College open day 'work gateway'

CHARLOTTE Lord in the nail studio

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POTENTIAL students had a go at everything from car mechanics to processing a crime scene at an open day at Oldham College.

Other activities were digital photography, code breaking, hair and beauty demonstrations, a drawing workshop and street golf, which as the name suggests is played on the street rather than a manicured course.

It was a chance for young people to find out about the courses they can do at the Rochdale Road college after their GCSEs, which can prepare them for work, higher education or an apprenticeship.

College principal Alun Francis explained: "The decision about which route to take after school is complicated and difficult. All the research shows that teachers and students have quite a lot of knowledge about traditional A-levels but know much less about the alternatives.

"It is really important that we encourage young people to find out about these. Our system is going to become much more like the German model, where most young people take technical and professional options - either through the workplace or at a technical university.

"Apprenticeships are increasingly favoured by employers in professions like engineering, surveying, accountancy, digital technology and law, as well as by the traditional construction trades, hairdressing and business.

"In some careers, a university route remains essential but there is more than one way to get there, and for many that is provided by high quality vocational programmes."