Kennington CE Academy, a Junior school within Aquila, The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, has been awarded the coveted OPAL Platinum award. This accolade recognises the school’s outstanding commitment to enhancing pupil wellbeing through innovative outdoor play and learning provision.

After only 18 months of developing their OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, Kennington CE Academy has achieved the highest level of recognition for their play environment. At the heart of OPAL is the belief that children have a fundamental right to play. With recreational times accounting for 20% of the school week, the academy’s provision offers a diverse range of stimulating activities designed to foster creativity, social skills, and physical development.

The school’s outdoor facilities have been transformed by the school’s dedicated OPAL team, which is overseen by Deputy Headteacher, Rachel Lavender, and includes unique features such as a shepherd’s hut, a boat, sandpit, den building areas, arts and crafts stations, a music and performance stage, a sensory garden, small world play zones, allotment space, scooters, pogo sticks, table tennis, and much more. These resources provide pupils with numerous opportunities to explore, imagine, and engage with their peers in meaningful ways.

Karen Godsell, Headteacher at Kennington CE Academy, said, “At Kennington, we believe that all children have a right to be creative and express themselves through play. Developing our OPAL provision has been transformative for our children in so many ways, but what resonated most was the child who said ‘No one is lonely any more. Everyone can find something fun to do and someone to do it with’. Our playgrounds are now full of life, laughter and energy, which has also impacted positively on learning in the classroom.”

A special presentation ceremony took place on the 15^th September 2025 and the children and staff were joined in receiving the award by Madam Mayor, Lyn Suddards and Aquila CEO Annie Wiles, along with other representatives from Aquila and OPAL.

With this achievement, Kennington CE Academy will now serve as a showcase school for OPAL, sharing their exceptional high-quality play provision and inspiring other schools to enhance their own outdoor play environments.

Aquila, The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust is committed to providing excellent education and nurturing environments for pupils across its schools. Kennington CE Academy’s dedication to pupil wellbeing and development exemplifies the Trust’s values and vision for holistic education.

Looking ahead, the school aims to continue innovating its play spaces and collaborate with other educational settings to promote the importance of play in children’s lives. This prestigious award highlights Kennington CE Academy’s role as a leader in outdoor learning and pupil wellbeing within the local community and beyond.