Our students flocked to meet the new arrivals, when their Smithdon High School welcomed three woolly visitors for the week.

We were hosting a mother sheep and her two lambs in the school grounds, as part of an initiative sent up by the Food and Farming Discovery Trust to increase young people’s awareness of the farming industry.

“The objective was to widen students’ knowledge on where their food comes from, farming as an industry, and to have the opportunity to see the animals close up,” said Teacher of Food and Nutrition Becky Dibble, who organised the event with the assistance of Assistant Headteacher Alysha Moat, as well as taking responsibility for the animals during their stay.

“We both attended the mandatory briefing at the Norfolk Showground to allow us to have the sheep at the school. They also then put together the Livestock Sheep Project sessions for our students to take part in.”

“The sessions were for Year 7 and Year 8,” she continued. “They were split into groups and spent a lesson learning all about sheep. The Livestock Sheep Project included four activity stations that were run by Year 10 students, which included activities like learning where the different breeds originate from around the UK, how sheep help with climate changes, to understanding where our food comes from, and being able to locate local produce on a large map of Norfolk.

“A select few students who are interested in animal care and farming as a career took charge of caring for the animals, by feeding them, checking on them, helping to move the pen, and making sure they had clean straw in their shelter.”

The students also spent time outside with the sheep, where Mrs Dibble was able to share her own farming experience, as she and her family have a flock of sheep.

It was the second time that our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, had been involved in the project, with this year’s ewe and lambs provided by Dereham-based farmer Josh Hill.

“For some students, this was the first time they had been up close to a farm animal and also had the confidence to ask questions about them,” added Mrs Dibble.

“It gives them a chance to understand the importance of farming in the UK, discuss welfare standards, and understand how to care and be empathic towards another being.”