They are not there to be educated but to educate – as part of the school’s Cows Create Careers project.

The school has adapted a Victorian idea to promote interest in rural industries and, as part of it, the students care for the calves for three weeks.

Agricultural teacher Rachel Eagles said in that three weeks, students feed the calves, monitor their health and record weight gain.

“The heifer calves have been provided by local farmer Graham Berry and as part of the project, students will create a computer presentation and write a newsletter,” Ms Eagles said.

The students’ will submit their work to the Cows Create Careers project team and a national judging panel will assess it.

“I think the important thing about this project is that the students get to work with real dairy cows and see how they grow,” Ms Eagles said.

School principal Paul Tracey said the project aligned well with the school’s agricultural studies.

“Our Year 8 students are keen to look after the calves,” Mr Tracey said.

“This is a great way to promote agricultural studies and to bring the realities of animal care into the classroom.”