The Stratton Education Foundation announced the closure of the farm at Biggleswade's Stratton High School on July 19 at the end of the summer semester.

In a letter to the Board of Governors Chairwoman Madeline Russell, she said that in recent years farm management costs have increased, while students choosing agricultural courses have declined. However, animal welfare will remain a priority.

Madeline Russell said: “The farm has been a unique and valuable part of the school curriculum since 1955, when many students from Stratton regularly left the farm or related industries after graduation. In recent years, the number of students choosing agricultural courses as an option has significantly decreased, while the costs of maintaining a farm and keeping animals have increased. ”

Very few students graduate from Stratton in order to pursue a career in agriculture, and they need to ensure that the school’s limited funding and resources are focused on a curriculum that meets today's aspirations of young people.

The school can no longer cover the costs of operating the farm, and a recent survey of conditions has shown that more than £ 0.5 million must be spent to bring facilities and buildings to an acceptable level.

“This is the end of an era, and the closure of the school is a blow for those of us who have known the farm for a long time,” wrote the Chairman of the Board of Governors.