Ewe could be next shepherd at Chippenham school
11:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Latest News By Julie Armstrong, Senior reporter
Hardenhuish School pupils help science teacher Chris Woods to look after the sheep
Hardenhuish School in Chippenham is advertising for a shepherd to look after its flock of six pedigree Jacob sheep.
The Chippenham school has shared its grounds with the lambing ewes for years as part of its agricultural science provision.
They are usually looked after by science teacher Chris Woods but he is due to retire.
They are fed by the groundsman but the school needs someone to check on them for a couple of hours each week during term time and one hour a week in the school holidays.
Business manager Linda Stuart said: “They’re definitely part of the school, they’ve been here for years. Everyone keeps an eye out for them.
“It is also educational. The children know they are going to be food so we don’t give them names.”
Jacob sheep are more likely to have multiple births, so a few triplets would not be unusual this spring. The lambs stay at the school until they are six months old and then go to the slaughter house. If a ewe dies it is replaced by one of the lambs so it is sustainable.
The shepherd would also be required to work with small groups of pupils studying agricultural science to show them how to look after the ewes and tend the lambs.
They would need to work extra hours at times of immunisation or lambing or to supervise when the ram comes.
Hardenhuish has not yet received any applications for the position, which pays £8.72 to £9.23 an hour. Application packs can be downloaded from www.hardenhuish.wilts. sch.uk. The closing date is March 28, at 9am and interviews will be held in April.
