Oatridge College
Showcase for Excellence : Preparing learners for the anticipated needs of
industry
Planning and delivery across the range of programmes in Environment and
Countryside Management, which incorporates an extensive range of live, learner-led
project and community work, is highly effective. It ensures learners have a good
balance of industry specific skills and broader skills for employment including team
working, working with others, problem solving, and leadership skills. As a result,
learners are well informed and prepared for progressing into industry.
The diverse range of project work exposes learners to the breadth of opportunities
available in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Over the course of their
studies, these projects are effective in raising learners’ awareness of opportunities
which many did not know existed prior to their involvement in the programmes.
These projects also mean that learners connect into a broad network of employment
or volunteering opportunities.
Planning is informed by extensive links with industry and results in particular
attention being placed on developing and enhancing the ‘3Ps’ - project management,
people and practical skills. Practical skills range from dyking and field skills to
sourcing funding, which industry view as being fundamental to effective working in
the sector. Planning ensures that these skills are progressively developed and
enhanced as learners progress from national certificate to higher national diploma
levels. Effective, integrated planning across all three programmes maximised the
opportunities afforded by projects, study tours and community work. Where
appropriate, learners lead activities, including sourcing projects, identifying funding,
planning and implementing the activity. Learners frequently work across different
programme groups, for example higher national learners leading activities with
national certificate learners. Working with real external clients, from primary schools
to corporate clients, has contributed to developing high levels of learner
engagement. Learners value these opportunities and have a clear understanding of
how they support their professional and personal development.
Learning activities help to encourage learners to develop positive, cooperative
working relationships within their peer groups enhancing leadership skills, selfconfidence and effective interpersonal and communication skills.