A UNIQUE and distinctly smelly project at the Blackbird Academy Trust saw pupils make leaps and bounds in confidence and entrepreneurial skills last year.

More than 350 pupils at Pegasus, Orchard Meadow and Windale Primary Schools have now got their hands dirty working at the school’s very own garlic farm.

So far 1,200 bulbs have been harvested from the POW Garlic Farm – named using the initials of the schools – on land rented from a farm in Sandhills.

Outdoor lead Ian Holford said: “In June the kids will be harvesting the garlic again, which is really exciting, and processing and drying it out.

“We will be doing some cooking with it and selling it to the school canteen and at local fairs and bazaars, and we would also like to go to local restaurants.”

Garlic was chosen as the primary crop after a 2013 school visit to the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm, which has donated seeds and advice towards the project.

Some 1,500 have been planted for the second round and a “garlic committee”of nine pupils has been formed to take on sales, marketing and organisation.

Committee members submitted job applications for the role, and have since held a school assembly on the POW Garlic Farm and presented it to governors.

Other pupils have been taken on trips to the farm, which is being paid for with one twist of garlic a week in rent, to try their hand at planting.

Shirin Chandy-Welham, who has helped co-ordinate the project with the Blackbird Academy Trust, said: “This is about giving them the soft skills they will need to be employed, and seeing them grow in confidence.”

Pupils gave a sales pitch to each of the three school canteens, which have bought and begun to use their home-grown garlic.

Later this year the trust will look to expand the scheme with other produce such as potatoes.

Jill Hudson, executive head of the academy trust, said: “This project is run by the children.

“They relish the excitement of running a real farm and a real business.

“The students are inspired by professionals working alongside them, helping them to develop superb skills that will equip them to thrive in the adult world.

“The Garlic Farm brings learning out of the classroom, but the students apply their knowledge of maths, English and science to the day-to-day running of a real business.”