A WINCHESTER school has taken outside learning to the next level by introducing livestock to its primary school children.

Otterbourne pupils have spent the last four weeks feeding and learning about their pet sheep – taking a very hands-on approach to science-based lessons.

The two ewes and two lambs – on loan from Sparsholt College – were integrated at the school following the successful concerted re-growth of the school meadow which the staff and children had been tending for the past decade.

The proof of their hard work has all paid off and the children get to visit their new friends every day as they learn about the feeding habits, environment and the way the mums interact with their newborns.

Head teacher Alison Langrish said: “We have worked over the last ten years to get this back to a proper meadow and we have linked a lot of science-based education to what we do here. The school children wanted some sort of animal and, as the meadow is as good as it is, we were tempted to see if we could keep sheep for a while. The shepherd came (from Sparsholt) and checked the meadow to see if it was suitable for them and made it safe to have them. We’ve even got parents doing shepherding over the weekends.”

Jake Barney, nine, said his favourite was the little black lamb, nicknamed Yonge after the school house.

“It’s quite cute and she doesn’t really mind if we get quite close to her,” he said. “Even though they’re babies they have got a lot of energy and can jump really high.”

Anastasia Warren, also nine, added: “I learned that the lambs aren’t very scared. When we’re standing by their trough they come quite close. Everyone comes down at least once a week so everyone gets to see them and sometimes they get even closer.”

Six-year-old Cerys Dennis said: “They try to push each other and nibble up the food quicker that the others can.”