Under the expert guidance of former teachers, the NFU’s specialised education team runs a full range of packages for schools. These pioneering projects help teachers deliver curriculum-based learning objectives through the lens of farming.
This new funding from NFU Mutual will not only enhance existing programmes but will also enable NFU Education to grow and develop new materials and educational agricultural experiences for students.
Teaching STEM though farming
The NFU currently offers a range of live-streamed lessons and webinars, as well as projects for the classroom which allow children to learn about food, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, business and enterprise.
The innovative Farmers For Schools programme equips farmers and industry professionals to engage with secondary schools directly, debunking myths perpetuated on social media and providing authentic insights into the agricultural industry.
Responding to the news, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: “We’d like to thank NFU Mutual for their generous contribution to our education programme.
“This funding will go towards the fantastic projects that so many students across the country have taken advantage of, significantly supporting our standout programmes like STEMterprise and Farmers For Schools, as well as our highly acclaimed live lessons.”
Inspiring the next generation
Since their inception in 2022, NFU Education's live lessons have reached over a million children and more than 300 Farmers for Schools Ambassadors have undergone training and brought their knowledge and passion to more than 25,000 students across the country.
Rachel said the “financial boost will allow more students to access vital knowledge about food, farming and nutrition” through the NFU’s STEM-based resources.
“Our mission is to make farming captivating and relatable for young people, so as they get older they can start to appreciate what the countryside and rural communities can offer,” she said.
“The vital work of NFU Education is instrumental in inspiring the next generation to understand and value the origins of their food, and the overwhelming success and popularity of our projects show the appetite to learn more.”
“This financial boost will allow more students to access vital knowledge about food, farming and nutrition through our STEM-based resources.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
NFU Mutual chair and chair of the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Jim McLaren MBE said: “We are very proud to support the development of NFU Education through this donation.
“Helping young people to learn about farming is so important, and this is a fantastic initiative working closely with schools to deliver engaging and memorable lessons that complement the STEM curriculum.”
