Beacon Schools

BBKA Beacon Schools Mission Statement

BBKA Beacon School status is awarded to those schools who demonstrate sustained best practice in beekeeping and apiculture acting as Centres of Excellence in the provision of on-site school apiaries and bee clubs. 

Beacon schools will educate their pupils about the enjoyment and appreciation of beekeeping and increase awareness in young people of the importance of bees and other pollinating insects in the environment, plus sharing their knowledge not only with other schools but also with their local communities. 

The aim is to establish a pool of schools with the required knowledge, experience and set up to provide support to others and to demonstrate the wide-ranging benefits to children keeping bees can bring.

Beacon Schools should:

1. Show sustained commitment to beekeeping with an on-site apiary registered on BeeBase.
2. Demonstrate a very good standard of school beekeeping.
3. Incorporate beekeeping in the curriculum.
4. Share best practice in school beekeeping with other schools.
5. Be willing to offer advice to other schools that wish to establish beekeeping. This might include information for parents, teachers and governors.
6. Demonstrate to others the advantages to pupils of keeping bees and encouraging pollinators at school.
7. Offer positive encouragement to young people about the advantages and benefits of beekeeping and support for pollinators and their forage.
8. Encourage the wider community to understand and value bees and pollinators.
9. Encourage pupils to undertake the BBKA Junior Certificate.
10. Be aware that schools awarded Beacon School status will be re-visited to review and support periodically.

We currently have three Beacon schools: Ashbrow School, Oakgrove School & Southend High School for Boys.  These schools work closely with the BBKA to ensure information and support is available for all schools who may be interested in beekeeping.  They are a valuable source of advice for other schools who are looking to set up an apiary.

For more information and guidance on becoming a Beacon School please contact [email protected]

It is important we educate and enthuse children and young people as these are the beekeepers of the future!