Year 10 students from Brooke Weston Academy embarked on an educational visit to Farmer Barnes Dairy Farm in Somerby, Leicestershire, in preparation for their GCSE studies in Food Preparation and Nutrition. The visit provided a hands-on learning experience, allowing students to explore various aspects of food production and processing. 

Farmer Barnes’ Dairy is a proud working British Dairy Farm and is passionate about teaching people what happens on a dairy farm and how they produce milk for the award-winning Blue Stilton Cheese, made at Long Clawson Dairy.

The day began with a tour of the dairy farm, where students were able to see the daily operation of safe milk production and the care dairy farmers give to their land and animals. They visited the parlour, where they observed the milking process and learnt about the importance of hygiene and animal welfare in dairy farming. The tour continued to the maternity ward and nursery, where students learnt about the care and development of new calves. The grazing fields offered a glimpse into the daily life of the cows and the sustainable practices employed by the farm. Students also had the opportunity to taste fresh milk and cheese produced on the farm.

The educational experience was further enriched with a handmade pork pie making demonstration from Brockleby's, a renowned local pie maker. This was followed by a tasting session, where students sampled the delicious pies and learnt about the ingredients and techniques used in their preparation. 

Head of DT Natasha Chiremba said, ‘This was a really successful visit, giving our students invaluable insights about dairy farming, milk processing and secondary processing of dairy products. The students represented the school exceptionally well, and it was a pleasure spending the day with them in the countryside, learning first-hand about a food product most people consume every day.’

Feedback from our students included:

‘I think students studying Food and Nutrition in the years to come would absolutely love the opportunity to visit the farm, and I am very grateful for the opportunity.’

‘It was a great opportunity to see where the milk we drink comes from. I liked how friendly the farm staff were and how they made all the information they gave us easy to understand. I also loved the opportunity of seeing the baby calves.’