LANTRA

Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy, Perthshire

Contact person: Mr Alex Towns, Head of Land- Based Studies, Coordinator and Facilitator of Land Based Skills Course.

Context:

Breadalbane Academy is a rural secondary school (S1-6) with additional senior pupils joining after S4 from a nearby school.    Campus shared with Nursery and Primary schools.

There was recognition that for many pupils from a rural background school becomes less relevant by S4.

A successful Gamekeeping module was already running in the school.

The Land -Based Skills course is being developed from this.

Aims of the Land -Based Skills course:

1) Provide a more relevant curriculum
2) Encourage pupils to stay and work in the area.

How the courses run at present.

The Game-keeping module aims to take the pupils from ‘egg to pheasant’ and is open to male and female pupils in S4-6.

Pupils learn about game bird rearing from day -old chicks to mature birds.

They have built game-bird releasing pens and gradually the birds are released.

The pupils make pheasant feeders.

Training in Pest and Predator control was arranged for one boy who intends to become a gamekeeper.

Pupils who participated in this course have gone on to North Highland College at Thurso, Oatridge College, Elmwood College and SAC.

Tuesday morning - The Nursery Garden.

Groups of S3/4 SEN pupils are participating in a project in the nursery school assisted by the lecturer from Perth College.

Planning involved discussion with the nursery pupils. This identified their need for a fence to provide shade in the playground.

SEN pupils will also make a raised flowerbed to enable them to learn basic drystone dyking skills.

A professional woodcarver and a real totem pole builder will assist the SEN pupils to construct a tree house.

Participation in this project relies on the goodwill of staff at present, pupils come out of mainstream classes e.g. Access Cookery or PE but the intention is to make it part of a column.

Tuesday afternoon

6 mainstream S4/5 pupils learn fencing and dyking skills with a skilled lecturer.

Closely supervised pupils will make their own fenceposts at a local sawmill.

Wednesday afternoon

6 S5 boys work with the Head of Land-Based Studies Alex Towns and David Grove of LANTRA.   The pupils are timetabled out of practical subjects and are learning basic tractor driving skills.

Core Skills

	Working with Others
	IT
	Numeracy
	Literacy

Resources

	Some classroom space is available at present but a new school build is imminent and facilities will be in place then.
	The ‘Classroom in the Hills’ – an old portacabin donated by local business situated beside the pheasant pens some distance from the school.
	Land in a variety of locations.
	Use of sawmill facilities.

Vehicles

	Use of A. Towns’ own Landrover.
	Tractor provided by a local farm

Personnel

	Alex Towns, Head of Land-Based Studies (3 year full –time secondment to develop the course).
	Lecturer from Perth College one day per week.
	David Grove of LANTRA.
	A variety of professionals in land –based skills assist in school and out.

Funding

	Funding for the original Game-keeping module course came from a variety of Countryside agencies.
	School/ Community Roll-out money.
	European Funding sourced by LANTRA.
	Funding from private sources is in place for purchase of second hand Landrover for the Land-Based Studies courses.

Community Links

	Local landowners and farmers.
	Local police Wild-life Liaison Officer.
	Local vet.
	Local Forestry.
	Local NFU representatives.
	Perth and Kinross Council (Rural Enterprise)
	BIFF (Breadalbane Initiative for Farming and Forestry)
	BASC (British Ass. For Shooting and Conservation)
	Perth College

Community Feedback

‘Very, very positive’.

Accreditation

	SQA and LANTRA
	LANTRA was approached after a Land-Based Skills Careers Day for S2 pupils in Perth.

Health and Safety

	This is training for the real world, there can never be a guaranteed 100% safe working environment in land-based work, pupils need to understand the risks associated with outdoor work and be responsible for themselves and others.
	Pupils are trained in safety issues.
	Head of Land-Based Studies is trained in Risk assessment, as are College and LANTRA staff.
	School has purchased gloves goggles and some protective footwear.
	Other safety equipment is available as required.
	All pupils involved in Land-Based Studies will participate in a Basic First Aid training day.

Sponsorship

	Marsden Feeds
	Dewars Whisky
	Other sponsorship in pipeline due to success of the project.

Awards

	SQA Annual Award 1999
	BT/CBI Scotland Celebration Awards 2000

Software

Keepabase: The Shoot Manager’s Companion Barn Door Software: www.keepabase.co.uk

Contact:
Breadalbane Academy 01887 820428
Perth College
North Highland College

LANTRA:  tel 02476696996 / email: connect@lantra.co.uk

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