RSPCA Encouraging Animal-Friendly schools

Animal-friendly schools do more than just teach about animals. They encourage both teachers and pupils to think about animals’ needs and to develop a sense of care and responsibility for them.

The benefits

An animal-friendly school:

~  promotes a sense of responsibility and respect towards all living things

~  teaches pupils about animals and their needs

~  is aware of and abides by animal welfare legislation

~  looks at important contemporary moral and ethical issues like animal experimentation and the effect of humans on the environment

~  encourages empathy and understanding of animals

~  is relevant to everyday life

How the RSPCA can help:

The RSPCA works with schools throughout England and Wales to help them plan and deliver animal welfare education in the classroom.

Our education website – www.rspca.org.uk/education – has a variety of National Curriculum-linked resources for both primary and secondary schools, which are free to download and are accompanied by free colour photo packs.

We have a team of regional education managers who can arrange ITT and INSET sessions or put schools in touch with RSPCA education advisers who will help them plan exciting and effective lessons on animal welfare issues, linked to the National Curriculum.

Areas to think about include:

Curriculum opportunities:

Animal welfare can be a cross-curricular topic or integrated into a specific subject such as science, citizenship or PSHE and English.

Classroom pets:

The RSPCA is opposed to the use of animals for education where distress or suffering is or is likely to be caused. The RSPCA believes children and young people can be taught about animals without keeping pets in the classroom.

Some alternatives to using real animals include:

• soft toys and props
• role play and drama activities
• books, videos, DVDs and CD-ROMs
• observing animals’ behaviour in their natural habitat
• developing a wildlife area in the school grounds.
  

The RSPCA strongly discourages the keeping of animals in schools. Schools can be noisy and frightening places for some animals and it is very difficult to look after any animal’s needs properly in a classroom environment. This applies to any animal, including African land snails and fish.

Any members of the school’s staff who are responsible for an animal or animals being on the school premises – whether on a permanent or temporary basis – are now subject, as a result of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, to the legal obligation to ensure that those animals’ needs are met.

These include:

~  its need for a suitable environment

~  its need for a suitable diet (food and fresh water)

~  its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns

~  any need it has to be housed with, or

    apart from, other animals, and

     its need to be protected from pain,   

     suffering, injury and disease.

These responsibilities do not end when the school day ends, but continue so long as the animal remains at school and include evenings, weekends and holidays. Personal responsibility exists irrespective of whether the animal in question was purchased by the school or is owned by one of the pupils or their parents. If an animal’s needs are not being adequately met whilst at school, criminal prosecutions could in theory be brought against all persons over the age of 16 who had responsibility for that animal, including school staff.

Visitors with animals and animal events:

Many visiting speaker schemes and other animal-related events do not put the animals’ needs first.

Animals are often transported in unsuitable conditions, and the noise and unfamiliarity of a school environment can cause them distress.

The RSPCA is opposed to events and fundraisers at schools involving animals as their welfare cannot be guaranteed at all times. These include donkey derbies, pig, sheep and snail racing, birds of prey displays, pet shows and events where animals are used as prizes.

It is illegal to offer an animal as a prize to a person under 16 who is not accompanied by an adult, except in limited circumstances provided in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Balloon releases may be fun but the balloons can harm the environment and animals if they eat them. 

Alternatives to animal-related events include:

• sponsored litter clearances
• sponsored dog walks
• a photographic pet show where pupils can bring in pictures of their pets or favourite animals.

School grounds:

• The RSPCA recommends that you develop your school grounds to make them more animal-friendly.
  This includes removing litter and other hazards and managing areas to encourage and protect wildlife.
  For more information see the ‘school grounds’ lesson resources on www.rspca.org.uk/education
• Wildlife and conservation areas in school grounds will attract a wide range of wildlife. Pupils can learn about the animals and their habitats and explore environmental issues such as biodiversity and interdependence.  

Code of conduct:

The RSPCA recommends that schools draw up a code of conduct for studying animals in their natural habitats. For example:

• show respect for animals and the places where they live
• never handle animals – draw pictures or take photos instead
• move quietly and slowly so you do not disturb animals – and take care not to step on any animals that crawl/fly away
• leave animals’ homes exactly as you found them – if you turn over rocks and logs put them back the way you found them
• do not drop litter.

Litter:

• Every day, RSPCA inspectors rescue pets and wild animals trapped or hurt by litter. Even rubbish that has been put in a rubbish bin may end up on an open landfill site and could be a danger to animals.
  
  
• Find out what happens to the waste from your school. Encourage recycling and make sure the waste is safe for animals: Plastic can holders can choke – cut them up; Plastic bags can suffocate – tie a knot in them and dispose of them properly; Broken bottles can cut – recycle safely; Tin cans can trap – take the lids off, put them inside and pinch the opening shut; Balloons can kill if eaten – avoid balloon releases and cut up used balloons

For more information on how the Animal Welfare Act affects schools, visit www.rspca.org.uk/TeachersFAQ  

All images courtesy of Andrew Forsyth / RSPCA Photolibrary