Agriculture

In an ever changing world Agriculture has never been more important. It is integral to protecting our environment, well being and of course giving us plentiful food. The Agricultural industry is a fast evolving industry with cutting edge technology now widely used across the industry. Agricultural workers are increasingly using drones, driverless tractors and robots to carry out many different tasks. Understanding the core principles of farming and agricultural activities is at the heart of this course to equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to enter an exciting career in Agriculture. 

The course itself is covered over 2 years and will give you a Level 2 qualification. A pass is equivalent to C grade GCSE, a Merit is a B grade and a Distinction is an A grade. The course consists of 3 units which are listed below.

Unit 4: Introduction to Farm Animal Production 

Unit 6: Introduction to Animal and Plant Husbandry 

Unit 8: Participate in Providing Estate Maintenance 

The Agricultural course is all coursework based and every lesson counts towards your qualification. You will complete Assignments in each unit which will be marked and assessed. This means there is no exam.

The BTEC in Agriculture has a heavy practical emphasis. This means that you will spend significant time out of school doing the following:

• Visiting local dairy, arable and sheep farms

• Following a feeding programme for ruminants  (sheep, cattle)

• Assessing machinery to include tractors, quad bikes and implements

• Assessing the welfare of different animals

• Visiting food processing facilities such as Puffin potatoes

• Presentation from local entrepreneurs and agencies

The BTEC in Agriculture is a fantastic way to learn about the industry for pupils from a farming background or not from a farming background. You will spend approximately half your time in the classroom and the other half completing practical activities such as the ones above.