Weather station

Our weather station

Over the summer term, we have been busy behind the scenes, working towards being able to establish our own weather station in the school grounds. This project will begin with a pilot phase in the second half of the Autumn term, to enable everyone involved to learn how to maintain a weather station on the school site. To facilitate this pilot, The Royal Meterological Society has kindly agreed to loan us the appropriate equipment. We will then work with the children to fund and build our own permanent weather station, and to establish a weather club. This project will incorporate plenty of enjoyable opportunities to explore science, maths and digital technology.

Royal Meteorological Society website

Cloud spotting

We can use the weather station as a starting point to inspire the children to learn about other key themes relating to the weather. There are a number of fun and interactive science experiments and workshops we can run alongside the weather club, for example: learning about different cloud types, extreme weather and our atmosphere.

The pilot scheme

Our pilot scheme will involve using the loaned equipment to take regular measurements of different aspects of the weather at our school. We will have: 10 Infrared thermometers, digital anemometer, 1 rain gauge, 2 USB temperature dataloggers

The next important stage is for the children is to input this data onto the MET office database called ‘WOW’, to be used by the scientists at the MET office. This is a great opportunity to be involved in real science, and understand how this data helps us to predict short and long term weather patterns, around the world.

Visit the WOW website

Professional recognition

We will be working towards obtaining a ‘Metmark’ standard for the school's weather station activities. This is beneficial for the children as a learning opportunity and also promotes a sense of pride and achievement. Through these activities we can inform and empower our children, giving them the confidence to play a critical role in influencing the future of their planet.

Our Sustainable School project also addresses this crucial agenda.

Get involved

Are you, or do you know anyone who is, interested in recording the weather? We would like to encourage those in the local community who are interested to get involved. You can offer as little or as much time as you like. Help us to shape how we move forward into running our own permanent weather station, get involved in the measuring and recording, and contribute to its success.

Contact the Apple Tree Initiative Team