Schools Outreach

Schools Outreach for Primary Schools in Barnsley

At Staincross Apiaries, we offer engaging, curriculum-linked bee workshops for primary schools in Yorkshire and surrounding areas, designed to inspire children through real-world learning.

Alongside running the apiary, I am a Catholic primary school teacher and SENDCo, bringing professional classroom experience, inclusive practice, and a clear understanding of how to engage and support learners of all abilities.

Our outreach sessions combine science, sustainability, and practical experience, helping pupils develop a meaningful connection to the natural world.

What We Offer: Beekeeping Workshops for Schools

We provide flexible school visits, assemblies, and classroom workshops tailored to EYFS, KS1, and KS2.

School Assemblies

Whole-school assemblies introduce:

  • The lifecycle of the honey bee
  • Pollination and honey production
  • Threats to our native bees

These work particularly well for science weeks, eco initiatives, or whole-school themes.

Classroom Workshops

Interactive, curriculum-linked sessions covering:

  • The lifecycle of a honeybee
  • How honey is made, from flower to jar
  • Roles within the hive (queen, workers, drones)
  • Pollination and biodiversity
  • Environmental awareness and responsibility

Sessions are adapted to suit different ages and needs, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and SEND accessibility.

Observation Hive (Seasonal)

Where weather and colony conditions allow, we can bring a live observation hive into school (don’t worry, the bees can’t get out!).

This gives pupils the opportunity to:

  • See honeybees up close in a safe environment
  • Observe real hive activity
  • Ask questions and explore genuine curiosity

For many children, this is the most memorable part of the visit.

Pollinator Education and Wildflower Projects

As part of our wider work in environmental education, we support schools in developing pollinator-friendly spaces. We worked with St. Austin’s on projects leading up to their qualification as a “Bee Friendly School” – find out more about this project here.

Through our partnership with UW, we are sometimes able to offer:

  • Free wildflower seeds
  • Guidance on creating pollinator areas within school grounds
  • Opportunities to contribute to a growing pollinator corridor

This allows pupils to take practical action while reinforcing curriculum learning.

Raising Awareness: Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet (YLAH)

An important part of our outreach is raising awareness of the Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet, an invasive species that poses a serious threat to honeybees and other pollinators in the UK.

We introduce pupils to:

  • What the hornet is and how to identify it
  • Why it is a risk to bee populations
  • The importance of reporting sightings

This links directly to wider conversations around biodiversity, conservation, and environmental responsibility.

Why Schools Choose Staincross Apiaries

  • Delivered by a qualified primary teacher and SENDCo
  • Curriculum-aware and age-appropriate
  • Inclusive and accessible for all learners
  • Rooted in real beekeeping experience
  • Engaging, memorable, and practical

This is not a generic workshop – it is a teacher-led experience grounded in real practice.

Availability

Due to commitments as a full-time teacher and beekeeper, outreach is:

  • Limited
  • Seasonal (typically spring to early autumn)
  • Dependent on weather and bee activity

Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly for summer term and themed weeks.

Book a School Visit

If you are looking for a bee workshop, school assembly, or pollinator education session in Barnsley, please get in touch with:

  • Your school name and location
  • Preferred dates
  • Year groups involved
  • Type of session required

We aim to create sessions that are not only informative, but genuinely memorable – helping children understand and value the role of bees in our world.