Our education team at the MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre here on Dumfries House Estate have fantastic and unique workshops to offer secondary pupils aged 14+ which cover many curricular areas. Working with our team in our state-of-the-art teaching facility, pupils will be introduced to a range of farming skills and knowledge through hands-on and close-up practice. Don’t worry… we provide the wellies!
Workshops which are currently available can be found below. Some workshops are only available on specific days of the week. Please check the day headers above each list when selecting your workshop to ensure availability. This will help you choose the options that best fit your timetable.
Thursdays only
Rural Skills – The Business of Farming – Full Day Workshop – 10am – 3pm
Discover the key to running a successful farm or rural enterprise in this hands-on, practical session. You’ll start by mapping out the people and organisations who have influence in agribusiness, then build your own toolkit of essential business skills. Learn how to analyse your business, assess strengths and weaknesses with SWOT, and understand both the internal and external factors that affect your operations. We’ll also cover practical essentials like sources of finance, simple budgeting techniques, and selecting the right software to meet both legislative requirements and the unique needs of your business. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the confidence and knowledge to make informed, strategic decisions for your rural enterprise.
Wednesdays and Thursdays
Rural Skills – Lens on the Land: A Farming & Photography Experience – Full Day Workshop – 10am – 3pm
Step into the world of farming like never before with Lens on the Land, a hands-on photography workshop designed for SQA NPA or Higher students. Spend a day at our rural skills centre, capturing the sights, sounds, and rhythms of real agricultural life. From the motion of machinery to quiet moments with animals and the beauty of the landscape, you’ll find endless inspiration for your shoots or portfolio. This immersive experience doesn’t stop there – you’ll also have the chance to return for focused sessions, helping you develop a standout, agriculture-themed body of work that’s truly creative and uniquely yours.
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
Practical Farming – Introduction to Farming in Ayrshire – Full Day Workshop – 10am – 3pm
In this full day workshop you will be introduced to farming in Ayrshire. Discover why this area is famous nationally for its stock and produce. Find out what shapes the type of farming activities in Ayrshire and wider Scotland. Learn why farmers always need to know the weather forecast is. Get hands on learning how to move livestock safely for health checks and weight measurement. Compare and contrast the differences between rare breeds and commercial livestock.
Practical Farming – The Journey of Calves to Finished Cattle – Full Day Workshop – 10am – 3pm
This full day workshop looks at the cycles, controls and quality assurance systems that form the basis of modern beef cattle production. You will learn the importance of breed selection for farm type and geographic area, cattle health and breeding, condition scoring, bull selection and calving. Get hands on with our calving simulator, move live cattle through our state of the art byre and learn how to operate handling equipment, weigh and measure to select finished cattle. You will also learn about marketing options, grading and payment systems.
Our school education workshops support the delivery of The Curriculum for Excellence, and many of our activities are based outdoors on our 2000 acre estate, making use of our natural spaces to inspire learning. The King’s Foundation works in harmony with the natural world, and as such our workshops also touch upon the UN Sustainable Development goals and support learning for sustainability.
If you require any further information on our Rural Skills workshops before booking, please contact us at farm.education@kings-foundation.org