Pupils, parents and farmers join forces at Show

THE Border Union Show kicked off the summer shows in glorious sunny style at the weekend and enabled Longridge Towers to re-connect and make new connections that will benefit the school in the coming year.

School staff and governors take time out of their summer break to manage Longridge stands at the Border Union, Berwickshire County and Glendale shows and they always throw up a great combination of social and business connections. A crowd well into the thousands enjoyed good weather in Kelso over the weekend as the shows got underway.

Deputy Headteacher Jenell Arnott explained: “Obviously, Longridge is based in a farming community, and these events cover farming and agriculture in all its various shapes and forms, so it is good to be there and support discussions on how education and farming can work together for the benefit of our pupils and local business.

“We had various members of staff from across the school at our Border Union Show stand throughout Friday and Saturday and we made some really good connections. For example, we met with representatives from Borders College who were interested in our new BTEC Agriculture course, which is launching in September, and spoke with them about how we can feed into their HNC in Agriculture.

“That is really exciting because we view the BTEC as a foundation or stepping stone to a degree in agriculture and the College can help to create clear, meaningful pathways for Longridge pupils to that.

“The connections made with farmers are integral to that, and the benefits of these relationships can run right through the school. We had good conversations about work experience with various farmers, which included members of the Borders Machinery Ring, both for our BTEC students and further down the school.

“They were very enthusiastic about providing opportunities to support pupils with qualifications and work experience from as young as 13 years. They spoke about tractor driving and machinery operating skills, which are being developed across the country on farms but may not be accessible to young people who don’t live on farms. So, through these relationships we can explore how to support pupils interested in land-based careers but who do not necessarily come from farming backgrounds.”

Sarah Maddocks, Co-Head of the Junior Department, commented: “The benefits of supporting the shows I think are three-fold really. It has been nice to see potential new parents and have the time to chat and show them what Longridge can offer.

“It has also been good to be here as a drop-in for existing parents and pupils, and it has been great meeting up again with past pupils and parents. For example, I caught up with someone who works at Greaves, West and Ayre who was at Year Six when I first came to Longridge, and it is fabulous to hear how they are getting on and how the school helped prepare them for their career.”

Mrs Arnott added: “Being at the shows is great for us in many ways, as Sarah has said. It means we can support the farming community and help them to spread the word further about the different opportunities and careers that exist in agriculture, and work with them to build a new able and enthusiastic workforce.

“But there is also that important social element to the summer shows, which helps us both to attract new families to Longridge and support our existing families in nice, relaxed settings.”