Primary teacher: Why we must retain the Welsh Harp and Gordon Brown Centres

Magic! The Welsh Harp at dusk

I think it's vital we maintain funding for both Welsh Harp and the Gordon Brown Centre. I've been taking groups to the Gordon Brown Centre for almost 20 years now. Every group has thoroughly loved the experience and learn much - it's simply an outdoor learning centre - learning in a fun way. ! Having taught year six for so many years every Science opportunity is brought out from the rings on tree trunks to the bees pollinating the flowers ( depending on the season) !

The same applies to the  the Welsh Harp. We have taken groups for geography over a number of years and our students attending the Shine programme have also used it in their programme on Saturdays for the past three years. We will also be using it for kayaking this summer as we have done before.

In all both are valuable as outdoor learning centres and it would be criminal for the little green space we have in Brent to be taken from us with the increasing number of flats being built. What lungs will we have left in Brent?

Mark Betts St Joseph's Junior  School,Wembley

Gordon Brown Threatened Too?

Generations of Brent children have had their first taste of the country here

The Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre is a Brent outpost near the village of Rotherwick in Hampshire. It is used for 3 or 5 day residential trips by many Brent schools. Its possible closure often comes up during periods of cutbacks and it sits on a potentially valuable site in beautiful countryside.

However the Centre has over the years built up a whole range of activities apart from residential tips including themed activity days, corporate events, birthday parties and team building. All this has been in order to become more self-sufficient so that the Centre can stave off any more closure threats.

Rumours are circulating that it could be up for closure again or face the possibility of being sold off to a private company. there may be confusion with the Welsh Harp Centre but meanwhile you may like to read something I wrote in the Independent several years ago about children's experience at the Gordon Brown Centre. LINK