OPAL platinum award

In March 2025, we were assessed by our mentor, following 2 years of developing the play opportunities for our children; we are incredibly proud to announce:

"St John's Catholic Primary School has just achieved Platinum award status from OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning. This means that they are in the top 0.5% of UK schools for the quality of the play they provide for all their children. The school has demonstrated that it takes the UNCRC Article 31, the child's right to play, seriously and is implementing all stages of school improvement in relation to play, including policy, planning, resourcing, staffing and evaluation." Michael Follett BA Hons Ed, PGCE OPAL Founder and Director

Amazing play, every day, for every child

OPAL is an award-winning, mentor supported school improvement programme that addresses all the areas that schools must plan for if they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities. OPAL is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to sustainably improve the quality of play in British primary schools.

Its success comes from a series of interrelated actions undertaken with specialist support from an OPAL mentor. This embeds play into the school’s policies and practices and establishes clear guiding principles and strategies for initiating lasting changes at playtimes.

What are the benefits of investing in play?

Childhood has changed and we can no longer assume that any child is able to experience full and rich play opportunities outside of school.

At OPAL we believe that play teaches children all of the things that need to be learnt but cannot be taught. There are clearly lots of benefits to children from having lots of great play, but the good news is that there are also many benefits for schools too.

A well established OPAL school sees dramatic improvements in: 

• Self-regulation - children in OPAL schools learn to self regulate through practice, trust and freedom
• Physical activity - all children, including girls, SEN and non-sporty children are significantly more active
• Mental well-being - Research shows OPAL children are happier and self-reporting improved mental health
• Social and emotional development - Good play in the laboratory of life where relationships are practised
• Links to formal learning - Many OPAL schools report increased creativity, imagination and collaborative skills
• Attendance - children can't wait to come to OPAL schools because they have such fun
• Rights - Play is a child's right as recognised by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• OFSTED - OPAL schools can easily provide evidence on their approach to wellbeing and inclusion
• Risk - OPAL schools report significant improvements in children's ability to identify and manage risk.

St Johns Catholic Primary school embarked on our OPAL 'journey' in April 2023 and children have been accessing various play zones since September 2023.