Land Based Studies

Land based studies is based on the City & Guilds Level 1 Practical Horticulture Skills qualification. This will develop skills to allow the learners to be able to grow plants and to develop personal skills such as communication and teamwork.

  • Safely Independent – Learners will be taught to safely use and look after a range of tools and equipment that can allow them to grow their own vegetables, herbs and fruit. 
  • Confident Communicators – There are times when the learners will have to work in a team. They also have the opportunity to talk to members of the public who come to school as customers of the We Grow plant nursery..
  • Respectful Citizens – Learners that are confident to talk to customers will have to do so in a polite and respectful manner. They will also be growing plants that will be planted round the village for all to enjoy.  
  • Resilient Learners – The lessons are long and can be physically demanding. We help build up some physical resilience. As learners are looking after living plants there is a chance that the plants will not survive and the learners will have to cope with this. Growing plants takes time and this can help reduce the need for instant gratification. 
  • Inquisitive Thinkers – Learners are introduced to the wide variety of plants that can be grown as flowers and as vegetables and other edible plants and encouraged to find out more different types of plants.

Land-based studies is taught by Mr Horsey in Key stage 4. The lessons are taught in small mixed-ability groups with a very strong emphasis on practical skills. 

The practical sessions are taught around the school grounds and in our commercial glasshouse using a range of gardening equipment, this includes: 

  • Spades
  • Forks 
  • Rakes 
  • Wheelbarrows
  • Secateurs and loppers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Leaf blowers

There are a wide range of units that can be taught. These will be the most appropriate units for the learners and cover a range of topics including; 

  • Watering
  • Planting 
  • Making hanging baskets 
  • Sowing seeds
  • Potting on 
  • Preparing plants for sale
  • Lawn maintenance
  • Using a lawn mower
  • Tool maintenance
  • Identifying plants 

Over the course a folder of evidence will be built up. This is mostly photographs of the learner carrying out the practical assessments. For each practical there will be one question about why you are carrying out the practical. The response is usually written down by the assessor after the learner has given a verbal answer.

If higher grades are being sought there are four units that require some extra questions. The answers to these questions can be written out by the learner or can be scribed by a member of staff in a lesson or after the practical assessment. . 

During each assessment the assessor will be using a City & Guilds checklist to make sure all of the criteria have been met. Once finished any feedback will be given to the learner. This will be both written and verbal.  

“The thing I like about LBS is that I go outside and get fresh air almost every lesson”

“I like to learn about plants and wildlife”

“I like to use the gardening tools”

Each year Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards visit the school to judge the school grounds. The students help to maintain the school grounds during the lessons. We have been awarded Level 5 Outstanding every year we have entered. This reflects very well on the learners who help look after the grounds.

Since 2019-20 the average pass grade in Practical Horticultural Skills studies is 96.4%

Parents can encourage learners by allowing them to take ownership of a small area of the garden. If you do not have a garden then they can allow the learners to grow a few plants in pots, either indoor or outdoors.