Schools and the RHS

Schools Membership Scheme

We are no longer taking applications for School Membership as we are replacing it with an improved, more actively engaging Campaign for School Gardening . To join this new scheme you must register your details online from September. Registration is free of charge.

Once you have registered you will receive a starter pack and have access to many resources on-line that will help you develop and use your school garden. Resources will include information on how to grow certain crops, lesson plans and a model risk assessment for using your school garden. You will receive electronically updated news and other items of interest instead of a printed newsletter. A discount for registered schools will be given for RHS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) days.

To encourage and support you in the development of your school garden we are introducing a quality benchmarking process of good gardening practice. We would like you to assess the current level of gardening within your school. As you enter the website you will be asked a number of simple questions and given a series of answers to select from.

Once you have completed the self-assessment questions, a level will be assigned to reflect the current position of gardening in your school. The levels are:

1. Planning
2. Getting started
3. Growing and diversifying
4. Sharing best practice
5. Celebrating with the wider community

Rewards will be given for achieving each level. To prove you have reached a level, you will need to send in evidence such as photographs and children’s writing. The rewards will include free seeds, children’s gardening tools, posters, gardening books, free places on RHS CPD days, whole school CPD, a paid for trip to an RHS garden or a visit from an RHS member of staff to your school.

A children’s area will be available incorporating exciting interactive games. These will address issues such as ‘safety in the garden’ and ‘garden design’.