The farm is a fantastic facility which enhances student learning at Oathall in many different ways. We are able to offer recognised vocational qualifications in this field but many different subject areas use it in a practical way to aid learning including art, maths, English, science and even ICT.
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 extensive fields, animal enclosures, a large barn and glasshouse to grow seasonal plants. We keep a variety of livestock including pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry.
In recent years we’ve welcomed visitors such as HRH Prince of Wales and Alan Titchmarsh to the farm as well as hundreds of school and community groups.
Each May we hold an open day on the farm, please keep an eye on the school calendar for more information closer to the time.
You can see lots of photos of our farm here via the school’s Flickr pages and you can subscribe to our newsletter for details of meat box ordering and farm news.
Students preparing to ‘Dig for Victory!’
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 extensive fields, animal enclosures, a large barn and glasshouses to grow seasonal plants.
We keep a variety of livestock including pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry and in 2012 opened a farm shop selling produce made on the farm to the local community.
In recent years we’ve welcomed visitors such as HRH Prince of Wales and Alan Titchmarsh to the farm as well as hundreds of school and community groups.