[1] The initiative added an extra "dimension" of curriculum meant to give specialist school students an expanded "awareness and understanding of the countryside as a living, working environment".
It was revealed by Labour MP Stephen Twigg that a new initiative was being developed by the DfES and Defra, hence the need to "mainstream rural issues" in order to ensure equality and fairness during its implementation.
[6] On 20 June 2003, Twigg announced that from October 2003 any schools applying for specialist status could implement the rural dimension into their selected specialism.
[9] By 2005, the rural dimension included agricultural and horticultural education, animal care BTECs and GCSEs, and land management.
The rural dimension curriculum is meant to expand students' "awareness and understanding of the countryside as a living, working environment".
This expansion of awareness and understanding centres around four main points:[2] The following subjects were introduced or expanded as part of the curriculum.