St Albert’s Catholic Primary School in Knowsley has won the UK’s first OutSeed Learning Pod, a brand-new outdoor education space created through a partnership between sustainability venture OutSeed, STEM and climate education charity the 1851 Trust and Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, with sponsorship from Low Carbon.
The Pod gives St Albert’s pupils something most classrooms can’t: a purpose-built, year-round outdoor learning space where they’ll run real environmental science, not just read about it. A living wall, biodiversity sensors and a live data dashboard will let children track pollinators, air quality and weather in their own school grounds — turning every pupil into a scientist or environmentalist, whatever their starting point.
St Albert’s was chosen from a strong field of applicants for the ambition, resilience and heart behind its application. Serving one of the most deprived local authority areas in England, with over 65% of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding and more than 40% on the SEND register, the school has built its reputation on refusing to let circumstance limit potential.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of entries for this competition from schools across the UK, there is very clear need for projects like the Outseed Pod to provide young people with an inspiring approach to learning beyond the textbooks. We want the OutSeed Pod to be more than a learning space, we hope it will provide hope, aspiration and opportunity. Allowing the most vulnerable children to see themselves as scientists, environmentalists and changemakers.”
Roy Bedlow, Founder and Chief Executive of Low Carbon
In its recent Ofsted inspection, St Alberts received Strong Standard ratings for both Inclusion and Personal Development proof of a school that turns challenge into drive.
Every corner of St Albert’s is already working hard for its pupils. The school has made the very best use of every available nook and cranny to create learning spaces that meet the needs of their children. What the school didn’t have was room to grow its outdoor learning further. As an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school already running Forest School sessions, St Albert’s has seen first-hand how some of its most vulnerable learners do their best thinking outside four walls. The OutSeed Pod gives that passion a permanent home.
A spokesperson for St Albert’s Catholic Primary School said:
“We are absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to have been selected to receive the Outseed Learning Pod. At St Albert’s, we believe the very best learning inspires curiosity, creativity and a sense of responsibility for the world around us. This exciting new space will give our children meaningful opportunities to learn outdoors, develop a deeper understanding of sustainability, and connect with nature in a way that will have a lasting impact. We are proud to be partnering with OutSeed, the 1851 Trust, Emirates GBR SailGP Team and Low Carbon, and are sincerely grateful for their investment in our children, our school and our community.”
The OutSeed Pod will be powered by the same solar panels that Emirates GBR used to take their team base off-grid at SailGP events around the world. In 2023, the team worked with Low Carbon to create a first-of-its-kind portable renewable energy installation that consisted of 28 solar panels and two micro wind turbines that created enough energy to power Emirates GBR’s base at events, and also help power other teams. With a new team base set-up at SailGP events, Emirates GBR now have surplus solar panels and has collaborated with OutSeed, the 1851 Trust and Low Carbon to ensure they have a second-life and are able to support with the provision of STEM and climate education.
“When we built the solar and wind installation with Low Carbon back in 2023, the goal was simple: race sustainably, without compromise. What’s brilliant about the OutSeed Pod at St Albert’s is that those same panels get to keep working long after our season ends. We know the future won’t be shaped by technology alone, it will be shaped by the young people who believe they are capable of creating it. This project will broaden horizons and put opportunity directly into the hands of young people who might never otherwise see themselves in science or climate careers. St Albert’s has shown incredible ambition and heart, and I can’t wait to see what their pupils discover once they’ve got a permanent outdoor lab of their own.”
Sir Ben Ainslie, Founder 1851 Trust and CEO Emirates GBR SailGP Team.
Market research conducted by OutSeed confirmed a clear demand for outdoor learning spaces with all schools citing a need for this and increasing government pressure to deliver despite funding constraints. This aligns with wider evidence, conducted by Outdoor Play and Learning, on the benefits of outdoor play, supporting children’s physical, social and cognitive development.
For St Albert’s, the OutSeed Pod means hope made tangible. Children who might never have imagined a future in science will collect real data, monitor real biodiversity and contribute to a national environmental monitoring network — proving that where a child starts should never decide how far they can go.
