Our 24 acre site which encompasses a large greenhouse, planting beds, various orchards and an award winning show garden, provides a unique environment where emphasis is on practical learning in real situations. Students have the opportunity to take part in major competitions (Winning a Gold, Silver and Bronze in 2015) and contribute to rewarding projects in the community.
Students can work towards recognised accredited qualifications, or access the area as part of their holistic timetable, with individual targets linked to horticulture as well as their personal and social development.
City & Guilds Level 1 in Practical Horticulture Skills
The Level 1 7573/11 is a practical course structured around basic horticulture skills that would be required for an employer to consider an individual for employment with the horticulture industry.
The course criteria has 3 certification levels - The Award, Certificate and the Diploma.
There is classroom based learning to be undertaken, including greenhouse modules and outdoor modules, which allows the course to run in good or poor weather conditions.
Typical modules for example will consist of units;
- 102 Planting plants
- 111 - Caring for a planted area
- 149 - Maintaining hand tools
These as with similar units will give a good introduction to this subject area.
Students will be able to follow simple instructions under the guidance given from support staff and the tutor, to enable modules to be completed to a safe and satisfactory level. Students will also produce a portfolio to support their learning pathway and will have daily verbal and written confirmation to how they have progressed within their chosen modules.
On completion of this course, students can progress onto Level 2. The Level 2 qualification 7573/02 will consist of the units covered in the Level 1 course, but will allow students to work more on their own or within a team on projects that will stretch and challenge their abilities further and to industry standards.