Curriculum Statement
"We're not building a future for a few years, we are building for a lifetime"
At the BBA Skills Centre, we pride ourselves in guiding students through vocational qualifications that can set them up for work in the building trade. Our record of accomplishment shows that the vast majority of our students gain qualifications at KS4.
Aims and Ethos of the Skills Centre
Our aim is to provide students with the vocational qualifications they need to progress into an apprenticeship or further study when they leave at the end of Year 11 or Year 13.
Our Skills Centre offers students a realistic experience of working life in construction. Most work is practical and delivered in our well-resourced workshop area. We aim to provide all students with a wide-ranging curriculum that takes them from Year 9 through to Year 13.
Students have the opportunity to work in a purpose-built vocational area, which has been designed specifically with the students’ needs in mind.
Intent
- By at the end of the course, they will the opportunity to achieved a minimum of an award to a Diploma.
- They will also be able to achieve a CSCS. That will be able the student to get entrance onto a building site. Where they can then choose which path, they want to take.
- Build the student's knowledge of tools and materials whilst working within numerous construction areas.
- To gain knowledge in understand equipment and tools to a professional standard.
- Student are able to understand the importance of health and safety measures when working within a professional building site.
Implementation
- Giving a calm and safe environment for the students to study.
- Making time to slowly introduce the student into the construction industry.
- Giving students an good insight into why the training is delivered and important of each individual unit that is studied.
- Providing the students with the tools they need for practical assignments and units.
- Running a streamlined programme for the students to follow whereby they know what to expect in each lesson.
- Ensuring lessons are sequenced and follow a routine.
Impact
- Develop students' skills not only through their transferable skills but also their communication skills.
- By using the multiple skills that they have been shown, should put them in a good stance where they can confidently interact with other contractors on site.
- Gaining City and Guilds qualifications from Entry Level 3 to Level 1 Diploma.
- Opportunity for students to gain a CSCS Card.
- Transferable skills into everyday life for the future, for example - tiling, building and brick laying.
Workshops
The workshop areas are designed to suit learning across a range of trades. These consist of a brickwork workshop with ample space for students to build structures over time, a fully fitted carpentry workshop where students have the facilities, resources and space for learning and a well-resourced plumbing/electrical area. There is also provision for tiling.
Qualifications
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Our Qualifications start at Year 9 where students study the City and Guilds Entry level 3 Certificate in Construction Skills, where they gain a basic knowledge of Health and safety, Carpentry and plumbing.
This is a very useful course as it introduces the students to a range of skills and information that they may have never otherwise been able to experience; this gives the student the opportunity to make better decisions when picking future options. All units are accredited towards a qualification.
Key Stage 4 and 5 Curriculum
In KS4, we offer a City and Guilds Level 1 Certificate/Diploma qualification in Construction Skills. This qualification provides much more detailed training in a particular trade that each student may wish to study. It covers an extensive range of trades such as:
- Brickwork
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Tiling
- Construction Industry Studies
- Health and Safety
- Coursework
This course mainly consist of practical assignments. Students are given knowledge of health and safety, tools, materials and procedures within the specific assignment. Work is backed up with photographic evidence and written work to evidence their understanding. Students study their assignments that are internally assessed and verified. These go into a student portfolio that is then externally verified by City and Guilds.
Teaching and learning
The Skills Centre is run by qualified and experienced trade-specific staff. They are dedicated to the success of all students, ensuring they are supported with their work as they move through the courses. Trained support staff are available to help students with their specific learning needs in the classroom and to ensure that high order learning can be maintained at all times.
Lessons are differentiated so that all students can access the learning through their own specific needs.
All our work is externally verified by London City and Guilds.
For our curriculum maps for our Skills Centre, please click here.
For our knowledge organisers for our Skills Centre, please click here.
