“The sessions were so well organised, thoughtfully planned, and linked brilliantly to our Science topics – it really made the learning come alive for the children.” Year 5 Teacher, Greenhill Academy, Oldham
Northern Roots is being developed as an immersive, living curriculum that brings learning to life through a dynamic, hands-on approach. In collaboration with a range of partners, we deliver practical education, outdoor skills, qualifications, and training across environmental science, horticulture, ecology, land management, local heritage and more. Our experiential programmes support learners at every stage of life—enriching the primary and secondary school curriculums, engaging pre-schoolers, and providing vital training, apprenticeships, and adult skills development for older learners.
Our current offer for schools, home educators and alternate provisions are set out below.
In future we will extend our offer to include further curriculum linked sessions for schools, as well as offers for Early Years, bespoke learning packages for SEND and Alternative Education, Landscape Management Tickets and Qualifications, and Apprenticeships.
If you would like to bring your class or team to Northern Roots contact info@northern-roots.uk to discuss availability and costs.
If you are a learning or training partner who would like to partner with us to deliver courses and training here, contact info@northern-roots.uk.
Key Stage 1 & 2
- Farm to Fork: Age Range: KS1
Visit the farm to explore growing practices. Meet the growers at Northern Roots, explore locally grown produce on site, then prepare a healthy snack. Discover where food originates from and be food smart.
“I wanted to extend our deepest gratitude for hosting us today at the farm-to-food workshop – it was an absolutely wonderful and enriching experience for the girls and myself. The hands-on approach you provided made learning about where our food comes from truly come alive, and the girls were absolutely captivated from the moment we arrived.
Since returning home, the girls have been buzzing with excitement as we carefully transplanted all the vegetables and beautiful flowers we nurtured during the session into our vegetable patch.”
The workshop was so much more than just a gardening session; it was a meaningful connection to nature, an introduction to sustainable food practices, and a wonderful opportunity for the girls to learn practical skills in such a nurturing environment. Your passion and expertise truly shone through, and we left feeling not only inspired but also deeply appreciative of the work you do.”
Home Education Parent, following a Farm to Fork session
- Be a Mini Northern Roots Ranger for a Day: Age Range: EYFS/KS1
Meet our Northern Roots team and become a Northern Roots Ranger for the day. Enjoy your very own mini career experience. Have a go at planting and tending on the farm. Then identify plants on our I Spy Plant Identification Trail – can you group and identify common features of plants that grow locally?
- Bugs and Bees: Entomology at Northern Roots: Age Range: KS2
Visit our Northern Roots site to meet Damson our very own Bee Keeper or Stuart our Butterfly Farmer. Learn about pollination and the importance of insects to food security on our farm. Then explore micro habitats on the Northern Roots site. Finish the day creating insect imagery.
“Thank you so much for a fantastic day on Tuesday. Class 5 had an amazing time and have been talking about it every day since!
The sessions were so well organised, thoughtfully planned, and linked brilliantly to our Science topics – it really made the learning come alive for the children.”
Class Teacher, Greenhill Academy, following an Entomology: Bugs & Bees at Northern Roots session
“It was my best trip ever!”
“This trip was awesome!”
“When I had the ladybird on my hand, I was happy.”
“Thank you for teaching us so much about the environment”
“One thing I enjoyed was the dig and finding cool things, especially the worms. I had fun with them.”
Schoolchildren at Greenhill Academy
Key Stage 3 & 4
- Field Work Study Days: Age Range: KS3/4
Food Production and Fertilisers: Soil Management: A focus on soil management and sampling: observe, measure, record and test the soil composition at Northern Roots. Explore the farm and learn about our sustainable, regenerative growing practices.
Or
Insect Biodiversity and Distribution: Age Range: KS3/4
Swap textbooks for terrain: master core GCSE sampling techniques in action and investigate real-world biodiversity across Northern Roots’ diverse habitats.
Continuous Professional Development Learning
- Where Words Grow: Developing Oracy Through Nature: Staff CPDL Session (half day or twilight)
Explore how nature activities encourage talking.
Help your pupils develop their vocabulary, use of descriptive language, questioning skills and critical thinking through nature-based awe and wonder activities. Gather accessible ideas that can be used back in your own setting.
- Northern Roots: History Detectives – can be tailored to meet your curriculum needs or offered as a staff CPDL session
Northern Roots is sited on historical ground in the centre of Oldham, and holds rich stories of inspiring individuals, buildings and landscapes that have shaped the town of today. Learn about our shared heritage and how the land is changing today.