Improvement questions

• Consider the current food education offering in your school. Is this limited to one department? How could you use food as a context for learning to provide cross curricular, real life experiences appropriate for your setting?
• Does timetabling in your school allow for flexibility in working across departments and using the outdoors to full advantage?
• If you are within a rural setting, how do you ensure meaningful partnerships are established and developed giving pupils opportunities to add value to their own community​.

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Learning for sustainability: Vision 2030

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​What was done?​

Arran High School received Food for Thought funding to enhance food education using the outdoors and sustainability as a context for learning.

Why was it done?​

After receiving news of the successful Food for Thought bid, links were developed with Arran Active, Forrest Schools Leader and a community area of land on the island Arran Community Land Initiative.

Outdoor cooking equipment was purchased and arrived mid-September.

The business partnership with Arran Community Land Initiative prompted several lessons indoors using locally produced produce from the plot that were previously planted by senior pupils before summer holidays.

In addition, there has been extensive learning opportunities for a range of stages using Kelly Kettles outside and have also had a successful overnight camping trip to the Arran Community Land Initiative in Whiting Bay where the equipment was used to cook a three course meal and breakfast on the land.

The new equipment allowed the pupils to make chutney with local windfall apples and green tomatoes. The chutney was sold as part of an enterprise project to raise funds for further produce.

The S3 classes undertook food science / sustainability activities and investigated edible insects which were used on the whole school visit to Arran Community Land Initiative in Whiting Bay.​

What was the impact?​

Ideally Outdoor learning is becoming embedded in every curricular area.

Staff are working towards having afternoons dedicated to learning outdoors and using the land positively rather than pockets of 45 minutes here and there which limits what can be achieved.​​​​