£70,000 pledge sustains NFU farming lessons in schools

A boost in funding is ensuring that food and farming will continue to feature in classrooms across the country.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has once again pledged £70,000 to support NFU Education, funding that will help meet demand for food and farming education.

According to NFU research earlier this year, two-thirds of teachers believe food and farming should play a bigger role in the national curriculum.

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The view is shared by more than 36,000 people who signed the NFU’s petition calling on government to update the school curriculum and improve the quality of food education in schools.

Through the NFU’s outreach programme over the past year, more than half a million schoolchildren have taken part in NFU live lessons, while the Farmers for Schools programme – where trained farmers and NFU staff visit schools to share their stories – has more than doubled in reach.

In the 2024-25 academic year alone, the programme has connected with more than 30,000 pupils, thanks to almost 400 trained volunteers.

NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “At a time when climate change, global conflict and supply chain shocks are putting pressure on food systems worldwide, it has never been more important to grow that understanding at home.

“Young people deserve to leave school with a fair understanding of the many benefits British farming has to offer.”

NFU Mutual chairman Jim McLaren, who also chairs the charitable trust, said helping young people learn about farming and where their food comes from is crucially important.

“This is a fantastic initiative working closely with schools to deliver engaging and memorable education,” he added.