New Hall Farm
Farming History
The farming and grazing of animals on the large New Hall Estate goes back centuries. Our School Farm started to develop in 2018, expanding on the few chickens and rabbits kept at the Preparatory building. Three acres are now devoted to the Farm which is home to a growing number of different species. Many of the animals here are ‘rescues’, but with lots of TLC from students and staff they are now thriving in an exceptional environment.
The Benefits
Many studies have been conducted demonstrating the benefits that being around animals, interacting with nature, and learning outdoors, have on a child’s development and wellbeing. There are many potential benefits to physical health, such as reducing stress and fatigue, whilst also helping build a healthy immune system. For many people pets and animals could greatly improve their mental wellbeing. Our animals here have already proven that they can provide retreat for children overcoming personal and mental health issues.
Confidence, relationships and resilience are also positively impacted by an animal presence, whilst some teachers have also seen improved concentration and quality of work.
Curriculum
In the Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions, there are many opportunities to visit the Farm as part of several subjects.
Year 7 students take part in a Biology research project, where data is collected through practical sessions on the farm. One project measured the decibels of sound made by the geese when approached with different objects. These projects help teach basic science and project skills, whilst using specialist equipment and presentation skills.
Art, Photography, French and PSHEE teachers have also incorporated the farm into various lessons.
Co-curricular Activities
Farm Club takes place at lunchtime and after school for Years 7 – 13. This club is for any student who has an interest in animals and would like to help towards their care. The Farm has been used regularly for those wishing to complete sections of the DofE Awards; we hold a specific DofE session for those in Years 10 – 13.
Activities for senior students include:
- Routine welfare and husbandry tasks
- Understanding and performing basic animal training
- Creating and providing additional exercise and enrichment programs
- Understanding and assisting with health checks, treatments and grooming
- Animal biology and anatomy
- Wildlife and conservation
- Farming practices and food to fork topics
Work Experience and Careers
Many students at New Hall hope to pursue a career in the animal industry and tailored work experience opportunities are created for those students. For example, prospective veterinary medicine students have been able to help with hoof care on the ponies, assisting with goat health checks, and administration of preventive treatments.
Boarding Visits
Our animal residents have been known to make an appearance within boarding houses in the evenings. These visits have helped enrich the boarders with some species-specific knowledge, best practices for keeping pets, and a chance to interact with the animals – all of which can help create a calming and relaxed atmosphere.
Boarders have also assisted with specific evening tasks such as helping to get mischievous animals to bed, a physical and mentally challenging task that encourages a great amount of teamwork. It was a fun and engaging pre-dinner activity!
Instagram: @newhallschoolfarm
Pigs
Snuffles and Truffles gained their fabulous names from a competition that involved the entire school from Reception up to Sixth Form and all staff.
These two gilts (young female pig) joined our family in December 2018 at 11 weeks old and have grown up around the students. The sisters are a mix of two rare breed pigs, Oxford Sandy and Blacks crossed with Gloucester Old Spots.
Senior students have worked on clicker and target training the pigs whilst Preparatory pupils love preparing and feeding the pigs their favourite snacks.
Snuffles and Truffles gained their fabulous names from a competition that involved the entire school from Reception up to Sixth Form and all staff.
These two gilts (young female pig) joined our family in December 2018 at 11 weeks old and have grown up around the students. The sisters are a mix of two rare breed pigs, Oxford Sandy and Blacks crossed with Gloucester Old Spots.
Senior students have worked on clicker and target training the pigs whilst Preparatory pupils love preparing and feeding the pigs their favourite snacks.
Goats
Our trio of Pygmy Goats are all related and reaching the later stages of life but this does not stop them getting up to plenty of mischief. The previous owner had to reluctantly re-home these goats so the New Hall animal family welcomed them with open arms.
If food is available the goats will gently eat from any student’s hand, older children are able to enter the goat paddock and browse feed the goats, which always brings the biggest smiles to the faces of all those involved.
Our trio of Pygmy Goats are all related and reaching the later stages of life but this does not stop them getting up to plenty of mischief. The previous owner had to reluctantly re-home these goats so the New Hall animal family welcomed them with open arms.
If food is available the goats will gently eat from any student’s hand, older children are able to enter the goat paddock and browse feed the goats, which always brings the biggest smiles to the faces of all those involved.
Sheep
We currently house two Chocolate Ryeland Rams: Yoshi and Yorkie. They joined us here at New Hall at just 1 years old and are extremely friendly and love a fuss. Children can get hands on with the sheep, feeding time is always fun watching Yoshi and Yorkie get excited over any food available. They are great for close contact activities to help relieve anxieties and tension as they are extremely calm and gentle.
We currently house two Chocolate Ryeland Rams: Yoshi and Yorkie. They joined us here at New Hall at just 1 years old and are extremely friendly and love a fuss. Children can get hands on with the sheep, feeding time is always fun watching Yoshi and Yorkie get excited over any food available. They are great for close contact activities to help relieve anxieties and tension as they are extremely calm and gentle.
Chickens
Reception pupils learn within the curriculum about the development of eggs and how they grow into chicks. Our very own incubator is set up within the classroom which the pupils can watch and wait eagerly for the first signs of hatching.
The pupils have been lucky enough to see eggs hatch and our little chicks emerge and grow, all hens and cockerels now live with us here on our Farm. These chickens are a breed known as Buff Orpingtons, a very large breed that produce rather small eggs, and Red Broilers, whose eggs are of a larger size. Farm Club were in charge of marketing the eggs, designing egg box labels and deciding on a price, the children then collect and date the eggs which can be purchased from the preparatory school reception.
Reception pupils learn within the curriculum about the development of eggs and how they grow into chicks. Our very own incubator is set up within the classroom which the pupils can watch and wait eagerly for the first signs of hatching.
The pupils have been lucky enough to see eggs hatch and our little chicks emerge and grow, all hens and cockerels now live with us here on our Farm. These chickens are a breed known as Buff Orpingtons, a very large breed that produce rather small eggs, and Red Broilers, whose eggs are of a larger size. Farm Club were in charge of marketing the eggs, designing egg box labels and deciding on a price, the children then collect and date the eggs which can be purchased from the preparatory school reception.
Ducks
We have a mixture of duck breeds of all shapes and sizes including Runner ducks, Crested ducks and Cayuga ducks. The female ducks are brilliant egg layers and produce the tastiest eggs that can be purchased at the Farm.
Students thoroughly enjoy getting their hands mucky cleaning the duck pond whilst also getting to try their hand at a bit of duck herding.
We have a mixture of duck breeds of all shapes and sizes including Runner ducks, Crested ducks and Cayuga ducks. The female ducks are brilliant egg layers and produce the tastiest eggs that can be purchased at the Farm.
Students thoroughly enjoy getting their hands mucky cleaning the duck pond whilst also getting to try their hand at a bit of duck herding.
Rabbits
The rabbits are very popular animals here at New Hall, one that everybody loves to see and work with. Students enjoy grooming the rabbits, providing them with enrichment and additional exercise opportunities. Our rabbits make great classroom visitors and are regularly used in curriculum lessons too.
Health checking is a key skill to learn when working with animals; the rabbits are used as a teaching aid to help children of all ages learn this important process, this is particularly useful for those interested in a career in the animal industry.
The rabbits are very popular animals here at New Hall, one that everybody loves to see and work with. Students enjoy grooming the rabbits, providing them with enrichment and additional exercise opportunities. Our rabbits make great classroom visitors and are regularly used in curriculum lessons too.
Health checking is a key skill to learn when working with animals; the rabbits are used as a teaching aid to help children of all ages learn this important process, this is particularly useful for those interested in a career in the animal industry.
Ferrets
These little critters have become very much the famous trio, everybody who visits the farm wants to say hello to ferrets, and since arriving from a ferret rescue they have made quite the impression on students and staff. Their easy-going character means they have been able to visit classrooms in the Preparatory School, make evening visits to the boarding houses and even have a run around the Library.
One of the students’ favorite animal activities is taking the trio out for walks around the school, the ferrets and students seem to enjoy it as much as each other.
These little critters have become very much the famous trio, everybody who visits the farm wants to say hello to ferrets, and since arriving from a ferret rescue they have made quite the impression on students and staff. Their easy-going character means they have been able to visit classrooms in the Preparatory School, make evening visits to the boarding houses and even have a run around the Library.
One of the students’ favorite animal activities is taking the trio out for walks around the school, the ferrets and students seem to enjoy it as much as each other.
Geese
Our two Toulouse geese, Gwen and George, are some of the biggest characters down on the Farm. They ensure anybody visiting knows that they are there: with all their noise and spectacular beauty you can’t miss them!
They were re-homed here from a rescue centre and at first were looking a little worse for wear with minimal feathers; but now after lots of care from our students and staff they look a picture of health.
They work well as guard geese, keeping any unwanted visitors at bay but they also teach the students how to behave round animals that are slightly livelier and demanding. In addition, these geese make brilliant lawn mowers!
Our two Toulouse geese, Gwen and George, are some of the biggest characters down on the Farm. They ensure anybody visiting knows that they are there: with all their noise and spectacular beauty you can’t miss them!
They were re-homed here from a rescue centre and at first were looking a little worse for wear with minimal feathers; but now after lots of care from our students and staff they look a picture of health.
They work well as guard geese, keeping any unwanted visitors at bay but they also teach the students how to behave round animals that are slightly livelier and demanding. In addition, these geese make brilliant lawn mowers!
Quails
The smallest bird species we have here on the Farm is quail. We know little about them as they came from a rescue.
For small birds they are rather confident and will happily hop right up to the students looking for food. Students helped to build an enriched enclosure full of live plants and grass; the quail love exploring, pecking and hiding in all of the plants thanks to the time and effort of the students.
The smallest bird species we have here on the Farm is quail. We know little about them as they came from a rescue.
For small birds they are rather confident and will happily hop right up to the students looking for food. Students helped to build an enriched enclosure full of live plants and grass; the quail love exploring, pecking and hiding in all of the plants thanks to the time and effort of the students.
Guinea Pigs
Another Farm favourite are our Guinea Pigs. We have re-homed multiple of these furry critters, much to our students’ and staff’s delight!
Students enjoy preparing their lunches as well as taking part in health checks, which include grooming, and creating new and exciting forms of enrichment. They are a frequent guest at the Nursery, allowing the children to learn basic animal handling skills.
Another Farm favourite are our Guinea Pigs. We have re-homed multiple of these furry critters, much to our students’ and staff’s delight!
Students enjoy preparing their lunches as well as taking part in health checks, which include grooming, and creating new and exciting forms of enrichment. They are a frequent guest at the Nursery, allowing the children to learn basic animal handling skills.