Ground-breaking work at Medina College to offer a new qualification in agriculture has been supported by local company Wight Building Materials.
From September, the college will become only the third in the UK to offer students an IGCSE – International General Certificate of Secondary Education – in agriculture.
Concrete donated for foundations
Though students will gain much of their learning out on some of the Island’s farms, they will also use facilities such as a new farm garden at the college itself.
To help create this facility, Wight Building Materials recently delivered two tonnes of concrete free of charge to provide foundations for outbuildings.
Lloyd: Very grateful that Wight Building Materials
Victoria Lloyd, Medina College lead teacher for agriculture, said,
“Our first group of students are ready to go and very excited about this new educational opportunity we are providing here at the college.
“To support their learning, students will gain experience out in some of the Island’s fantastic farms who are supporting us. Other aspects of agriculture will be taught here at the college, including soil structure and the development and growth of fruit and vegetables.
“To do that we need good quality facilities here and we are very pleased and very grateful that Wight Building Materials have helped us to provide those.
“The delivery of the concrete has enabled us to have a solid base for two sheds which we are now building – the support from Wight Building Materials has made a huge difference!”
Burton: Passionate about providing high-quality job opportunities
Steve Burton Wight Building Materials general manager said,
“As a local company, we are passionate about providing high-quality job opportunities for young people on the Island so we were really pleased to be able to help this important and forward-thinking initiative by the college.”
The IGCSE in agriculture is equivalent to the GCSE qualification which is taken by students in Year 10 – 11 in the UK to prepare them for further pre-university level study, such as A-levels.
News shared by Gavin on behalf of Wight Building Materials. Ed
