East Riding College students celebrate VQ Day 2011
22nd June 2011 10:48am - Return to press releases
Students at East Riding College will on Wednesday, June 22 be joining in with the fourth annual nationwide celebration of vocational qualifications.
Now an annual event, VQ Day aims to raise the stature and demonstrate the benefits of practical and vocational qualifications to future learners, employers, other stakeholders and the wider public.
Vocational qualifications are more "hands-on" than academic subjects, often involving work placements and practical lessons, and include well-known qualifications such as NVQs, BTEC certificates and diplomas, apprenticeships and foundation degrees.
The combination of academic and vocational learning enables more students to achieve excellent results which put them in a very strong position to secure a place at university.
For example, this year from one group of nine level three business students, six achieved triple distinction grades - the equivalent of three A-levels at grade A.
Andrew Wren, Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality, said: "Our students have achieved some truly excellent results this year and are looking forward to furthering their studies in higher education or going into the jobs market with a very strong CV in their armoury.
"Many people are surprised when they see how well our students do in their careers but they have been moving on to higher education and very good jobs for a long time."
He added: "As demonstrated in the Leitch Review of 2006 and the recent Wolf Report, the government has acknowledged the crucial role colleges have to play in providing a skilled workforce to drive the country's economy.
"I fully support VQ Day in all its efforts because it is the job of colleges across the nation to show people just how important vocational education is."
With A-level students having to find out about their results in August, many College students already know theirs and have been able to accept offers from universities.
James Ellis, 22, of Driffield, has just completed the BTEC National Diploma in Sport, Coaching and Fitness with a triple distinction.
He said: "Before College I never really thought about going to university but this course has opened my eyes to everything I can do and I'm going to do a degree in sport coaching.
"Learning at College combines the classroom and practical work and I found it a lot more interesting because of that."
Rachael Nicholson, 19, from Bridlington, said: "I've been in love with art all my life and coming to the College and attending the National Diploma in Art and Design has shown me what all the options are. I've chosen Illustration and am off to university next year to specialise in this subject.
"I've enjoyed working in a college environment and my work has really developed - especially as we are encouraged to design our own final briefs - I even had an illustration exhibited at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull this year."
Beccie Cahill, 20, from Garton-on-the-Wolds, has earned a triple distinction on the BTEC National Diploma in Public Services and is going to do a degree in psychology.
She said: "Originally I wanted to go into the Royal Air Force but now I'm going to university. I don't think I would have gone if it wasn't for this course because it has shown me what I'm capable of.
"I did sixth form but I didn't like it because it was all focused on written work but at College there's so much variety in the units."
Tim Atkin, 18, from Brandesburton, has also completed the BTEC National Diploma in Sport, Coaching and Fitness with a triple distinction and is going on to do a degree in sports rehabilitation.
He said: "I knew sixth form wasn't for me because I wasn't good at doing three subjects at once - I wanted to specialise in one.
"You enjoy it a lot more when you can do one subject you really enjoy; you're doing something you love all the time and you find all the units really interesting."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Photographs are available of students who have achieved triple distinction grades in a BTEC national diploma (the equivalent of three A-levels at grade A). Quotes and details of which course they have done and what they plan to do next are also available. For more information, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 306612 or email [email protected]
