A school which waved goodbye to its last goat 30 years ago is on a mission to bring back its farm.

Northfleet School For Girls opened at its Hall Road site in 1950 and at the time had a farm with sheep, goats, chickens and geese.

It was an integral part of the school, but as the national curriculum became more academic, pupils stopped going and the last goat left in 1986.

But interest in horticulture has grown in the past few years and now head teacher Chris Norwood is hoping to bring it all back, bigger and better than before, and a planning application has been sent into Kent County Council.

Pupils have started harvesting the school orchard again, growing more vegetables and undertaking Eco projects. With all children now obliged to stay in education or training until 18, Mr Norwood said it would give youngsters options – especially those who struggle with purely academic GCSEs and A-levels.

The plan is to transform two acres to the west of the school into a classroom, grazing pastures, duck and wildlife ponds, a rejuvenated orchard, animal shelters, a new car park, an outside learning and picnic area and space for bee keeping.

Mr Norwood said: “A lot of our children now are very interested in horticulture and animal-based study, so this will really engage them in their education.

“This is quite an urban area and many of our youngsters don’t get the opportunity to experience rural life.

“There is also the healthy living aspect, letting the children really understand where food comes from. They’re going to be able to grow vegetables, and we will open it up to other schools and the community.”

Following the closure of Meopham School farm in 2013, there are no school farms in Gravesham – schools travel to Hadlow for farm-based studies.

Northfleet Girls’ is planning to work alongside Ifield special school, Jeskyns Young Farmers and the charity Groundwork.

They need to raise £150,000 to set up and fund the farm for the next five years, which also includes hiring a farm manager.

If approved, the first stage, with smaller animals, will be finished in September.