Contact: 01424 775 615

Email: info@thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk

Website: www.thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk

Plumpton College at Netherfield is the hub of a number of out-centres that the College operates in the east of the county. It is also the base of the Sustainable Food and Farming Centre which can be accessed via www.thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk

Situated in Netherfield near Battle, Ivyland Farm is the education and training out-centre for Plumpton College. Ivyland Farm offers a range of courses:

• One day Taster Courses.
• School release from one day a week to full time (‘early transfer’).
• Work experience.
• 14 – 16 Increasing Flexibility (IF) programme (Agriculture).
• Post school full time 2 year Entry Level Course split into Skills for Working Life (SfWL) (Year 1) and Land Based Studies (LBS) (Year 2).
• Post school part-time NVQ training through Work Based Learning at Levels 1,2 and 3 (with a flexible approach allowing learners to participate through being assessed in the workplace or attend college one day a week, or a mixture of both).
• Basic Skills Milestones for disabled adults (one day a week).
  

Progression from the majority of these to either full time or further part time courses at Plumpton College is greatly encouraged.

We are in discussion with most of the local secondary schools regarding the provision of vocational ‘land-based’ courses through the ‘Routeways’ programme. The plan is for each school to specialise in an aspect of vocational training with Ivyland Farm being the centre of activities associated with land-based activities; a ‘hub and spoke’ model. Plumpton College will, through Ivyland Farm, coordinate the provision, supply specialist staff when and where required and be available to advise on the creation and upkeep of practical facilities within the school grounds. Progression onto Plumpton College courses will be facilitated through regular contacts between the pupils and Plumpton staff.

Pre Basic Skills Milestones numbers are about 60 with a waiting list of others keen to join. To increase capacity and learning opportunities an old cowshed has been converted into a practical instruction area with a small kitchen and dining area. The plan is to utilise the vegetables grown by starting a small box scheme and by preparing and providing simple meals for Ivyland learners.

Ivyland Farm provides a caring environment that encourages full integration between adults with disabilities and learners who have found full time schooling a struggle. Great success has been achieved with a range of learners through the development of skills and the building of self-esteem. However classroom and common room space is very limited and a bid for funding through the Area Investment Framework has been successful in providing better equipped facilities, mainly for Netherfield Centre courses and adult training.

We have recently constructed a new living classroom at Ivyland. This has a revolutionary construction in that the walls are made of rammed earth, with a sheep's wool insulation.

The outside is lined with local timber, the roof has a sedum moss lining and the rain water is collected for use in our greenhouses. It is heated by a woodfired system and is heated by solar panels. It helps us raise awareness of environmental issues and demonstrates low carbon building technologies. For more information follow this link : Living Classroom.

Plumpton College at Netherfield is involved in the management of the Ninfield Environmental Centre. This is a purpose built centre with classrooms and workshops with access to woodland and pasture land. The centre has been used for school visits in the past and has great potential for further visits and for post 16 training opportunities.

The Netherfield Centre for Sustainable Food and Farming has been established at Netherfield Place Farm, a joint venture between Plumpton College and Common Cause. This is an information and advice centre set up to help farmers and growers with their businesses, to signpost to other organisations, to increase the availability of local produce into shops, pubs, bed and breakfast establishments and to help facilitate farmer networks.