Urrbrae Agricultural High School
The school was set up by a bequest from Peter Waite an early settler.The bequest is legally binding and the school must only use the facilities for educational purposes.
In 2000 redevelopment took place and inconjuction with the local TAFE new facilities were constructed on the site to allow both institutions to work together to offer opportunities to each others students.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School is the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in South Australia. It is recognised as a centre of excellence in student learning with a focus on agriculture, technology and the environment. Established as an Agricultural High School in 1932, it has continued to educate South Australian secondary students in an agriculturally focused curriculum to the present day. It is also recognised as a focus school in environmental education, land care and technology. These subjects are integrated across the school curriculum. Alongside these specialist subjects, Urrbrae students study the normal range of secondary school subjects except languages other than English, or can choose from the specialised certificate courses at senior school level.
Students apply for places by written application only.The students must demonstrate their interests ,attitude to the environment and area of academic interests.
The school covers 105 Acres.One of the outstanding features of the school is its wetlands area.The school worked with the local council to develop an area prone to flooding into a valuable teaching resource .Students learn about the habitats and species in the area in a well resourced classroom .
ICT is used across the curriculum however the school has not yet fully implemented the one to one laptop scheme .The Design Technology facilities were outstanding.Classrooms were fitted out with state of the art CAD CAM ,3D design and multimedia software packages used by Damlier Crysler and Holden.
A visit to the farm further reinforced the vocational meets academic study ethos of the school.We toured the farm .Visiting the Brewery,Piggery and Fishery.
Students learn how to press the grapes to produce wine.Olive oil is also produced on site.The pigs are sold for meat .
Year 8 students were busy cultivating the Horticultural Garden.They are allowed to sell their produce at the local school sale or to their family and friends.
Urrbrae's model is unique .In England ,vocational education is certainly not taught like this.It is often seen as a poor relation to academic study.
To experience the Urrbrae model was inspirational .Vocational education has never looked so good!
The school was set up by a bequest from Peter Waite an early settler.The bequest is legally binding and the school must only use the facilities for educational purposes.
In 2000 redevelopment took place and inconjuction with the local TAFE new facilities were constructed on the site to allow both institutions to work together to offer opportunities to each others students.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School is the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in South Australia. It is recognised as a centre of excellence in student learning with a focus on agriculture, technology and the environment. Established as an Agricultural High School in 1932, it has continued to educate South Australian secondary students in an agriculturally focused curriculum to the present day. It is also recognised as a focus school in environmental education, land care and technology. These subjects are integrated across the school curriculum. Alongside these specialist subjects, Urrbrae students study the normal range of secondary school subjects except languages other than English, or can choose from the specialised certificate courses at senior school level.
Students apply for places by written application only.The students must demonstrate their interests ,attitude to the environment and area of academic interests.
The school covers 105 Acres.One of the outstanding features of the school is its wetlands area.The school worked with the local council to develop an area prone to flooding into a valuable teaching resource .Students learn about the habitats and species in the area in a well resourced classroom .
ICT is used across the curriculum however the school has not yet fully implemented the one to one laptop scheme .The Design Technology facilities were outstanding.Classrooms were fitted out with state of the art CAD CAM ,3D design and multimedia software packages used by Damlier Crysler and Holden.
A visit to the farm further reinforced the vocational meets academic study ethos of the school.We toured the farm .Visiting the Brewery,Piggery and Fishery.
Students learn how to press the grapes to produce wine.Olive oil is also produced on site.The pigs are sold for meat .
Year 8 students were busy cultivating the Horticultural Garden.They are allowed to sell their produce at the local school sale or to their family and friends.
Urrbrae's model is unique .In England ,vocational education is certainly not taught like this.It is often seen as a poor relation to academic study.
To experience the Urrbrae model was inspirational .Vocational education has never looked so good!
