EquiSchools
A Cross-Curricular Approach to Learning
At EquiSchools, we believe that learning is most impactful when it connects across multiple disciplines, weaving together academic knowledge, practical skills, and personal development. Our program is carefully designed to integrate key areas of the national curriculum, offering learners a holistic educational experience.
In doing so, we meet key targets outlined in Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework, supporting learners’ personal development, academic growth, and preparation for future success. By combining practical, hands-on learning with structured opportunities for reflection and growth, EquiSchools ensures learners are equipped with the skills and confidence they need for life both in and out of school.
English
Debates and discussions are at the heart of the EquiSchools program. Learners develop essential skills in:
• Verbal Reasoning: Forming clear, logical arguments and presenting them confidently.
• Critical Thinking: Evaluating opposing viewpoints and supporting their ideas with evidence.
• Writing Skills: Creating persuasive speeches and reflective journal entries.
Through this process, learners expand their vocabulary, improve their comprehension, and build confidence in effective communication.
Science
EquiSchools integrates key scientific concepts into practical, relatable learning experiences, helping students understand how systems work and why they matter.
• Biology: Students learn about anatomy, nutrition, and digestion using interactive resources to explore how living systems function.
Behavioral Science: By observing how horses think and communicate, students gain insights into natural instincts, decision-making, and group dynamics.
Design and Technology
EquiSchools encourages learners to think creatively and practically:
• Stable and Enrichment Design: Create enrichment tools or plan stables that meet horses’ needs.
• Hands-On Learning: Build small-scale models or design obstacle courses to enhance understanding of equine environments.
These tasks engage learners’ creativity while reinforcing practical design skills.
Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) Education
At EquiSchools, mentors play a key role in helping students develop essential life skills by creating safe, supportive environments where growth happens in connection with others. Through shared experiences, students learn to better understand themselves, build meaningful relationships with others, and connect with the world around them. This focus on self, others, and the world fosters the social and emotional skills needed for successful transitions back into group settings, such as schools, and encourages a sense of belonging and confidence in navigating social environments.
Mathematics
Maths comes to life in EquiSchools through practical, hands-on activities:
• Feeding Calculations: Learners calculate percentages, such as how much hay a horse needs based on its body weight.
• Measurement Skills: Measuring stable spaces, grazing areas, portions of feed and bones reinforces numeracy.
These activities make math relevant and engaging, helping learners see its value in everyday situations.
Geography and Environmental Studies:
In EquiSchools, learners explore the relationship between the environment and its impact on living beings. By focusing on how to adapt and design environments for horses, students gain practical skills and insights into sustainable and thoughtful land management.
Environmental Design: Students learn how to assess and adapt spaces, such as paddocks or stables, to provide enrichment for horses. This includes considering factors like shelter, water sources, and safe grazing areas.
Problem-Solving: Learners tackle challenges like limited grazing or shelter space, brainstorming creative solutions to meet the needs of the horses while maintaining environmental balance.
Physical Education and Mental Wellbeing
Physical Movement: Our activities focus on developing body awareness through interoception (understanding internal signals like breathing and heart rate), proprioception (sensing body position and movement), and the vestibular system (understanding balance and spatial orientation). By engaging all eight senses, students build coordination, stability, and a deeper connection to their physical selves while interacting with horses.
Mental Well-Being: Creating safe spaces builds a sense of security, enabling students to develop healthy stress-management systems, which nurture curiosity and intrinsic motivation for learning, empowering students to engage with their environment and thrive.