My potentially great idea!

lisa110rry

Strange title, I know.

The state high school (now called an "Academy" lol, though there's still a little sign on the side that reads [name of village] Secondary Modern!) has a superb greenhouse with water and electricity. It's got to be eight times the size of my 8'x6' one. Sadly, it is only used for junk storage. Today I telephoned the school to ask if I could use it for growing, giving the surplus to the school kitchen for nothing! Wouldn't that be just brilliant? I could grow more tomatoes, cucumbers, even melons I should think in there. Maybe even plant a fig tree in a large container.

Do you think such an arrangement would carry any weight in an Ofsted audit?

I have my fingers firmly crossed!

wallbash

Today I telephoned the school to ask if I could use it for growing, giving the surplus to the school kitchen for nothing!

Knowing the state of Health / safety nonsense, that might be a problem But if you could tie it up with showing kids 'how' to grow food, thats a winner.
Very Green, ticks boxs with Ofsted

lisa110rry

Unfortunately I work full time, and frankly don't like children as a general rule!:cool: Well, at least not when pursuing my hobby of growing.

With regard to the pupils' and teachers' health and safety, the greenhouse is already there and glazed. With regard to CRO checking, I would not be on school premises while the school was in session (becuase I work). With regard to my health and safety, perhaps I could sign a disclaimer?

I know what you mean though...it's a big ask to be allowed to take on this greenhouse, but it would be a dream come true!

wallbash

To be blunt, you are not 'offering' the school anything!You want to be on the premises ,unsupervised.

Having been a school Governor in the past, I would not support your actions.
As a gardener I think its great.

Good Luck

lisa110rry

I can but ask! Perhaps if I throw in grammar lessons for the teachers/administrators, lol, they may look kindly on me. I pointed out that their signs saying "No parking except buses, please respect childrens [sic] safety" were incorrect and they were replaced within a week...

The only year the beautiful greenhouse was ever used, it was for a "gardening club" lead by one of the teachers, who has long since left the school.

Such a waste. On the off chance I get a call back, I'll report the result. I'm feeling on such a roll having got my energy direct debit reduced from £118 to £29 per month this morning, that I feel anything could happen!

Davesnave

lisa110rry wrote: »

. I pointed out that their signs saying "No parking except buses, please respect childrens [sic] safety" were incorrect and they were replaced within a week...

Good Lord! Head's would of rolled at my school if someone done a sine like that! :rotfl:

moneyistooshorttomention

I have to say that, in the school governors position, I would very much feel "why should a private individual use OUR property for THEIR benefit?" To stand a chance of convincing me the ratio of food the community (ie the school) got from it would have to be, say, 90% of the food coming to us and a private individual might get "paid" 10% of the produce for their efforts in growing it for US.

I would also ensure the school laid down that the private individual was to be health-and-safety compliant/grow food of our choice for us/etc/etc.

In short - it wouldn't be happening.

The only offer I would realistically consider within the bounds of a community facility (eg school) would be whereby the whole community was doing the growing/the whole community was getting the produce/etc.

Your admission you don't like children would set the seal on it. I'm not keen on children either and that's entirely a personal opinion someone is entitled to have BUT with that...then I wouldn't set myself up to go and work in a facility that is meant for children because of it. I'd count myself out of that sort of environment and leave it to people who do actually like children - as they would obviously be more appropriate. Those children will know its "their" facility and would obviously (and quite rightly - and fair enough) come in and start chatting/questioning/helping and they would have every right to do so, because of it being "theirs".

I'm sorry to have be so blunt - but community facilities are for the use of the community and not for the benefit of a private individual.

Davesnave

There is no way a large greenhouse would have been constructed for an ad hoc school club. It's much more likely that it would have come from a time when rural studies was on the curriculum.

Back in the 1970s, I taught for a short time at this school, which had animals like goats & sheep on site. With the demise of rural studies, the greenhouse fell into disuse, but then....

http://www.bgci.org/index.php?option=com_article&id=0728&print=1

Fosterdog

They probably won't allow you to use it for yourself but maybe if you set up a local community gardening group you'd be able to use it but have to share that use with others

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

There is no way a large greenhouse would have been constructed for an ad hoc school club. It's much more likely that it would have come from a time when rural studies was on the curriculum.

Back in the 1970s, I taught for a short time at this school, which had animals like goats & sheep on site. With the demise of rural studies, the greenhouse fell into disuse, but then....

http://www.bgci.org/index.php?option=com_article&id=0728&print=1

Now that's the sort of idea that would be a good use for this greenhouse.

In this day and age, I would tend to think food should be favoured over foliage - in view of the tales we read about some pupils coming to school hungry. But the general concept is good.

emslovesmickey

lisa110rry wrote: »

Strange title, I know.

The state high school (now called an "Academy" lol, though there's still a little sign on the side that reads [name of village] Secondary Modern!) has a superb greenhouse with water and electricity. It's got to be eight times the size of my 8'x6' one. Sadly, it is only used for junk storage. Today I telephoned the school to ask if I could use it for growing, giving the surplus to the school kitchen for nothing! Wouldn't that be just brilliant? I could grow more tomatoes, cucumbers, even melons I should think in there. Maybe even plant a fig tree in a large container.

Do you think such an arrangement would carry any weight in an Ofsted audit?

I have my fingers firmly crossed!

Have you thought about offering your services to teach kids about gardening, perhaps at an after school club? That way, you would still be able to use the greenhouse and you would be giving back to the students