Animal Management

Animal Management has been added to the curriculum to enable pupils to connect with the outdoors and natural world. Being part of a team who care for animals and tend to their needs gives pupils the opportunity to connect with both the compassion for others and the requirement for effective communication which are essential skills in life. With qualifications offered as well as enriching activities, the farm is an environent where pupils have exposure to a range of outdoor activities and tasks along side theory work and activities. 

For pupils who take a qualification in Animal Management, there are opportunities for development in the skills  for the care of animals to include cleaning, feeding and assessing health as well as personal and transferable skills such as communication, team work and problem solving. For those wishing to pursue a career in animal care will find this qualification an essential building block for their progression onto further education in the subject area. 

Learning that the natural world is an important part of life and how human behaviour and actions can affect it is key in developing a pupils’ awareness for the world around them. Many elements of farm as a subject visit areas of morals and consideration for others whilst upholding the requirement for kindness to all. 

Pupils involved in activities or qualifications on the farm will have the opportunity to take part in practical tasks where they will need to exercise team work and resilience to tackle problems whilst working safely and decision making. These activities will assist in the development of self confidence and communication. 

Developing an understanding for a moral duty to care and be kind is a skill needed in many areas of life and working towards this understanding and demonstrating it with regards to their work and their peers is a main aim. 

It is important that during farm activities, whether practical or theory, pupils need to understand the social (how nature, animals and the environment bring people together / apart), moral (duty to care for animals and the land / nature, be kind and communicate properly), spiritual (developing an awareness of the surrounding environment and your own impact on it) and cultural (how animals and farming is viewed and practised differently depending on culture or background)  differences when it comes to animals and their care and treatment. 

Key Stage 3: All Key Stage 3 students receive a double lesson on the farm per week..
Key Stage 4: All students who opt for Animal Management receive a morning or afternoon minimum of the school farm.

The curriculum map for Farm (topics taught by year) can downloaded in .pdf format

Depending on ability, students have the opportunity to undertake the following, nationally recognised, qualifications:

AQA Unit Awards: Level 1 – Level 3

City & Guilds: Animal Management Level 1 or Level 2

Students have access to the following resources to support their learning:
MyMaths for Key Stage 3 books: A series of books from Oxford University Press.
MyMaths Online Learning Environment: Students can login here
AQA Higher and Foundation Text books: Used within GCSE lessons.