ACE
All Secondary students at OAGS participate in Agriculture lessons as part of the curriculum. The ACE (Agricultural Centre of Excellence) Academy also provides co-curricular opportunities for students who wish to take their studies further, deepen their understanding of, and be involved in agriculture outside of the classroom.
The OAGS ACE Academy is a unique cross curricular approach to developing an appreciation of food and fibre production across all learning stages. Students engaged in ACE activities are immersed in a holistic approach to agriculture, with the Centre forming key partnerships with industry leaders in all sectors.
The OAGS ACE program operates multiple enterprises onsite and in combination with partnership properties giving students a wide array of agricultural experiences. Onsite, this includes:
- Stud beef cattle
- Alpacas
- Cropping and hay making
- Regenerative farming
- Beekeeping
- Aquaponics including trout
- Meat chickens
- Commercial free range eggs
- Prime lambs
- Merino wethers
- Fruit and vegetable production
ACE is a true paddock to plate approach with all food utilised in the Food Technology department and school canteen with seasonal menus reflecting the current production cycle of the school farm.
For more information please contact sarah.eyb@oags.nsw.edu.au
OAGS Partnership with AISNSW
OAGS continues to expand the ACE academy via genuine industry partnerships and Vocational Education with the Certificate II in Agriculture (Primary Industries). Australian Independent Schools (NSW) have been shortlisted as the State Training Awards large VET training provider of the year. Mrs Eyb will be presenting at the AIS NSW Primary Industries conference in Armidale next week regarding the multi faceted ACE program, including our most recent project incorporating Verroa Detection Technology in partnership with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in addition to the wide range of agricultural sector partnerships.
Year 11 Student Broghan O'Donnell shares his experience with the program on this video.