The Research Development Networks (RDNs) bring together academics, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Voluntary Sector, 3rd sector organisations and the Public. They are the mechanism for driving prioritised co-produced proactive programmes for research themes in ARC. Membership of RDNs extends beyond the ARC and is open to other organisations.

The North West Coast Beach School Network which is part of the North West Seaside Towns and Communities are currently collaborating with 74 schools and settings across the north west coast to improve health and wellbeing through coastal related activities and active research. The aim of The Beach School is to encourage policy changes, promote co-production whilst enhancing inter-generational links across the communities it operates in.

The Beach School provides an opportunity to be proactive, educate and begin to address a small part of the overall problems on the North West Coast beach sites whist also raising awareness of a bigger global challenge from a primary school age to protect the landscape for generations to come through inclusion and education.

Professor Rhiannon Corcoran who is the Improving Mental Health Lead at ARC NWC and also lectures in Psychology & Public Mental Health at Liverpool University highlights that “The Chief Medical Officer’s report this year highlighted the profound and longstanding health and wellbeing inequities of coastal communities. Yet these very places rest amongst some of the finest natural resources this country has. Coastal open spaces must be harnessed and made best use of to benefit the people who live in these, too often, economically disadvantaged places.”

“The beach school network within the North West Coast provides the opportunity to spread the benefits of outdoor learning that has been shown to particularly benefit pupils who may not always shine within the classroom. Beach school practice can be used in a way that benefits a wider coastal population too. We propose to develop intergenerational beech school activity focussed on the recognition, value and use of coastal spaces to show how local beaches can improve health and wellbeing community-wide.”

The group which is free to participate in and is always ready to warmly welcome new members aims to contribute towards coastal wellbeing and health research whilst developing defining principles which can used as a benchmark for good practice across blue spaces to ensure a safe and fair space for all living creatures whilst exploring natural surroundings.

The fundamental principles of the Beach school are:
•To engage those pupils who may be disengaged by traditional education.
•To develop links with the local community which cross generations.
•To instil a sense of ecological justice in pupils which they can share with families and communities.
•To use the beach as a space for developing curriculum knowledge around sustainability and ecological awareness.
•To provide a space for freedom of exploration and an escape from the pressures of everyday life.
•To improve outcomes for pupils in terms of knowledge and skills; personal and social development; mental and physical health and wellbeing; environmental behaviours and attitudes.

Each year from July 1-7 National clean beaches week which celebrates and recognises the significance of clean beaches. The Beach school focus’ on the effects of litter and pollution on living creatures and our coastal landscape across the North West Coast and is especially dedicated to teach young people about impacts of fire and litter have on the wildlife and the environment it is home to.

The Beach School has now been included as part of the Morecombe Bay curriculum from September. Cait Talbot-Landers, Senior Lecturer in Learning Outside the Classroom and Primary Art and Design Education at Edge Hill University and Co-Ordinator of the NW Coast Beach School Network said, “We understand the importance of not only working with schools and settings within the community but utilising the partnerships with organisations and Local Authorities to ensure children from all backgrounds can participate in our coastal activities to enhance blue space education throughout the NWC.”

Primary findings have identified that children can feel free, happier and calmer on the beach whilst also expressing that is an exciting space to spend time. Cait Continued, “We have noticed that a lot of the children have brought their families back and imitated the activities with they did at our workshops with their families. It is great to see what the young people have learnt and how they are teaching and guiding others to share in their experiences.”

ARC NWC is a collaboration which is composed of universities, local authorities, health and wellbeing providers, third sector representatives and public advisors, working together to reduce health inequalities, it is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Schools and settings are invited to join and participate in the networks primary research on the impact of using the beach to support children’s learning. There are both online and downloadable teachers and pupils questionnaires which can be found below. The questionnaires will be used to collate a wider data set of research to take to the Department for Education to help make policy changes for coastal learning and how beach schools make a positive impact on young people.
• Pupil questionnaire: https://forms.gle/fEyDFqXJ9jdTDc3R8
• Teacher questionnaire: https://forms.gle/VWDEczqiyMNixqX9A
Please send back to;
landersc@edgehill.ac.uk or garreb@edgehill.ac.uk
Learn more about the Beach School on the ARC NWC YouTube Channel here:
https://youtu.be/Y06nhe326SQ

Further information on how to get involved, dates of meetings please either email and follow the Beach School co-ordinators Cait and Beth who is also from Edge Hill University on Twitter @LandersCait or @bethan_garrett and get involved in conversations about The North West Coast Beach School Network by using the hashtag #EcoMermaid