SF&G set up the School Farms Network (SFN) in 2004. The network provides mutual specialist support for existing practitioners and anyone interested in starting a new animal, horticulture or agriculture- based project in any educational setting.
The SFN is now coordinated by Growing Connections community interest company.
This is an exciting time for SFN as we launch new Continued Professional Ddevelopment, networking and resources, expand our reach to reflect the changing landscape of plant and animal- assisted activities for young people and conduct new research projects to measure impact and raise the profile of the vital work that our members do.
We recognise that school farms take many shapes:
- Primary, secondary, SEND and independent school settings
- Alternative provision and pupil referral units
- Care farms and city farms offering land- based courses for young people
- Both educational and wellbeing outcomes
- A veg patch or a few chickens up to a full scale working farm
We aim to:
- Champion projects like these and grow the opportunities available for young people to learn about and experience land- based courses and therapeutic activities.
- Offer support and assistance to existing and potential projects.
- Facilitate networking and support across our membership.
- Disseminate excellent practice and ideas through the sharing of resources, CPD, news and events.
- Arrange network opportunities for members to swap ideas, gain inspiration and celebrate achievement.
- Support sustainable practices and high welfare in growing and animal keeping.
Get involved
You can join us free through Growing Connections, whether you are an established project, staff or a volunteer or are looking to start something exciting in your setting.
Membership includes access to some amazing resources through our association with UK Animal Care Technicians (UKACT): a professional membership association for those working in education facilities running animal care related courses.
Join the School Farms Network Facebook Group - a closed group where anyone involved in the running of school farms, or considering starting a new one, can share resources, seek advice, sell livestock and share experiences relating to school farms. Our members have a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills about all aspects of educational and therapeutic land- based activities and are wonderful, warm and welcoming!
Contact
If you'd like to know more about the School Farms Network, please contact Keeley Smith at [email protected] or phone her on 07908 912 357.
She can help you with enquiries about joining the Network, hands-on farming, animal- assisted activities and horticultural education and therapy in schools, alternative provisions and other educational settings.
A short history of the network
From a low point in 2006, when there were only 66 school farms, the UK now has more than 140 school farms and many other schools actively engaged in starting a new one.
They are situated throughout the UK. The objective was to develop a formal support structure and an initial meeting of school farm practitioners was convened in 2004 at Oathall Community College in Haywards Health, West Sussex, to look at how this could be taken forward.
Since then, the network has organised many regional and national events, including conferences hosted by members and at the Royal Agricultural University, free CPD and online events.
We have a member committee and hold regular meetings. Do let us know if you are interested.
Former Social Farms & Gardens Patron HRH King Charles III, has a particular interest in the children's education about farming and growing and has himself visited several school farms. He wrote about our first conference:
"I could not be more pleased to be supporting this conference to promote school farms and gardens as centres of excellence and to serve as a resource to enrich and enhance the curriculum."
Resources
Get Your Hands Dirty Guide
Download the Get Your Hands Dirty Guide >
School Farms research survey (2011)T
Download the School Farms research survey >
Improving Student Learning Through School Farms report
Read the Student Learning Through School Farms report >
Natural Connections Project (2012 - 2016)
Read more about the project > (Natural England website)
School Farms Network guides for headteachers and policy-makers
Download the guide >
Countryside Classroom
Visit the Countryside Classroom website >