July 2010
Ysgol y Gogarth, in Llandudno Wales is a school for pupils with a wide range of learning difficulties. Since starting their gardening project 4 years ago it has gone from strength to strength. They now produce a wide variety of salad and vegetables, which are used in the pupil run school cafe and to supplement their food co-operative. They run a food cooperative for staff (they have almost 100 staff) and provide non profit healthy food boxes every week – vegetables, fruit and eggs are all sourced locally and supplemented by whatever they can grow too. The project has been very effective in terms of pupil learning, motivation and encouraging responsibility and self esteem. It also fits in to the 14-19 Vocational Pathways curriculum, giving pupils the opportunity to gain work experience and vocational qualifications in Horticulture. They have also built up a great relationship with local businesses and the pupils do some work at a local nursery as part of their Work Related Education programme.
