Schools at Rushall Farm
Rushall Farm is set in the beautiful Pang Valley part of the North Wessex Downs AONB. It is close to both Newbury & Reading and only 10 minutes from the M4. As well as having a modern working organic farm there is also an education centre (Rushall Manor Farm) which incorporates indoor lunching facilities. There are hand washing and toilet facilities at both the farm and education centre and disabled toilets and good disabled access at both sites.
Rushall Organic Farm is an excellent place to learn about many aspects of the curriculum. We are a mixed organic farm which primarily runs a large sheep flock and a herd of beef suckler cows as well as growing cereal and other crops. We also have chickens, two donkeys and some pigs as well as tractors that the students have access to. There is also a pond, woodland and grassland as well as access to the River Pang so we are able to focus on habitats and river studies as well as farming.
Please look at the relevant key stage tabs to see what we can offer your students. We are able to tailor make a visit to suit your needs.
Our qualifications
The farm is a member of Farming & Countryside Education (FACE) and is accredited with the CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visit Access Scheme) Part 2. The individual guides have the CEVAS Part 1 qualification as well as an enhanced DBS check, First Aid and Safeguarding training
How long does a visit last?
Most schools get to us for 10.00am and leave at 2.00pm / 2.30pm. This fits in nicely with coach hire between school runs. Some younger students visit us for a morning or afternoon typically 10-12 or 12-2 particularly during lambing. We also offer residential (camping) visits to schools.
Schools arriving at Rushall Farm or Rushall Manor Farm
We are conveniently situated near Junction 12 of the M4. Schools are asked to arrive at Rushall Manor Farm (The Black Barn) for all visits. How to Find Us (below) gives directions to both Rushall Farm and Rushall Manor Farm (The Black Barn).
On occasion some schools drop students off by car although parking is limited. Some schools use their own minibuses but the vast majority come by coach. There is coach parking. Coach costs vary wildly but are always considerably cheaper if the coach company can fit the visit in around school runs. It is worth shopping around. For schools in Berkshire Horseman coaches are generally very competitively priced and know the farm well.
Early Years, Foundation & Key Stage 1 Zone
Most students of this age concentrate on farming & habitats. Some schools come for a half day visit either in the morning or aftern ...The Keystage 2 Zone
Most Key Stage 2 students (Years 3 to 6) visit Rushall Farm to study either farming, habitats or the river. ...The Keystage 3 & 4 Zone
Most Key Stage 3 students (Years 7 to 9) visit Rushall Farm to study either farming or the river. We have recently introduced an exciti ...
Camping for schools
Many schools & organisations choose to camp at Rushall Farm. Why not join them?
Fact file. A handy resource for schools
The Factfile tells you everything you need to know about farming at Rushall Farm. There is a lot of information so you might like to pi ...Literature & Teacher Pre-Visits
When a new school books in it is always advisable that the teachers make a pre-visit to the farm in advance of the day. This is a good ...
Using Rushall Manor Farm
Rushall Manor Farm is the site of our beautiful and tranquil Education Centre.
Camping at Rushall Farm
Many schools & organisations choose to camp at Rushall Farm. Why not join them?
