Year 3 pupils at Lightwoods Primary Academy enjoyed a visit to Cadbury World, where they learned about one of Britain’s best-known chocolate manufacturers and explored themes of fairness, global trade and responsible consumer choices.
Located in Bournville, Cadbury World is a visitor attraction based at the historic home of the Cadbury brand. The site offers insight into the origins of chocolate production and the values established by the Cadbury family. During the visit, pupils discovered how cocoa is grown, traded and transformed into chocolate, while also learning about the social impact of the industry on farming communities around the world.
The visit formed part of the Academy’s Excite, Explore, Excel (E3L) curriculum, a programme taught across Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust primary schools. The curriculum is designed to help pupils make meaningful connections across subjects and understand how classroom learning applies in the wider world.
As part of E3L, Year 3 have been studying the topic ‘It’s Not Fair’, inspired by the Fairtrade movement and its work supporting farmers and growers around the globe. The topic encourages pupils to think critically about inequality and ethical decision making, allowing them to explore how their own choices can have an impact beyond the classroom.
Seeing the chocolate-making process first-hand helped pupils deepen their understanding of ethical sourcing and the importance of initiatives such as Fairtrade, which aim to improve working conditions and livelihoods in cocoa-growing regions.
Associate Principal, John Ashton, said: “We are very deliberate about the experiences we offer our pupils. This visit was about helping them recognise that everyday choices are connected to real people and real livelihoods. When children begin to ask who benefits, who is disadvantaged and why, you know the learning has depth. That kind of thinking stays with them long after the trip itself.”
The trip formed part of the Academy’s wider commitment to experiential learning, using educational visits to enhance understanding and encourage pupils to become thoughtful, informed and responsible consumers and citizens.
