We are very excited to be starting this journey of food with you all. Since January this year, we have had the privilege to work with some of our fine colleagues, sheep farmers, sheepdog trainers, textiles experts, and industry partners to help to scope the key aspects of the learning journey. Once the detail began to unveil, we realised there is SO much that we could share with you all, however we have instead tried our best to keep the learning more bite-sized, focused and fun for you and your pupils throughout the year.
Some of our highlights are shared in our key activities flier on our sheep and wool landing page which include a teacher (and volunteers) training day, either on Saturday 9th September at Ingilston, or Saturday 23rd September in the Inverness area. Make sure to sign up: September 2023 Training (mailchi.mp) and share the news with your colleagues. During the training, we want to share with you, through speaker talks and practical activities the benefits of sheep farming in Scotland, its sustainability, and a sheep’s wonderful product, wool.
Following on from the training, our project coordinators throughout Scotland will be ready to deploy willing classroom speakers to come to your school to explore the topics in more detail. You can also get in contact to arrange a farm visit to a sheep farm, plus some age groups will get the opportunity to attend Food & Farming events in their areas. If your school is not able to take part in any of these then we have an online list of sheep and wool learning resources for you to use at a time that works for you. Your class can also take part in digital events, such a Talk to Farmer in February (2nd/3rd&4th levels), or Meet the Lambs (early & 1st levels) in April.
Subscribe to our teacher’s newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest news: Teacher Newsletters | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk) and keep an eye on our social media channels too!
Sheila and Fran are delighted to be part of this project. Both live on hill sheep farms in Scotland, are passionate about this way of life and are keen for others to understand more about it and the benefits sheep farming brings to our local communities, businesses, biodiversity, and to rural life.
We hope you can all get involved with lots of passion and we have some exciting competitions that will be running throughout the year. We are starting the year with a glossary to help ensure you get the most out of the year.
So for now, get signed up to the teacher training where we will help you to plan the year ahead, and get in contact with your local Project Coordinator to find out what is going on in your region (spaces fill up fast so don’t delay!) - In Your Area | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)
Fran and Sheila