The farm is a unique facility which enhances student learning at Oathall in many different ways. We use the farm to teach Animal Care at KS4 but other subjects use it in a practical way to aid learning including art, maths, English, science and even ICT. The farm is also used for Inclusion and intervention activities.
Oathall Farm’s contribution both as a curricular support and to students personal development is nationally recognised as outstanding as you can see from this quote from an Ofsted inspector following a visit:
“The farm is a centre of excellence for the college, the local community and for schools nationally and internationally. It provides memorable experiences and cross-curricular learning, generates an impressive network of partnerships, makes community cohesion an exceptionally strong and working reality and motivates students of all abilities.”
There has been a farm at Oathall for over 70 years, it was established in the Second World War and is now made up of 1.51 Hectares of fields, animal enclosures, a large barn and glasshouse to grow seasonal plants. We keep a variety of livestock including pigs, sheep and poultry. We also keep other small animals to supplement the animal care course.
We’ve welcomed many visitors to the farm including His Majesty The King when he was the Prince of Wales, numerous ministers and Secretaries of State for Education and Alan Titchmarsh as well as hundreds of school and community groups.
You can see lots of photos of our farm here via the school’s Flickr pages
Please see the main contact details section on the website if you want to contact the school about the farm.
The farm at Oathall was established in 1941 in response the Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign during the Second World War, (which encouraged people to grow their own food to supplement basic rations).
58 boys turned an acre of grassland into arable land and thus qualified for a ploughing grant of £2 from the Ministry of Agriculture, the last sod was turned by the school’s headteacher Mr Miles.
Male students were subsequently released from their afternoon lessons to work on the newly emerging farm providing they brought their own spade!
Poultry and rabbits were quickly introduced and later pigs and bees. Produce from the farm was sold to the school canteen.
Our farm has evolved over the last 70 years and it is now made up of 1.51 hectares of fields, animal enclosures, a large barn and glasshouses to grow seasonal plants.
We keep a variety of livestock including pigs, sheep and poultry. Recently, we have added smaller animals such as guinea pigs and reptiles to enrich the learning experiences for students.
We also offer outreach activities and can host school visits by appointment.
We’ve welcomed many visitors to the farm including His Majesty The King when he was the Prince of Wales, numerous ministers and Secretaries of State for Education and Alan Titchmarsh as well as hundreds of school and community groups.