Batchwood School: Passion Belief Courage

Outdoor Learning: Horticulture

With some investment last year we have set up a large 11mtr polly tunnel on our grounds. It is kitted out with potting tables and a seating area and it is used as an outdoor classroom for Horticulture. The vision going forward is to encourage enterprise through selling produce locally. The output from this area will also support the development of landscaping our grounds as a therapeutic space/play space/ learning space. We are partnered with the Walled Garden Project at Luton Hoo and the head gardener there. We send students to work at Luton Hoo once a week and the head gardener is working with the school to help develop horticulture at Batchwood.

KS3 Curriculum – Yr 7

Horticulture is currently offered to Yr 7. They are following an introductory curriculum that gives them the opportunity to sow seeds, pot seedings on, dig and weed and take part in the on-going maintainance of the Batchwood Outdoor Project.

Seasonal Programme of Study

(Term Time Productivity) Link to planning docs

Assessment and Progression

Assessment and progression is measured through Skills Tasks that cover the following areas:

  • Garden Maintenance
  • Sowing/ Propagation
  • Planting
  • Watering
  • Clearing up

Each skill is assessed under the following generic criteria:

Level 1
With help from staff member, attempted to demonstrate skill but to an unsatisfactory standard

Level 2b
Independently attempted to demonstrate skill but to an unsatisfactory standard

Level 2a
With help from staff member, demonstrated skill to a satisfactory standard

Level 3
Independently demonstrated skill to a satisfactory standard

Level 4
Independently demonstrated skill to a satisfactory standard three times

Tuesday Afternoon Mixed Groups

We take a mixed group for a double session on a Tuesday afternoon. This is an option group where students are offered the opportunity to experience Horticulture. They follow the same planting programme as the KS3 group.