What Size Outdoor Classroom Do You Need? Tipi Capacity by Class Size

Every conversation about an outdoor classroom reaches the same question sooner or later, and it’s a good one: will it actually fit my class? Suppliers answer in square metres. Schools think in children. A 33m² tipi means nothing to a Year 4 teacher; “yes, your class of 28 fits comfortably, coats and all” means everything.

So here is the answer in the units that matter. Our tipis fit class and group sizes from 10 right through to over 150 — and this guide maps each size to the groups it genuinely works for, not the number you could theoretically squeeze in.

Tipi capacity, class by class

Small groups — 10 to 15 children

This is forest school territory, and intervention-group territory: nurture groups, 1:1 and small-group SEND sessions, reading groups. The Bower (24m², up to 15) is our purpose-built forest school shelter, and The Nook (33m², up to 20) is the enclosed version — a naturally calm, contained space that works beautifully as a sensory regulation zone.

A full class — 20 to 30 children

The core of the range. The Lodge (33m², up to 20) is our most popular starting point, with a built-in door that gives children a real sense of arrival. The Glade (41m², up to 25) adds room for circle time and creative sessions without losing the intimacy. For a full class of 30 with space to move, The Canopy (49m²) is a complete classroom outdoors, and The Pavilion (50–86m²) adds sides that raise in summer and close in winter. If your standard class size is 30, start your thinking at The Canopy — a class that fits in theory but not in wellies isn’t a classroom, it’s a tent.

Large groups — 40 to 60+

The Spire (83m²) and The Cathedral (83–132m²) hold multiple classes, year-group sessions and multi-zone layouts — a reading corner, a wet area and a teaching space under one canvas. This is where an outdoor classroom stops being a venue for one lesson and becomes shared whole-school infrastructure.

The whole school — 150 and beyond

Linked configurations join two or more tipis into one continuous space, and this is where the numbers get striking. Our flagship independent-school installation at Cransley School is a linked twin tipi classroom with room for over 150 children — two outdoor classrooms in one, big enough for full-school assemblies, exhibitions of children’s work, and the school’s own festivals and events. One structure earning its keep across the whole calendar, not just the timetable.

The numbers behind the numbers

Two honest caveats on any capacity figure, ours included. First, activity changes everything: thirty children seated for a story need far less room than thirty children doing practical work with trays and equipment. Our “up to” figures are for realistic teaching, not sardine seating. Second, leave room for the life of the space — storage for wet-weather kit, a place for wellies, circulation between zones. A classroom that only just fits the children has no room left for the teaching.

That’s also why we measure rather than guess. The complimentary site visit checks your space, your access and your group sizes against the range, so the recommendation is based on your grounds — not a brochure. (For a head start, try the tipi picker on our range page — answer four questions and it recommends a size.)

What about cost by size?

Our forest school shelters start from £195 a month, fully managed. Enclosed classroom tipis are quoted individually around your site and configuration — the honest reason being that size, siting, decking and interior needs genuinely change the picture, and a one-price-fits-all number would mislead you in one direction or the other. What it costs explains the model in full.

Start from the children, not the tipi

The right question isn’t “which tipi is best?” — it’s “what will your groups actually look like?” A nursery running keyworker groups of twelve needs a different space from a prep school that wants assemblies outdoors. Count your real groups, think about what they’ll be doing out there in February as well as June, and match the space to that. We’ll happily do the matching with you.

Frequently asked questions

How many children fit in a tipi classroom?

From 10 up to over 150, depending on the model. Standalone classrooms hold full classes of 20–30; large tipis hold 40–60+; linked configurations reach 150+ — our flagship installation at Cransley School holds over 150 children for whole-school assemblies and events.

Will a whole class of 30 fit?

Yes — comfortably in The Canopy (49m²) or The Pavilion (50–86m²). Smaller models hold a class on paper, but for realistic teaching with equipment and winter kit, start at The Canopy for classes of 30.

What’s the smallest option?

The Bower, our 24m² forest school shelter for groups of up to 15, from £195 a month fully managed. The Nook (33m²) is the smallest enclosed classroom.

Can a tipi hold a whole-school assembly?

Yes, with a linked configuration. Cransley School’s linked twin tipi classroom has room for over 150 children — used for assemblies, exhibitions and school events as well as day-to-day teaching.

How do I know which size to choose?

Count your real teaching groups and what they’ll be doing. Then use the tipi picker on our range page, or book a complimentary site visit — we measure your space and recommend against your actual group sizes.