Bredon School makes the most of our beautiful 85-acre rural setting and places a great emphasis on outdoor education and learning. Our pupils enjoy a range of activities from climbing lessons and clay pigeon shooting and kayaking, to Forest School activities, Duke of Edinburgh awards, camping and cycling.
The school also boasts a working school farm which is home to herds of pedigree and commercial pigs, sheep and cattle, as well as an assortment of chickens, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs and Shetland ponies. Spanning 35-acres, the farm also houses allotments, gardens, greenhouses and a polytunnel.
All pupils across the school, from Year 3 right through to the Sixth Form, can get involved in all aspects of our working farm, gaining practical knowledge of animal husbandry, plant husbandry and countryside skills. All our pupils up to Year 10 spend at least one hour each week on the farm and currently several Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form pupils are studying BTECs in Agriculture and Land Based Studies. Our older students can also choose the farm as an activity option or volunteer to help out on the farm in the mornings before lessons and at weekends. The farm is a real, thriving workplace but it is also a fun, relaxed place for pupils to unwind, away from the routine of academic school life.
As well as helping pupils develop a work ethic and sense of responsibility for feeding and caring for the animals, we believe the farm is hugely beneficial for pupils in many other ways. They develop new skills, knowledge and practical understanding of animal and plant husbandry, learning first-hand about nutrition and where fresh food comes from. There are also many advantages for pupil’s personal development; they gain self-confidence, team working skills and learn to cooperate with their peers and staff. Not only do students benefit from the physical activity involved in day-to-day farm work but they can also develop a life-long love of nature and the outdoors.
Whether it is feeding sheep on the farm, working towards an Agriculture qualification or just volunteering in the garden, we believe our practical approach to learning – both on our school farm and in the classroom – benefits all our students.
