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A Brief History of Suntrap 
Before Suntrap • Mid 1950’s - Fred Speakman (teacher at Woodside School) converted a cow-shed at Jubilee Retreat into a classroom (with the support of Walthamstow’s Education Office). Half a class of juniors (approximately 20 children ) could spend a regular day working in the forest. 
• 1959 – ‘Roseville’ house at High Beach was acquired. • 1961 - a second teacher, Ernie Douse, joined the centre allowing up to 40 children to attend on the same day, with visits repeated fortnightly. • 1963 - Ken Hoy OBE (teacher at Whitehall Junior school) replaced Erine Douse. Suntrap Field Study Centre  During World War 2, patients from the Plaistow Maternity Hospital were evacuated to Suntrap. The birth records of all those born at Suntrap are held by The Royal London Hospital Tel 020 7377 7608 |
• 1967 – Waltham Forest bought the old Suntrap Maternity Hospital for the sum of £500. Ken Hoy was Suntrap's first headteacher. • September 1967 - Suntrap Field Study Centre began with 2 teachers. • September 1968 – Suntrap had 4 teachers and infant schools began sending classes to the centre. 
• 1969 – camping began. 
• 1970 – staff of 7 teachers • 1973 – staff of 10 teachers and the head  
• All pupils in junior schools (including most special schools) in Waltham Forest made 8 visits to Suntrap during either year 5 or 6 – to experience and learn about the forest through the different seasons. Anyone aged approx 25-35 who went to primary school in Waltham Forest will have had the “Suntrap experience” as part of their curriculum. • 1980s - money delegated to schools – some schools had other priorities and chose not to buy into the Suntrap service. this saw a slow reduction in teaching staff at the Centre to the present 5 teachers and Headteacher. Suntrap: Forest Education Centre 
• 2001 onwards - A new name. Suntrap: Forest Education Centre now takes pupils from 3-18years old. • Sure Start groups visit the centre (under 3s with their parents/carers). • Gifted and Talented extension and enrichment programmes run on Saturdays for Key Stage 2 (9/10/11 years old) pupils. • Woodcraft groups from Waltham Forest use the camping facilities at weekends. • Inservice training provided for teachers. • “Friends of Suntrap” charity set up to give families a chance to support and take part in Suntrap activities. • Suntrap: Forest Education Centre is now within the Lifelong Learning Directorate, within Community Education. Acknowledgments: Suntrap archives Getting to Know Epping Forest - Ken Hoy A Short History of Suntrap - Ken Hoy
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