Baldragon abuzz as school prepares to launch qualification in beekeeping

Baldragon Academy pupils will soon be able to add beekeeping to their list of qualifications.

From next year, they will be able to choose beekeeping as one of their timetable subjects and learn about the life cycle of the insects, their biology, pollination and diseases.

The course will include donning protective suits and caring for bees in six hives belonging to the school.

At the end, pupils can achieve an SQA qualification, a National Progression Award (NAP) at level 5.

Award-winning honey

Success of the Dundee school’s bee club, which has four colonies of bees and has produced award-winning honey, led to the course’s introduction.

Through the club, run by Fred Mollison, of Baldragon Beekeeping Association (BBA), 24 youngsters cared for bees from four single queens.

Pupils conducted weekly inspections of the hives to maintain the health of eggs and larvae, leading to thousands of thriving working bees populating the hives.

Honey extracted from the hives was used to make honey chutney, shortbread and tablet.

Pupil Kyle Barber, 15, who helped look after the bees, said: “It was mind-blowing how animals that are that small could produce that much honey.”

A poster created by the club and the art department to raise awareness of bees’ importance won first prize at the Scottish National Honey Show.

Cut comb honey from the school’s hives won second place at the same show, run by the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association, and their honey chutney came third.

Fred said: “They were competing against adults and beekeepers with years of experience so it’s a big achievement.”

The pupils also helped build a community garden, dry stone wall and wild flower meadow to support the bees, and continue to maintain it.

Lockdown idea

Head teacher Hugh McAninch says the idea came to him after the first Covid lockdown when he was looking at how outdoor space around the school could be better used.

Aware of similar projects in the Scottish Borders, he began researching what bees would look like at Baldragon, and made contact with local beekeepers.

The school teamed up with BBA and the first queens were donated by members Fred, who runs the club, Sandy Scott and Simon Mortlock.

Hives were put together by the school’s technology department and labels and packaging for honey produce were made by the art department.

Hugh said: “It’s about diversifying our curriculum to create a sustainable education.

“Students look at climate change and we wanted to bring those learnings into every day education.

They’ve actually created a marketable product.”

Head teacher Hugh McAninch

“And its a cross-subject project so it gives them lots of skills from subjects such as science, art and business.

“They’ve actually created a marketable product.”

Packaging and labelling was checked by Dundee City Council to ensure the produce complies with food standards so it can be sold in shops.

Word of the bee club’s success has spread, and Baldragon Academy has agreed to donate a couple of its new queens to Brechin High School.