A SCHOOL is celebrating after winning an award at a ceremony marking the best of school farm learning.

As part of the School Farms Network Education Alliance Conference (SFNEA) held at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, the awards celebrated the best of school-based farm learning.

Chipping Campden school's triumph came in the School Farm Enterprise and Innovation Award 2017 category.

Sally Greenwood, engagement manager at educational organisation Applied Inspiration, and a judge for the awards, said: "Chipping Campden stood out as the school has made official their enterprising activities by setting up a Community Interest Company (CIC).

"This is an almost unique move by the school farm to ensure that profits from the school farm are used to specifically benefit the furthering of land-based education of the school and the local community.

"The judges were impressed by the business plan behind the school farm’s operations, including the engaging of the local business community to support the company as directors, and integrating this within the study of business at the school to fully reap the benefits of the company for the curriculum and the links made with local outlets to sell their produce.”

The awards were presented by well known farmer and television presenter Adam Henson, director of the Cotswold Farm Park in Kington near Cheltenham.

The Campden Society and Campden Business Forum have worked together to set up a ‘CIC’ – a Community Interest Company.

The fruits of these labours, apple juice, apple crisps, hand-made lamb burgers, sausages, free-range eggs and honey made on local flowers will soon be available to buy online.

John Sanderson, principal, said “We are pleased and proud that giving these students this really fantastic ‘plot to shop to plate’ experience has been recognised, and that the school is playing its part in supporting the rural economy and helping to give these students training for a job sector that has a shortage of young people which should stand them in good stead for their futures.”