Whether it's the sustained and full commitment of having bees onsite in the school grounds or you simply want to feature Bees in your school's curriculum and have a connection with your local beekeeping branch, we believe that it can be of huge benefit to your school's attainment levels and that it is worth the push!

Yvonne Kilvington, of Ashbrow School in Huddersfield, beekeeper and school employee has kept bees onsite for the last 7 years.

Her children 'benefit from spending time in the natural environment. For some children the confines of 4 walls can be stifling and has its challenges, and by being outdoors allows them to learn in a way that suits them.

Outdoor learning can have a positive impact on behaviour and can stimulate, motivate and offer learning experiences that no classroom can offer.

At Ashbrow School we have created an environment where all children can develop confidence and self-esteem through a variety of outdoor learning experiences, and being with the bees is one of them.

A variety of activities outside the classroom can help expel physical energy, help with self control and allow children the opportunity to work together as a team, thus developing positive relationships with themselves and others.

I can remember one young man who's confidence in the classroom was pretty low, but by spending time outside with the bees, over a number of weeks, his confidence went through the roof and had an huge impact on his work inside school. He felt good about himself as he achieved things he thought he never would, and this is very much the case with a lot of children.

For those who are otherwise disengaged in the classroom, being outdoors can often see them flourish in an environment they feel comfortable in.'

Bees in the curriculum is available here - With kind sponsorship from Suttons Seeds, it provides teachers with all the resources they need to teach their Primary aged children all about the basics of bees and gets them outside looking at minibeasts and the world around them. 

If you are a School and thinking of having Bees in your School please find the following thoroughly researched documents as guidelines for your planning; - 

1. Managing your apiary, time commitment

2. Schools' beekeeping management plan

3. Model rules for the Apiary

4. Model risk assessment

For anything else, please get in touch with our Schools' Coordinator Claire Hartry

To invite a beekeeper to your school to do a talk - please find your local association and make contact with them

Has your school done something already to help honey bees and pollinators?

As part of Bees’ Needs Week and the Year of Green Action we are helping recognise schools and pre-schools who help protect pollinators.

Projects don’t have to be big or have a lot of investment, they just need to benefit pollinators in some way. This could include a host of things from creating habitats to campaigning. Maybe your school has created a wildflower garden or set up a lunchtime club, gardening club, or even a beekeeping club. You might have worked with a BBKA branch in your area?

You can nominate your school or pre-school for a Year of Green Action Bees’ Needs Champions Award  download this form here and email it to [email protected] by the end of the day on 19th May 2019