Bridging Theory and Practice: How Plumpton College Prepares Students for a Successful Agricultural Career

Our courses are ideal for students who want to learn more about the broader aspects of agriculture. The courses prepare students competently at the start of their careers and support them as they progress onto the next level of qualification to allow students to develop skills at a higher level to develop their managerial skills.

Our courses allow students to develop underpinning knowledge while practising skills essential in the agricultural industry. We focus on practical work experience, with classroom sessions to help build understanding. Students benefit from excellent facilities and expert staff.

Students study a range of subjects, including livestock husbandry, machinery and crops. They will have an opportunity to work on the college farm and undertake work experience. Their work will be a balance between gaining theoretical knowledge of animal and plant systems and practical work to underpin the theory.

Below is a summary of activities that students have been involved with over the past month:

Olly 
I am a level 3, year 1 agriculture student studying at Plumpton college. The theory side is very engaging, and we learn the scientific side and how tasks would be completed on a farm. The lecturers do an amazing job of teaching us there is never a dull day in the classroom. We do varied tasks such as research reports, information leaflets, and other tasks that give us the knowledge to perform to the best of our ability in the classroom and on the farm. 

The lessons really complement the practical side of the course by backing up practical knowledge with theory knowledge. The teachers are all from a very strong industry background, and this is very much valued by the students. The industry links that come into college to share their industry experience and visits to their farms are always very interesting and informative.

Morgan
Practicals at Plumpton College really help you to further understand and gain knowledge in many different areas of agriculture. For example, if we learn about sheep in livestock practicals, we get the opportunity to do everything for them, from collecting them to giving them the actual injections - which many other places and some farms wouldn't let you do. 

This experience really helps you stand out as a potential candidate for jobs. My favourite practicals by far are machinery practicals as we get the opportunity to do tasks such as cultivation, including drilling, which on many farms takes years to be trusted with that role, when there isn't anything to do in the fields we get to spend time in the workshop, this really helps you gain an understanding of how to rectify mechanical issues which may occur in the workplace. This experience will make you more attractive to an employer if you have the skills to fix a piece of machinery, as it will save on downtime.

I am looking forward to drier conditions and starting fieldwork again, as spring is just around the corner. I am also very much looking forward to lambing and calving.

Learn more about our Agriculture courses