Ripley School wins Bpex Gold for sausage brand

- Published: 20 April, 2010

Ripley St Thomas School, near Lancaster, has won Gold awards for its sausages at the Bpex roadshow.

The ‘Ripley Traditional Pork Sausage’ and ‘Ripley Pork, Potato and Smoked Garlic Sausage’ won from hundreds of product entries in the roadshow competition at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

Ripley School has been rearing pigs for three years, teaching children about animal husbandry and how caterers use the meat in the canteen, for roasting joints, burgers and sausages.

Teacher Rob Wilson said: “The farm plays an incredibly important part in school life. We’re constantly looking at new ways to grow our farm-to-fork philosophy. It is so important that children learn more about the food they eat – and what better way than to be rewarded by their own efforts.”

Pupils study agriculture and horticulture at a basic level, learning about animals and crops. Agriculture and horticulture is also a GCSE option and, as part of the course, year 11 pupils trial different methods of husbandry and compare the results.

The school has also entered a competition with the Real Food Festival, producing a film about the pigs and the procedures in their sausage-making. The winner will be announced at the fair at Earls Court, London, in May.

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