Agriculture

A country school for country kids

As a country school that sits within Southwest Queensland’s agricultural heartland, providing our students with insight into local industry and a pathway to a career within it, is an important part of what we do.

A layered program caters for all levels of interest, with students able to immerse in agriculture on an academic and co-curricular level.

Our Cattle and Sheep Clubs, available from Year 5 onwards, provide our boys and girls with an opportunity to immerse in the world of livestock showing and judging. It’s a great way for them to learn more about the meat sheep and beef cattle industries from an early age, and it’s also a lot of fun.

Those looking to deepen their knowledge can choose to pursue Agricultural Studies – an academic elective available to Year 9 and 10 students. Here, they explore areas like alternative agricultural industries, plant propagation, honey bees and growing monster vegetables and in Year 10, intensive animal industries, property planning and sustainable agriculture.

While these experiences are hands-on by nature, we work hard to also ensure that our program connects students with the wider community. For example, our Paddock to Plate initiative sees agricultural students visit feedlots and abattoirs to learn from local farmers and industry experts. Beyond gaining a better understanding around where food comes from, they get a first-hand look at how to care for stock and manage the land.

Gain a qualification while at school

In Years 11 and 12, students can opt to complete a Certificate III in Agriculture.
And it’s not just limited to those pursuing a VET pathway, with the qualification contributing to ATAR points where relevant.

Units include:

• Farm safety
• Fencing
• Showing livestock (preparing and showing led steers)
• Horticulture (small crops can be big business)
• Nursery work (from little things big things grow)

The course equips students with both practical skills and important business knowledge.