Dorset Studio School welcomed over 400 parents, prospective students and local businesses to its Open Morning on Saturday, 4th October. The school’s most successful event to date.
Visitors explored the school’s distinctive land-based learning environment, discovering how Dorset Studio School equips students for meaningful careers across agriculture, conservation, animal management and the wider rural economy. Guided tours gave guests an insight into life at the school from livestock care and crop management to environmental science, countryside engineering and sustainable land use.
Unlike conventional mainstream secondary schools, Dorset Studio School is designed specifically for motivated young people who have a passion in the land and environment. Alongside lessons in classrooms, students are in workshops, on farms and in the field, learning alongside professionals. This is a school for students who want to build skills, take responsibility and get ahead in real careers from day one.
That focus on professionalism and purpose was evident throughout the Open Morning, as current student ambassadors proudly demonstrated their expertise and spoke with confidence about their future ambitions. Parents/Carers commented on the maturity and enthusiasm of these students, reflecting the school’s culture of respect, teamwork and hands-on achievement.
The event also provided an opportunity for prospective students and their parents/carers to see how the school continues to bridge education and employment, producing capable young professionals who are already making an impact in Dorset’s rural workforce.
Mark Gibbons, Director of Knighton Countryside Management and Vice Chair of Governors at Dorset Studio School, said:
“We’re proud to have built a strong relationship with Dorset Studio School over the years. Around ten percent of our workforce are former students, many of whom joined us through apprenticeship routes. They arrive with the practical skills, work ethic and professionalism that make them an asset from day one. The school is producing the next generation of land-based professionals. People who understand the countryside because they’ve already worked in it.”
With plans for a brand-new campus now moving forward following Department for Education funding approval, the school’s leadership team hinted at more exciting announcements to come in the months ahead.
Principal Jason Malone said:
“We were delighted to welcome so many families and industry partners on Saturday. The turnout was phenomenal and reflects the growing interest in the type of practical, land-based education Dorset Studio School provides. Our students learn in real-world settings, gaining the skills, resilience and experience that employers value most.”
He continued:
“There’s a growing recognition that practical, land-based education produces confident, capable young people who are anything but disengaged. Our students are out there making a difference. Not because they have to, but because they want to. It’s a privilege to help them discover their strengths and shape their futures.”
For more information about Dorset Studio School and future open events, visit dorsetstudioschool.co.uk
Visitors and Dorset Studio School student ambassadors enjoying the Open Morning