The Beacon assessors said Wiltshire College and University Centre had demonstrated excellence in delivering farm-based practical skills and theoretical knowledge to learners through immersion in its working 1,600-acre farm.

Commercial staff support teachers in making the curriculum content relevant for the world of work, and a degree of “ownership” is created for learners through the real-life context.

This creates students who are highly sought after by employers owing to their technical skills and work readiness. Some 96 per cent of learners who attend courses linked to the farm, based at the college’s Lackham campus, move into employment.

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Students are encouraged to engage with employers and the community. One example of this is during the college’s lambing season “open weekends”. The agricultural students help to lamb more than 1,000 ewes - while also explaining the process to 10,000 visiting members of the public.

In addition, learners undertake dairy duties on the farm throughout their studies. They carry out the harvesting, maize silaging, ploughing and grass cutting for the farm using the college’s own machinery. This includes state-of-the-art, GPS-automated tractors to ensure students are aware of emerging agri-tech and its role in modern farming methods.

The assessors were impressed by the “exceptional and innovative approach to practical teaching, learning and assessment which results in excellent progression and achievement data”. They added: “The implementation of investigative projects develops the knowledge and skills of both the students and staff, while providing a positive impact on productivity.”