Students get down to earth on trail of environmental diploma

PUPILS from a school and college will be the first in Sheffield to study for a new environmental qualification that will get them a diploma equivalent to seven GCSEs.

Work starts this week on the “state of the art” classroom at Whirlow Hall Farm where the students of Firth Park Community Arts College and Myers Grove School will study for their diploma in environmental and land-based studies.

The farm will work with Sheffield Council’s Lifelong Learning Skills and Communities Service to deliver the qualification in which the students will study subjects like animal and plant nutrition, environmental influences and sustainable development.

Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, Coun Colin Ross, said: “The last time I visited Whirlow Hall Farm I was very impressed with all the work they are doing, and looking at their plans for the new education facility I think they have a lot to offer young people.

“With the Peak District National Park on our doorstep, Sheffield cannot overlook the need for the kind of specialist skills that the new programme at Whirlow Hall Farm will provide.

“Careers in estate management, environmental services and forestry work are just some of the important areas of work that will depend on a new generation of skilled employees.”

The students began their training on Tuesday last week and their teacher, Ruth Jacobs, said they should be able to start using the new classroom in January next year.

Contractors knocked down a former tractor shed at the farm to make way for the new teaching facilities and work space.

The education project has been funded by the Government and the Inge Sugden Charitable Trust.