Naughty but Nice wins
06.05.2003

Theale Green School beat tough competition from four other Berkshire secondary schools to be awarded Overall Winner in the 2003 Food and Farming Challenge regional final which took place on Tuesday 29 April. Year 10 chemistry students worked with Englefield Estate on 'Nitrates: Naughty or Nice…', a project which investigated and compared the nitrate concentration of soil in fields with organic and conventional crops.

Food and Farming Challenge is a scheme that prepares young people for adult working life by providing schools with genuine projects and problem solving activities set by organisations associated with food, farming and the countryside.
The Newbury and District Agricultural Society sponsored the regional final as part of its education programme to give young people a better understanding of agriculture and the countryside. Regional organisers, West Berkshire Education Business Partnership, work with local companies to set the challenges and match them with local schools.

Theale Green teacher Claire Saxon, commented, "Food and Farming Challenge gives students the opportunity to look at a problem and work together as a team to come up with solutions. They thoroughly enjoyed visiting the farm and the project itself has been excellent at improving their communication and key skills."

Altwood School, Maidenhead, who partnered with Waltham Place Organic Farm, received the Best Presentation award. Over 120 pupils visited the farm to see how organic farming methods encourage wildlife and how they could use wildlife friendly practices to improve their school grounds.

Other finalists were: Blessed Hugh Faringdon School, Reading partnered with Thames Water; Kennet School, Thatcham partnered with Porchester Farms and Desborough School, Maidenhead, who worked with Waltham Place Farm Shop.
Judging the presentations and displays were: Alan Cooper - Chairman of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, Meg Hart - Regional Educational Consultant, FACE (Farming and Countryside Education), Tony Green - Community Officer, Sainsbury's and Lyn Hargood - Managing Director, West Berkshire Education Business Partnership.

Presenting the prizes Mr Cooper said, "The Newbury & District Agricultural Society is delighted to support the Food and Farming Challenge as it matches our aim to improve the understanding of farming and food production." Mr Cooper continued, "Communication lies at the heart of today's world and the students here demonstrated excellent skills at communicating what they achieved in all their challenges."

The winning team from Theale Green will be invited to exhibit their presentation at the Royal County of Berkshire Show 20/21 September 2003.

For further press information please contact:
Annette Priestley
Comand (UK)
Tel: 01635 248258
e-mail: priestley@comanduk.co.uk