The Goodwood Education Trust - Autumn Update
Published 17:46 on 11 Sep 2025
We are an independent environmental education charity, operating on the Goodwood Estate. Weve been connecting children with food and nature for almost 50 years.
Our year round programmes are:
- Farm Visits for Schools, including free visits for disadvantaged schools.
- Woodland learning, including weekly Forest Schools for vulnerable students in Alternative Provision or Special Schools.
- Children in the Community, including partnerships with local charities and Forest
FARM VISITS
We host primary and secondary schools all year round, to Goodwoods Home Farm, one of the largest mixed organic farms in the country. The Farm is in the process of installing a robotic milking machine which gives students the opportunity to compare and contrast technology past and present. Visits are tailored to your curriculum area.
Thanks to the South Downs National Park, via Farming in Protected Landscapes funding and continued funding from the Rural Payments Agency, we can offer free visits to schools with high numbers of children eligible for means-tested Free School meals, or those with Special Educational Needs. We know coach travel is a significant barrier and for these schools we can offer £300 towards travel.
FOREST SCHOOL
We run Forest School sessions all year round, for both primary and secondary schools, for children struggling to engage in mainstream schooling, at risk of exclusion or already excluded. Time in nature, as part of their weekly curriculum, improves self-regulation and motivation, and increases social skills such as teamwork, listening and making positive decision. Were grateful to the South Downs National Park Trust for their contribution which means we can continue to part-fund the Forest School sessions.
We offer a popular Terrific Trees workshop do get in touch to find out more by contacting get@goodwood.com.
SUMMER TERM 2025 INSIGHTS
580 children visited the farm
265 children were on a free trip. Of those, 22% were eligible for means-tested free school meal
We ran 39 Forest School sessions
FOREST ADVENTURES
All day long woodland activities for both primary and secondary explorers. Our 2026 dates will go live in the autumn so keep an eye out for updates and online availability.
OPEN FARM SUNDAY
Together with the Farm Team and the Farm Shop, we hosted Open Farm Sunday in June. Around 3,000 visitors attended, meeting the animals, talking to the staff, trying our local produce, admiring the tractors, and enjoying family friendly woodland activities. They went away with a greater understanding of organic farming and local food production.
CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY
We use our funding and facilities to provide woodland sessions for children struggling with a challenge in life. These may include children with a family member in prison, a child diagnosed with a life-long health condition, a sibling faced with a terminal diagnosis, or a child struggling with anxiety. Wed love to welcome new groups to the woods; our sessions are available at weekends and through the school holidays.
STEM SEMINARS
We hosted record-breaking STEM Seminars as part of the Festival of Speed this July. 350 secondary school students. 30 teachers. An incredible line up of industry leading insight into the world of creative and product design. Speakers talked about their own career journey, on subjects as varied as deep-sea exploration, a future with robotics, immersive storytelling and motorsport waste. As if that wasnt enough, the students got to see the Red Arrows and received free tickets to the Festival of Speed.
Next year the seminars will run 10 and 11 July
Contact for more information or bookings
