School with a zoo is named UK's greenest - Education News, Education - The Independent

School with a zoo is named UK's greenest - Education News, Education - The Independent: "It all started when assistant headteacher Sean O'Donovan, who trained as a rural studies teacher, launched a school farm 14 years ago. Then, it was just a case of a few rabbits and chickens. Now it has expanded to include the alpaca, Shetland ponies, chinchillas, pigs and even boa constrictors. The snakes came from HM Customs and Excise, which has been so impressed with the way the school looks after animals that it is on its list as a possible sanctuary for animals that have been smuggled into the country and are in emergency need of a new home. In fact, the school was offered 60 boa constrictors, but diplomatically put it to HMC&E that it would prefer to cope with just two.

Looking after animals is a central feature of the school's curriculum and many of its pupils harbour ambitions to become involved in animal welfare when they leave school. Some are employed by the school and look after animals in the holidays and at weekends while continuing with their studies."