Archived News

An Inspirational Teacher.

I recently attended a Farmers Seminar organised by Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) at the South of England Showground, Ardingly.  It really could be run as a farmer and teacher seminar with so much valuable informative for both professions.

It was so refreshing to hear Anne Mudd, the Head Teacher of Turners Hill Primary School describe the fantastic link between their school and the neighbouring farm which has been ongoing for seventeen years.  All visits are based on the farm being a business, it is not a theme park.

The children visit the farm at least once a term and each class studies a different aspect of farming; year 2 'adopt a calf' and watch the progress through to the cow in the dairy; year 3 look at crops and they try to make better sileage than the farmer and grow taller maize; Year 4 look at buildings, old and new and even helped to design a new milking parlour.

When visiting the farm the children aren't given worksheets because these cause them to miss all the wonderful sights and sounds around them. Instead they use more interactive techniques which leave a lasting memory of the visit.

At Turners Hill School they now have a small orchard, native woodland, Hazel coppice, a vegetable plot and they keep hens. This was designed by the children and they are fully involved in all aspects of growing and maintenance and the animal husbandry.  This is truly inspirational education linking the environment, food and farming and the National Curriculum and the children are flourishing.

Anne Mudd believes the whole National Curriculum could be taught outside!  I think she may have a point there. Back