L5 Rural Skills

The opportunities for rural careers are right on our doorstep. From the family croft to forestry, game keeping and farming, these are our local employers. The Golspie High rural skills course will teach you how to croft and farm. If you want to take over the family croft in years to come or just know how to grow your own tatties and work with animals for the first time this course is for you.

The course is split into livestock, crops and a case study. For the livestock unit you will help manage and care for a flock of sheep on an active croft throughout the year. It will be hands on, from catching and handling to fencing and feeding. You’ll do it yourself. In the crops unit you will plant, manage and harvest plots of oats, swedes and tatties learning the skills to produce food for the table and feed for animals. Lastly you will visit and study a different croft to observe commercial and mechanised farming on a larger scale. 

The course has no exams but you are required to pass assessments in class as well as a portfolio for the croft case study. You will also be required to pass practical assessments such as demonstrating correct sheep handling. 

Progression is often straight into employment however college courses are available should you wish to specialise in any particular rural skills such as game keeping, forestry, farm management, equine studies etc.

This course is focussed on crofting and farming and will provide you with the skills necessary to gain employment directly into this field, take on a croft yourself or progress to further education.