The wait was finally over for vocational students at Northumberland College as they celebrated their achievements today. Their results will enable them to progress to a new career, a higher level apprenticeship or university.
The students studied a range of vocational qualifications in areas of key strategic importance such as health, construction, engineering and land-based.
18-year-old Ben Thompson from Morpeth was pleased with his double merit in Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering. He is hoping to now train to become an aircraft technician in the RAF. He said:
“Vocational courses give you an advantage in the jobs market and the mixture of theory and practical means that they are valued by employers. I’ve always had a passion for engineering, and I find the practical side very interesting.”
Matthew Thompson, 18, from Ashington gained a merit and a pass for his Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering. He is progressing to a mechanical engineering apprenticeship and has high ambitions to work in the offshore energy sector as an underwater welder. He said:
“I’ve always been intrigued about engineering, especially the maths and practical side of it. It’s an excellent career with good potential earnings. I enjoyed the mixture of understanding with practical activities on my course. Vocational courses are a good choice as they are organised and structured well and the coursework is less stressful than exams.”
Vocational qualifications such as BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications available in a range of industry sectors and provide students with the skills, practical understanding and knowledge in preparation for further study, training and employment.
Joanne McManus, an Associate Principal for Northumberland College, said:
“I would like to congratulate our hard-working students who will be progressing to the next stage in their journey to career success and the expert staff who have supported them. Our careers focused curriculum enables our students to progress to become key workers of the future and will support the much-needed recovery and growth of the economy.”
For more information about the extensive range of courses at Northumberland College and to apply for September 2020, visit www.northumberland.ac.uk
We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.
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