FARM SCHOOL at Northiam

The benefits of integrating farm and school are well researched. Northiam CE Primary school provides healthy outdoor activity for learners and brings balance to the heavier academic activities that take place in the classroom. The physical activity of working the garden has a directly beneficial effect and many pupils calm after being able to direct their excess energy. After a time on the farm they are often far more ready to sit, focus and receive academic tuition.

Farm and Classroom Curriculum

Our pupils also study many of the activities of farming in a more academic manner. Hands-on agricultural and environmental learning experiences bring deeper meaning and comprehension to many of our studies in the sciences, including living things, food hygiene & technology, Writing and Maths. The children actively learn and are engaged with animal husbandry and horticulture.  Children take part in a range of activities from growing , harvesting, producing a product to sell, and catering  an event they have planned and organised. Upper KS2 children will achieve Level 1 Food Hygiene qualification

Platform for Engagement

In addition to the invaluable experience they’re gaining on the farm, they’re sharing the benefits with the entire school community. The farm is providing a platform for engagement with community groups and parents, the horticultural society, consevration society, school governors are actively included and have become regular volunteers. They discuss crucial topics of food sustainability, nutrition and review and explore the issues and problems that these present. The children develop an understanding of financial awareness as they seek to make a profit from produce and as this develops pupils will explore their experience in comparison to mass production & industry.  In 2019/2020 the children will begin projects to  come up with new ways of developing more sustainable means of planting food in the future with regard to shortage of land and resources. They will  look at urban rooftop farming practices as well as different types of vertical gardening systems in small areas.

Health Conscious Kids

We encourage our pupils to develop a consciousness about the health effects of what they eat – this too is supported by our healthy lunchbox recommendations and the produce from the school garden is used to cater the events hosted each term. Northiam CE primary school recognises the importance of good nutrition in relation to being able to learn and take in subject information better. With a healthy body it is more possible to develop a healthy mind, strong, ready and able to learn, retain and to fully take in what is being taught.