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agriculture

Agriculture at Plumpton College

If you’re looking to build a career in farming, food production or the wider land-based sector, Agriculture at Plumpton College offers the chance to learn in a truly practical, industry-focused environment. Set within the South Downs on our 800 hectare commercial farming estate, our Agriculture courses combine hands-on experience with technical knowledge, helping you develop the skills needed for modern farming careers.

From livestock and dairy to arable systems and machinery, you’ll learn in a working agricultural setting with access to expert teaching, industry-standard facilities and real-world experience. 

Browse our Agriculture Courses

At Plumpton College, students learn in industry-standard facilities designed to reflect real working environments, from specialist workshops and laboratories to working farms, equine centres and outdoor learning spaces across the South Downs.

Accommodation at Plumpton College

Our excellent residential facilities accommodate up to 203 students in modern comfortable rooms. Rated by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ across all areas, you’ll find them a fantastic place to stay. For Agriculture students, where early starts and daily routines are an important part of college life, living on site can be a valuable option, making it easier to manage practical commitments and get the most from your learning experience.

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The Wider Agriculture Sector

Agriculture is a vital UK industry, supporting food production, land management and the rural economy, while offering a wide range of exciting career opportunities. In June 2025, 279,000 people were working in agriculture in England (Defra, Agricultural workforce in England at 1 June 2025), and the wider UK agri-food sector employed 4.1 million people in the year to December 2025 (Defra, Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2025).

With 17 million hectares of agricultural land, covering 69% of the UK’s land area (Defra, Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2024), the sector continues to play a major role in the country’s future. For students, this creates opportunities across livestock, dairy, arable, machinery, agri-tech, sustainability and farm business management, making Agriculture an exciting sector to study and build a career in.

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Why Agriculture at Plumpton College?

Discover inspiring courses, supportive tutors, and real opportunities that prepare you for university, employment, and beyond.

  • Learn on a 800 hectare commercial farming estate
    At Plumpton College, we offer Agriculture training on our 800-hectare commercial farming estate, nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park, giving you the opportunity to experience different livestock and arable farming systems in a real working environment.
  • Gain hands-on experience with modern farming facilities
    You’ll learn using industry-relevant facilities, including our modern 300-cow dairy unit with a 36:36 herringbone milking parlour, alongside arable and mixed farming environments.
  • Work with a wide range of livestock and farming systems
    Our Agriculture students gain experience with Sussex beef cattle, a sow pig unit and an extensively managed flock of 550 sheep, helping you develop practical knowledge across a broad range of livestock enterprises. This variety supports progression into different agricultural careers and further study.
  • Learn from expert staff with strong industry backgrounds
    At Plumpton College, our Agriculture teaching is shaped by staff with strong industry knowledge and experience. Our lecturers connect theory and practice effectively, helping learners understand both the science and the day-to-day realities of farming.
  • Build job-ready skills through practical work and industry exposure
    Our Agriculture courses are designed to prepare you for employment. Plumpton highlights practical work experience, farm-based learning, industry visits and opportunities to gain additional qualifications for work on modern arable and mixed farms.
  • Study at a college connected to the future of farming
    Plumpton College is actively engaged with the wider agriculture sector. We host annual South East Future of Farming Conference at our AgriFood Centre, bringing together farmers, landowners and industry experts to discuss sustainable farming, productivity and profitability.

Our Personal Development Programme supports students

We ensure students have the knowledge needed surrounding personal finance, health, wellbeing and careers. Furthermore, we seek to develop their skills in being able to put that knowledge into practice in their daily and future lives. We aspire to develop their attitudes and values so that they have opinions about key aspects of society and know how to appropriately share their own and also challenge other people’s opinions.