Askham Bryan College, York

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners are supported well to settle into learning and college life. Leaders have created a calm, purposeful and engaging learning environment that reflects many of the industries and professions to which learners and apprentices will progress.

Staff ensure that learners and apprentices have considerable opportunities to take part in competitions, social action projects and sporting events. Other learners get the chance to help at high-profile events that the college hosts, such as the British Eventing horse-riding trials. The range of activities provides learners and apprentices with opportunities to network with industry professionals and socialise with their peers, which they enjoy and benefit from.

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers have a clear and purposeful intent for the curriculum that they offer, which is to meet skills needs, particularly in the land-based sector. They review the curriculum on a frequent basis to keep it in line with industry standards and requirements and to meet learners' and employers' needs.

Managers and teachers carefully sequence the curriculum and align it with the identified needs of employers and of learners and apprentices. Teachers ensure that learners and apprentices have a firm understanding of the principles of each subject before moving on to the development of more complex and demanding knowledge and skills. For example, livestock learners acquire knowledge about basic concepts of beef production and then apply this knowledge when analysing the quality, nutritional value and chemical content of maize silage. In equine care, learners use their knowledge from earlier learning in biology modules to develop their understanding of the beneficial impact of grooming on the circulatory system of a horse. Learners in sport successfully apply the knowledge gained from their theory sessions to practical activities that explore the relationship between joints and movement.

Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.

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