award for transforming playtimes for its pupils.
St Clare’s Catholic Primary School has achieved the highest award in the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme, which supports schools to make playtimes richer, more inclusive and more adventurous for every child.
The school scored high marks in its final OPAL audit, with the assessor praising its whole-school culture around play and the way children confidently talked about taking responsibility, managing risk and solving problems during lunchtimes.
The Platinum award recognises the work St Clare’s has done to make outdoor play a central part of school life, from muddy, imaginative and active play to quieter spaces where children can relax and feel secure.
Popular new areas include a multi gym, mud kitchen and digging area, with a nest swing also being installed. Children have helped shape the programme, including through a competition to design a new playground area using £1,000 of inclusion funding.
The winning design, created by a Year 4 pupil, was for a quiet garden with pathways, water features and windchimes.
Regular OPAL assemblies celebrate play, share updates and listen to pupils’ ideas, while weekly Golden Boot and Golden Welly awards recognise kindness, outstanding behaviour and helping to tidy away.
Wet weather gear, including boots and coats, means children can enjoy the outdoor areas throughout the year, while trained play leaders support varied, safe and exciting play.
Jamie Whiteside, headteacher, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved the OPAL Platinum award, and especially proud to be the first school in Clacton to do so.
“This award reflects the commitment, creativity and care shown by our staff, pupils, families, governors and volunteers, who have all helped to make playtimes such a positive part of school life.
“For us, OPAL is about much more than children having fun — although that matters hugely. It gives children the freedom to be active, imaginative, sociable and resilient, while learning to manage risk, solve problems and look after one another.
“Seeing children so engaged in their play, even on wet days, and hearing them talk confidently about the choices they make has been wonderful.”
The school is continuing to build on the award by developing new play spaces, offering more opportunities for families and the wider community to experience OPAL, and inviting donations of bikes, scooters and small ride-on cars, which are especially popular with pupils.
