Congratulations to the pupils of East Bergholt Primary!

A primary school in Colchester has beaten schools all over the country to win the RSPCA Farm Animal Challenge!

For National Science and Engineering Week 2011, we asked schools to come up with a smart, creative campaign to improve the lives of farm animals by encouraging more people to choose higher welfare meat and dairy.

Save our pigs!

The year 3 pupils of East Bergholt Primary were triumphant with their ‘Save our Pigs’ campaign. Highlights of the campaign were a school assembly with parents and members of the community, mock TV adverts, and an impressive animation that conveyed their message. They even shared their project with a partner school in Uganda, where children often have to raise their own animals for food.
 

“It is a fantastic example of how young people are engaged in big issues, and can really help make a difference to the lives of millions of farm animals.”

– Dave Allen, Head of RSPCA Education

 

As well as winning a trophy and £200 for their school, we arranged for the pupils to spend a day at their local Freedom Food pig farm where the animals are raised to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards.
 

“Taking part in the farm animal challenge has been so rewarding for the children and it’s enlightening for them to see the welfare issues surrounding farming. I would recommend taking part in competitions like this to any teacher.

"Visiting a real working farm was an amazing experience that has really brought everything we learnt in class to reality. The children got so much out of it – they loved seeing the pigs and learning how friendly, social and intelligent they are.”

 – Sarah Temple, class teacher

• If you would like to know more about how the welfare of farm animals can be a valuable basis for teaching the National Curriculum, take a look at our free Farming lesson plans.

Well done to everyone in year 3 at East Bergholt Primary - and 'thank you!' from the animals.