Year 10 College Catch-Up
Report provided by Anna Sant, Vocational Support Officer
Photos by Anna Sant (click photos to enlarge)
From September 2024, an exciting partnership between The Bulwell Academy and Nottingham College has provided current Year 10 students with the opportunity to study exciting Options subjects at college, including Hair & Beauty, Construction, Animal Science and Automotive Vehicle Technology.
This has given students the chance to follow vocational courses that meet their aspirations and chosen career paths, leading to recognised qualifications and an increased range of choices at the end of their secondary education, together with potentially better job or career opportunities.
“I can’t believe we get to come here every week. It’s like going on a school trip every week!”
Since September 2024, 50 Year 10 students have been attending Nottingham College on a weekly basis and have already achieved great things. Doing something that they enjoy and look forward to has increased student attendance and punctuality, and lots of Bulwell Bucks have been rewarded for positive behaviour, great work and being excellent ambassadors for the school.
POSITIVE OUTCOMES
Attending Nottingham College has had a positive impact on the lives of our young people, and parents have noticed the difference too!
“She’s doing so well at school this term, she’s happy to go to school and still happy when she comes home! So, it’s totally brilliant, we can’t thank you enough for all your help. She’s like a different child.”
“Before they started their college course, I asked what they wanted to do when leaving school – they shrugged their shoulders, but now they are telling me they want to go college when leaving school. The course has opened their eyes to big things and the dreams they have. I’m so grateful for them to be able to have this opportunity. I’m thankful as well that they are talking to me more about their future.”
“My daughter loves the course. I’m so happy she is enjoying it. She doesn’t enjoy much at school but this she loves. She looks forward to a Thursday.”
VOCATIONAL LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE
Hair & Beauty
Students studying Hair & Beauty at the Adams Building will achieve a City & Guilds Level 1 Award.
Hair & Beauty students began their course learning about salon health and safety before going on to learn practical techniques including facials, arm massage, manicures and nail design. They then progressed to creating a hair and beauty image, basic makeup, themed face painting, presenting a professional image, styling hair, shampooing and conditioning and temporary hair colouring.
This course is an ideal introduction to the hair and beauty industry, providing knowledge and practical experience to succeed in a job in this area or to move on to further studies once leaving school.
Construction
Students studying Construction at Basford will achieve a City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills. This course provides the ideal introduction to the construction industry, covering essential skills in: bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating, construction operations, and tiling.
Construction students (attending on a Wednesday) began their course by learning about construction health and safety before moving on to practical skills in carpentry and joinery, learning about the safe use of hand tools an how to produce different types of joints such as half lap, mortice, bridle and dovetail. This requires a lot of accuracy and concentration, and students should be very proud of their determination to succeed and what they have achieved so far. Following this, students progressed to other areas of construction including brick laying, tiling and plastering. (For students attending on a Friday, the course content has been completed in a different order, staring with brick laying, tiling and plastering before moving on to carpentry and joinery).
This is the ideal course to enable students to gain skills in all areas of construction and decide whether a particular trade is right for them to pursue when they leave school.
Animal Science
Students studying Animal Science at Basford will achieve a City & Guilds Level 1 Diploma in Land Based Studies.
Animal Science students began their course by learning about correct safety procedures and preparation of animal handling. So far, their course has included: cleaning animal enclosures; performing health checks on guinea pigs’ learning how to handle, feed and bathe bearded dragons; designing enrichment activities for rodents and setting up a new home environment for gerbils; preparing vegetables to feed all the college animals; and dog walking. They have also handled hedgehogs, snakes and spiders!
This course provides a good foundation to allow students to progress further and begin to specialise in other areas such as animal care, floristry, horse care and horticulture after leaving school.
Automotive Vehicle Technology
Students will achieve a Level 1 Award: IMIAL Special Automotive Programme in Vehicle Technology.
Students began their course at London Road by learning about workshop health and safety, engines and braking systems, as well as gaining practical skills in checking and maintaining tyre pressure, calcuating vehicle speed, removing wheels and track rod ends. They then progressed to learning about spark ignition system maintenance; exhaust systems and light vehicle construction, as well as carrying out vehicle valeting and routine vehicle checks.
This Vocational Related Qualification (VRQ) is designed to engage and motivate students who are interested in learning about the automotive retail industry and wish to develop their experience in a variety of motor industry sectors upon leaving school.
