Leicestershire school wins National Food and Farming Award!

The Year of Food and Farming 2007-8 was a national programme with a wide range of supporters and the Year of Food and Farming Challenge was led by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

The awards ceremony took place on 8^th October at the Sainsbury’s Exhibition Centre, Holborn, London. A plaque and a cheque for £1,000 was presented by Sir Mike Tomlinson.

Eastfield Primary School has over 200 children and is situated in Thurmaston.  Many children and families in the community wanted to be more in touch with food and where it comes from. The school realised it could use spare land to improve children’s understanding of food production , their health and have some extra fun learning outside.

One of two fields on the school grounds slowly took shape as a mini farm which, since it began in 2006, has grown immensely and has gone from strength to strength.  The farm now has gardens enabling children to grow their own vegetables, herbs and flowers, chickens, rabbits and ducks, a pig house and ewes which gave birth to lambs at the school!

In addtion to all of this, the farm is generating its own profits! The sale of the eggs and produce from the gardens helps to pay for the animals food.  The meat from the pigs also raised fund . The whole project fits in with being an Eco Green Flag School, Healthy School and trying to be an excellent example of sustainability. This award follows a previous award of the East Midlands regional winner of ‘Learning outside the Classroom’, a DCFS national programme.

Tony Kershaw, Chairman of the County Council congratulated the school on its achievements and said:

"This is a marvellous acheivement for Eastfield Primary School and shows that education is versatile and children can be tought in many different ways.  The dedication and commitment shown by everyone at the school has been amazing and has ensured that the farm is a success.  Well done to them all!"

Bill Griffiths, Headteacher at Eastfield Primary School, said:

'Our school is only an average sized primary school but has big ideas and is hugely ambitious. I believe, in a good school, there should always be something innovative going on and our school the farm and garden project is highly innovative.It contributes greatly to the Every Child Matters agenda, builds community relationships and enhances learning for all our children.I am so proud that Eastfield is the first national winner of such a worthy award.'