agricultural education at hagley farm school historical perspective…

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Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

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Page 1: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School

Historical Perspective…

Page 2: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• During the 1930’s Hagley Farm School joined the network of Tasmanian Area Schools.

• These schools catered for students from Kinder to Grade 10.

• The Area School curriculum was largely about Agricultural Education and regular activity was carried out on the farm and in the garden.

Page 3: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• The cottages at Hagley were established to accommodate high school aged students

• These students carried out farm and garden duties before and after school

• Ag Ed teachers, cottage care staff and farm managers were funded by the DOE.

Page 4: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• Since the early 1970’s Hagley Farm School has been a K-6 primary school.

• During the 1970’s the Environment Centre was established to take advantage of the existing facilities and farm

Page 5: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• Initially DOE funded 5 Environment Centre Teachers and a Farm Manager

• The DOE now funds 2 Environment Centre Teachers

• The DOE ceased funding farm wages many years ago. The Farm Manager and other casual wages are funded through farm revenue.

Page 6: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Current Agricultural Education at

Hagley Farm School

… and Connections with the School Farm

Page 7: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Farm Squad• Involves a small number of Grade 5/6 students throughout the year (6 in 2015)

• Regular farm tasks negotiated with/requested by Farm Manager

• Currently a weekly roster that operates on Thursday afternoons.

Page 8: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Milking

• Optional participation for Grade 5/6 students

• Approximately half of the 2015 Grade 5/6 students have participated this year.(50 students)

• Offered during the milking seasons

Page 9: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

School Garden• Has existed in some form at Hagley for

many years.

• Optional participation for all classes/teachers

• Current location was established in 2007 and has undergone extensive development over the past 5 years (through significant volunteer hours and sponsorship)

Page 10: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Egg Heads … an Environment Centre enterprise

•Free range egg collection•One class per term (Grades 3-4 usually)

Other Occasional Access based on:• Seasonal farm activities• Optional class teacher planned

activity that supports class learning

• Tractor rides (special occasions)

Page 11: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Grade 3-4 Camp• Accessed through the Environment Centre

booking system (normal camp visitor fees apply)

• 2 night - 3 day camp hosted & lead bi-annually by Environment Centre staff

• Full range of Environment Centre activities are available (Farm, Heritage, Environmental)

Page 12: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Farm Science Program• A program lead by Environment Centre Staff• Involves students from Prep to Grade 6• 5 x 1.5 hour on site sessions in a 5 week block• Follow-up activities in class• Accessed through the Environment Centre booking system … ie: school pays normal day visit fees

• Booking fees currently funded by P&F

Page 13: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

A Few Observations …

Page 14: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• Whilst the agricultural education activities at Hagley Farm School are significant and provide Hagley students more opportunities than most other Tasmanian students, there is no formalised Agricultural Education curriculum.

• Since the 1970’s the school farm has existed as a key part of the agricultural awareness model of the Environment Centre.

Page 15: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• Tasmanian schools that have a formalised agricultural education curriculum are generally regional K-10 high schools with designated staff and timetabled lessons.

• Most of these schools have a farm facility.(non-commercial, student enterprise based)

• A variety of models exist across these schools and all are challenged by funding issues.

Page 16: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• Most primary schools have a garden program of some sort. A variety of access models exist.

• The Environment Centre staff are not appointed to support the Hagley Farm School curriculum. They are accessed through the Environment Centre booking system and fees apply.

Page 17: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

To Set The Scene … …the 3 silos model1. Hagley Farm School

2. The Environment Centre

3. The Farm

Page 18: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Leadership Team

Hagley Farm

School

Environment

Centre &School Farm

Education

School FarmCommercial

Farm Management Group

School Association

Future Directions

Group

Centre for Agricultural Education

Parents and Friends Association

Friends of the School Group

Page 19: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The School Farm

• An Agricultural Education facility that supports Environment Centre programs

• Current operational model:

… a self-funded commercial enterprise

Page 20: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Environment Centre

•An Ag Ed visitor centre: camps and day visits

•Staff: 2 FTE Teachers funded by DOE

•All operations plus a number of casual positions are self-funded

Page 21: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Environment Centre is part of:

1.A state-wide Agricultural Education network

2.A network of DOE field centres

Page 22: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Agricultural Education Network

•A state-wide network being lead by the Centre for Agricultural Education

•Driven by clear connections with the Australian Curriculum

•Guided by DOE Learners First strategy

Page 23: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

DOE Network of Field Centres

• Hagley Farm and Environment Centre

• Woodbridge Marine Studies Centre

• Sustainability Learning Centre

• Molesworth Environment Centre

• The Centre for Agricultural Education

Page 24: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Field Centres are connected by:A Strategic Plan that embodies:

•Clear connections to the Australian Curriculum

•Activity that reflects the Learners First strategy

•The delivery of high quality educational experiences

•Evidence based Improvement targets

Page 25: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre forAgricultural Education

Provides leadership and support to all schools in Tasmania that offer

agricultural education programs.

Most of these schools have a farm facility.

Page 26: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre for Agricultural Education

•Established through a memorandum of understanding between state government, DOE and Hagley Farm School

•Lead Teacher position is DOE funded for 4 years from 2015

• Initial Operational funding sourced through PIEFA (Primezone Partnership)

Page 27: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre for Agricultural Education

•Actively seeking further funding from industry, business and government sources

• Important funding and support from DOE e-Learning through the DOE e-Strategy

• In discussions with TFGA – Agriskills representative and UTAS re possible partnerships

Page 28: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre for Agricultural Education

Vision:

Relevant Agricultural Learning that strongly reflects the Australian Curriculum

Page 29: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre for Agricultural Education

Mission:

To provide leadership and support to schools and educators that strives to ensure high quality agricultural learning experiences across Tasmania.

Page 30: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Centre for Agricultural Education

The Hagley Farm School and Environment Centre is one client

All schools that provide Agricultural Education, with or without a farm facility, are clients

Page 31: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Future Directions Project

Initiated as a result of discussions between:

• Centre for Agricultural Education

• Environment Centre

• Hagley Farm School Leadership Team.

Page 32: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Future Directions Group

A focus on improving the

educational experiences offered at our

Environment Centre and School Farm

Page 33: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Why a Future Directions Group?• The Environment Centre has prioritised improvement through:

• connection with the Australian Curriculum• use of technology• facility development

• Centre for Agricultural Education assists schools state-wide to implement & improve Agricultural educational provisions

Page 34: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Environment Centre Educational Improvement Priorities …

• connection with the Australian Curriculum

• use of technology

• facility development

Page 35: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Focus for Future Directions…

… Improvement of educational provision at the

Hagley Farm and Environment Centre

Page 36: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Strategy…

Facilitate a conversation about current and future educational provisions at the Environment Centre and school farm.

Page 37: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

The Next Step …

To explore models that provide the Environment Centre with the best opportunities for:

Ongoing Viability

Improvement

Page 38: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

What we have tried so far …

In consultation with the Farm Management Group …

• Initiated a detailed Ag consultant report.

• Used a Pasture management consultant.

• Reduced expenses wherever possible.

Page 39: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Major Challenges Moving Forward …

• Low milk pricing • Fixed labour costs • Water allocation• Limited future years provision• Dairy requires significant upgrade

Page 40: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Environment Centre …

… snapshot of educational experiences and Visitor Numbers

Page 41: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Total Visitor Numbers 2010 - 2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

4297 4540 4538 5382 4819

Page 42: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Average Annual Visitor Numbers

2010 - 2014

4715

Page 43: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Educational Experiences

Heritage Farm Environmental0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

>55

>85

<30

Based on 5 year average

Page 44: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Farm Tour & Tractor Ride

Dairy (Walk

Through)

Dairy (Milking)

Shearing (Walk Through)

Shearing (Shearing)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

>95

>60

<20

>60

<2

Farm ExperienceBased on 5 year average

Page 45: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Future Directions Group

Recommendations

Page 46: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Future Directions Group Recommendations

1. Share information presented at Future Directions workshop with the school community and seek feedback to guide further recommendations.

• School Association

• Parents and Friends Association

• School Staff

• All interested members of the school community

Page 47: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Future Directions Group Recommendations

2. Explore operational models for the Environment Centre and school farm that:

• Reflect feedback from recommendation 1.

• Consolidate and progress the core Agricultural, Heritage and Environmental Education experiences

• Allow Environment Centre revenue to have a greater impact on improvement priorities

Page 48: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

• How can Environment Centre revenue better impact improvement priorities?

• Are there alternative farm models that would allow significant improvement to occur?

Guiding Questions?

Page 49: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Environment Centre Educational Improvement Priorities …

• connection with the Australian Curriculum

• use of technology

• facility development

Page 50: Agricultural Education at Hagley Farm School Historical Perspective…

Your Feedback …1. Complete the individual reflection

sheet

2. In small groups; share and collate ‘must haves’ and ‘ideas for consideration’

3. Share to whole group