At the end of term, once exams had finished and the holidays were within reach, I found myself standing in front of a Grade 9 biology class with the usual motivation of marks no longer in play. Rather than push through a conventional lesson, I decided to try something different.

We went outside with no devices, textbooks or notes. Instead, the pupils were given 10 biological riddles to solve in pairs, each one requiring them to observe, discuss, test ideas and pay attention to the world around them.

One riddle asked: “I help turn rocks into soil.” When several pupils looked to me for the answer, I suggested they go and ‘ask the rocks’. Slowly, they began to look more closely, noticing what had been there all along: moss and lichen growing on the rocks. The answer had not been handed to them; it had been discovered.

That small moment captured something important about learning. Changing the environment changed the way the pupils engaged. They were no longer simply receiving information; they were investigating, questioning, collaborating and making connections for themselves. Learning became active and memorable because it was rooted in experience.

Academic rigour remains essential, but education should not only prepare children to perform well in assessments. It should help them think, notice, wonder and understand the world more deeply.

At Seaton House, this approach is integral to the learning culture we hope to build. Our biophilic campus gives us the opportunity to integrate learning into the environment itself, using nature, sport, culture, character formation and strong academics to create immersive experiences that extend beyond the traditional classroom.

Reigniting the wonder of learning is not about making school less serious. It is about making learning more meaningful, relevant and alive for every child.

Applications for 2027 are now open, and interested families and education stakeholders are encouraged to visit www.seatonhouse.co.za, or contact [email protected], for more information about open events and to register their interest. The school will also provide ongoing updates, event information and key milestones through its social media platforms.