A HEREFORDSHIRE school's sheep are headed for 'pastures new'. The 40-strong flock kept at Kingstone High is on the move to spare it from foot and mouth.
Pupils care for 40 ewes and lambs pupils as part of the curriculum, and there were fears the animals could contract the virus, meaning a cull and closed classes for at least three weeks - right in the middle of GCSE exams.
Herefordshire Council found the flock a 14-acre field three miles away at Gorsty Common, Clehonger. The sheep should be on their way, once a movement licence and vets certificate are in order.
"If we left (the sheep) at the school and they became infected, we'd have to close (classes) down for three weeks during May or June. This would have an extremely detrimental affect on those pupils taking their GCSE exams," said Mark Chamberlain, Herefordshire Council's Schools' Services Officer.
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