River education for 312 schools and 28,000 pupils every year.
Riverside Schools is our structured education programme for primary and secondary schools. We provide curriculum-linked classroom resources, field visits to local rivers led by trained educators, and summer residential programmes for teenagers. Every activity is grounded in real ecological data from rivers near the schools we work with.
Discover Riverside Schools' programme which empowers students
We currently work with 312 schools across England and Wales. If your school is not yet in the network, the fastest route in is to book a field visit — our education team will do the rest. £120 funds a full classroom of pupils on a river field trip.
What we offer schools
River field visits
A trained Alder and Otter educator leads your class on a guided visit to a local river. Pupils test water quality, identify invertebrates, learn to read bank habitats. Curriculum links for KS2, KS3, GCSE Biology, and GCSE Geography.
Classroom resources
Ready-to-use lesson packs for KS2 and KS3, covering river formation, freshwater ecosystems, and human impact on waterways. Freely downloadable from our schools portal.
Summer residentials
Week-long residential programmes for secondary school pupils (ages 14–17). Students monitor a river for a full week, produce a scientific report, and present findings to local stakeholders. Fully funded places available.
Teacher CPD
Half-day continuing professional development workshops for teachers, covering how to use rivers as outdoor classroom environments. Delivered online and in-person throughout the year.
What teachers and pupils say
Bring your school to the riverside
Booking a field visit is the fastest way in. We will match you to a local river, provide all equipment, and lead the session from start to finish. Every school in the network gets access to our classroom resources portal at no cost.
Reach Out to Us
Get in Touch
We’re here to answer any questions you have about our work and how you can get involved. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Email Us
info@alderandotter.org.uk
Call Us
01234 567890
Visit Us
123 River Lane, London, UK
