Share:
31 May 2019
St Augustine’s Priory is delighted to announce that its school farm has been shortlisted for two awards in the School Farms Network awards. There are now more than 116 school farms in the UK and St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic Independent School for girls, is one of very few London schools with a farm. The Priory Farm comprises allotments, sheep, micro-pigs and chickens and has been shortlisted for Student Farmer of the Year and School Farm Environmental Impact Award.
Many people are surprised to hear that just off the busy and complex Hanger Lane gyratory in central London, there is a school farm hidden away in 13 acres of grounds. The Priory Farm was started two years ago with some chicks. Since then it has grown to incorporate allotments, micro-pigs, chickens and a small flock of sheep. The Head of Science, Mr Kane, commented, ‘I felt that having a Priory Farm would benefit and enrich the educational life of the school.’
The students at St Augustine’s Priory live in London and many of them have had no exposure to traditional farm animals. The farm incorporates and encourages pupils to play an active role in the day to day running of the Priory Farm, including at weekends and holidays. In two years the incidence of illness in our farming stock can be counted on the fingers of one hand. A great deal of this is due to the care and diligence of the pupil Farm managers, one of whom, Lily Rai, has been shortlisted for the awards.
St Augustine’s Priory also welcomes visits from schools in the area who enjoy an experience rare for London school children.
Being shortlisted for two awards in the Schools Farm Network is wonderful recognition of the effort and hard work which has gone into the Priory Farm.
