LEAF Education, in partnership with our members, works to engage, inspire & motivate young people through experiential learning, in order to equip our future generations with balanced & informed insight into food production, farming & the environment.
Caroline Drummond MBE, late LEAF CEO, with Carl Edwards, LEAF Director of Education & Public Engagement at COP26, Glasgow
We are pleased to share with you another year of huge achievements from LEAF Education. Over the last 12 months, we have grown in size, with a new LEAF Education Programme Manager, four full time Regional Education Consultants and our Education Support Coordinator joining us. This has meant that we are able to continue to meet the ever-rising demand and interest in our work from schools, young people, and the agricultural industry.
You will see as you read through this report the meaningful and long-lasting impact of our team. We deliver our work to support young people and teachers and of course - all on behalf of the agricultural industry.
As the lead agri-education organisation, we are proud in what we have achieved. With a world and society ever increasingly aware of the challenges and global connectedness of food production, it is exciting to see the keen interest, positive attitudes, and thirst for knowledge amongst the young people we work with. Not only that, we are also incredibly grateful to the farmers and industry partners who continue to support our work and go out of their way to support our future generations.
Whilst LEAF has felt the tremendous loss this year in the passing of our CEO Caroline Drummond MBE, we know she will be forever championing the work that the LEAF Education and Public Engagement team deliver and as ever, striving for us to continue our exponential growth. We will remember warmly her joy, as it is our joy, in working with our future generations and providing them with, as quoted later in our report, ‘those memories that last a lifetime’.
With public interest in climate change and food security increasing, we have experienced a surge in demand from the education sector wanting to know more about food production and wider issues around sustainability and protection of the natural environment. This year, we saw a three-fold increase in our work with farmers, delivering farm visits, and supporting wider professional development and training. With almost 200 farm visits taking place across England and North Wales, we have been able to provide young people the opportunity to better understand the journey of their food from field to fork.
Quite simply, “Thank you to farmers for all that you do for us!”
A in our work with farmers
A big success over the last year was our involvement in COP26. In partnership with Sainsbury’s, we highlighted the work being done by food producers across the world to mitigate against the climate crisis, and how we can make more sustainable food choices. With a host of 30 global farmers (including LEAF Marque Certified businesses), we developed the Sainsbury’s Global Farm Website and learning zone. A place to hear directly from farmers and food producers, to understand key vocabulary used by the industry and to support schools incorporating COP26 through the topics of biodiversity, climate change causes and solutions, plastics, soils, and water.
4,600 young people joined LEAF Demonstration Farmers Jake Freestone & Duncan Farrington on a virtual farm tour!
Hall hosted LEAF’s 30th Anniversary event on 4th May, with celebrations led by our Honorary President, HRH The Countess of Wessex.
Pupils from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Alcester, a LEAF Education Demonstration School, spent the day with The Countess participating in a range of activities including sessions on dairy and different alternatives, tasting LEAF Marque certified produce, and a tree planting to commemorate our 30th anniversary.
The celebration highlighted LEAF’s key achievements over the past three decades and the work of LEAF Education to empower young people as consumers of the future.
Over the last few years LEAF has delivered several ELMS Test and Trials. As the lead on a recent trial, LEAF Education focused on the support for farmers across England to deliver high-quality, balanced learning experiences for young people and the general public, to create a more environmentally literate society. Following over a hundred applications, ten farmers representing the breadth of the agriculture sector received: CEVAS training, one-to-one consultancy from our team of LEAF Regional Education Consultants, support in approaching local schools and community groups, bespoke resource creation for these groups, and co-delivery on the day. Ultimately, the Test and Trial identified that CEVAS is a valued accreditation by land managers and should be seen as an investment to provide high-quality educational access and wider public good.
“Farming is relevant to every aspect of the curriculum. We want to shine a light on schools that are leading the way in embedding farming into their teaching, and to support them in developing a whole school ethos.”
- LEAF Demonstration School
Working with teachers is equally as important as working directly with young people, upskilling and offering knowledge exchange in relation to food, farming, and the natural environment. As well as delivering training and support, our team of RECs work closely with schools on their journey to achieving LEAF Education Demonstration School (LEDS) status. Currently we have 15 LEDS across England and look to double this number next year.
Our bespoke teacher training, CPD and support programme continues to inspire current and new generations of teachers. We are proud to say that 100% of the teachers we work with continue to recommend our CPD training and delivery. In the past year we have homed in on the quality of the training and support we provide to ensure it is relevant to the National Curriculum, whilst taking account of the demands placed on teachers. The response we have received from teachers for our online, in person and specific event training has been extrmeley positive, with 100% rating our work as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’
100% of teachers rate our work as very good or outstanding
“Absolutely brilliant, thank you!”
“It was fantastic!”
What do the teachers say?
We strive to support teachers, enabling young people to experience educational and interactive sessions in real-world settings. Our team worked with students from Alcester Grammar Sixth Form Ecological Society, in collaboration with local farmer Tony Turner, setting up a rewilding project with the specific aim of encouraging more wildlife into the area and contribute towards climate change mitigation and reduce flooding. Students were tasked with mapping and surveying the site, conducting soil and water samples, as well as setting up camera traps to observe wildlife. They particularly enjoyed the responsibility of being given a piece of land that they could manage themselves, utilising the resources in the school laboratory to measure the success and future development of their rewilding area.
“How could they and the public make changes to their lives to be healthier and more sustainable?” - Primary School Teacher
Whether it is virtual, on farm or in school, our resolute team of RECs collaborate with teachers to deliver a range of sessions that also link to in-school events. Through school-led farming and science weeks, and support with educational projects from organisations such as the Royal Warrant Holder’s Association, we support teachers with experiential learning opportunities to discover more about farms and where their food comes from.
“They were buzzing in the minibus on the way back to school!”
With growing interest as conscious consumers, this year, young people have experienced multiple touch points from our friendly and dedicated team. Working with young people on different occasions has helped us to take on new challenges and conduct action research into the wider benefits of our core work. This year, we have witnessed the positive impact of experiential learning based around food production, farming, and the natural environment on young people’s personal development.
As well as our work with primary aged children, a large part of our work is based around secondary schools. A key area of interest has focused on sustainability, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and careers linked to the agriculture and food industries.
people with local food producers and the integral work of LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management. Over 150 GCSE Business Studies and Food Preparation and Nutrition students from across Hampshire were invited on farm and challenged to develop new sustainable food products based on their knowledge acquisition during the day. With the success of our partnership with Hampshire Fare C.I.C., our ambition is to bring #FarmMyFood events to every region across England!
#FarmMyFood:
• Highlights routes into & the career opportunities in the agricultural & food sectors
• Connects local food producers to young people
• Inspires future generations
• Celebrates diversity in business
100% of students said they would now consider a career in the food & farming sector
100% of students said they now have an increased awareness of sustainable food production
Working in partnership is a key cornerstone in supporting the aims and objectives of LEAF Education. Over the year we have welcomed new collaborations and continued to deliver key outcomes with existing partnerships, all of which connect the agriculture and food sectors to young people and the public.
In conjunction with Royal Academy of Culinary Art’s Adopt a School Trust, young people are offered the chance to learn cookery skills and to cook with a qualified chef on farm. A key part of the session is to help young people learn how crops and livestock are cared for on the farm. With the benefit of the farmers experience, pupils can better understand the journey from farm to fork and think about their role as a conscious consumer.
100% of pupils try new food & ingredients
100% of teachers say their pupils improve their skills in food preparation & nutrition
LEAF Education works across the 4-18 age group as well as at a scientific level with older students. Our East of England REC has been working with the John Innes Foundation to enrich the teaching of science through the context of sustainable agriculture in six secondary schools in Norfolk.
• Six schools successfully dug and planted trial plots, five completed all the required elements of the project, including regular soil testing and nodulation assessment of the legume plants
• The project enabled collaboration between various groups in the local community – charities, schools, research staff and a local food business
• Students were provided with an opportunity to ‘work scientifically’ on an important global agricultural issue
and understanding of the food and farming industry through extensive teenager research. At the Elveden Estate in Norfolk, the partnership invited a number of students onto farm to delve deeper into the early findings of the research, further raising awareness of what it means to be a conscious consumer.
3/4 young people believe that agri-food education should play a larger part in the curriculum
Almost 100% of young people believe that their food choices have an important role to play in the fight against climate change
9 in 10 young people think that society should care where our food comes from Farm visits are key to helping young people learn about the agri-food industry
“I think if everyone made a positive change in their lives, then our personal food choices would make a difference to climate change and sustainability”
Farming Fortnight took place from 6-17 June 2022, offering a wide range of engaging and informative National Curriculum linked resources and materials on farming, food production and the natural environment, supporting teachers in delivering inspiring lessons and activities. Each day focussed on a different farming theme, with dedicated social media hashtags to encourage schools and students to share their learning experiences.
66% of students who attended the weekend have applied
Our annual National Competition in Food, Farming and Natural Environment is the pinnacle of our secondary education work. The competition aims to shine a light on sustainable farming and food production and has been providing opportunities for secondary school students to experience hands on farming and learn about careers in the agri-food sector since 2018.
This year’s finalists’ weekend, run in partnership with Bayer and Coleg Cambria, was once again, held at Coleg Cambria in Llysfasi, North Wales. Students from six secondary schools got involved in a vast range of activities, including getting up at 5am for milking, learning the intricacies of soil science, hands on weighing lambs and managing agro-forestry systems. Throughout the weekend students immersed themselves in the huge amount of technology that the agricultural industry encompasses by using drone technology to measure soil compaction and even using Bayer’s Fieldview technology through augmented reality headsets. Not to mention that all the students got the chance to drive a tractor! We were delighted to crown students from Pipers Corner Independent School in High Wycombe winners of the National Competition in Food, Farming and Natural Environment 2022.
100% of schools would recommend the competition 100% of schools would enter the competition again 100% of schools have made further links with local farms/farmers since the competition
Thanks also to generous funding from: NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, The David Family Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, and the late Miss Marina Stevenson, alongside many other equally appreciated grant making trusts. Last but certainly not least, we are indebted to our members. Our work would not be possible without them all.
Whether you’re completely new to working with schools or have been hosting farm visits for years, LEAF Education can support you to take the next step. It has never been a more rewarding time to work with us and to support the work that we do.
Visit our website, or send us an email, to find out more about how you can get involved and deliver memories that last a lifetime.
We look forward to working with you.
We send our thanks to our Patrons for their long-term support:
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG. LEAF is a registered charity (No. 1045781)