The Vocational Academy of Hospitality and Catering (VAHC) at West
Cheshire College (WCC) began in 2005 following a review of the
curriculum and cross College catering facilities. Recruitment to
the curriculum area was poor, success rates were low, catering
revenues were reducing and the building in which we offered fine
dining needed major investment to comply with DDA
legislation.
The vision for VAHC was to deliver practical teaching and practical
learning allowing learners to succeed in the competitive world of
hospitality and catering, the second largest employment sector in
the Chester district.
The excellence portrayed by VAHC lies in its
interpretation and adoption of the College vision to provide access
to opportunity for all. Our learners come from all walks of life
and we welcome learners with disabilities and difficulties and
ex-offenders, supporting them in raising aspirations as they
realise that employment is a real possibility. This vision takes
the form of learning by doing.
Catering students want to cook and serve, not sit, listen and
write! Our Vocational Academy of Hospitality and Catering (VAHC) is
a commercial venture which trains learners to professional
standards and provides fine dining, bistro and refectory services
to the public.
Our use of real work environments includes all our
catering provision that takes place across College, this allows
students to get lots of opportunities to develop skills and feel
proud when they see someone paying real money for something they
have cooked!
Learners can see their food being sold and paid for within the
first week of starting in College. This year, on their second and
third days in College, our new learners made cake for 4,000 to
celebrate 100 years of Girl Guiding in Cheshire.
Responding to learner needs in this innovative way has
resulted in FE success rates of 87% overall, up from 40% three
years ago with improved learner and customer feedback.
VAHC learners are work ready and therefore able to progress into
employment. We offer life experiences such as out of hours working,
working away from home, paid work experience, travelling abroad and
give learners an insight into employment opportunities in all areas
of the industry to broaden their horizons and expand their options.
We are particularly proud of the way VAHC welcomes learners from
all walks of life with all their 'baggage', 40% of learners in the
VAHC come from disadvantaged backgrounds and deprived wards
compared to the College average of 29%.
VAHC is now regularly asked to cater for local events
such as the Mayor's Ball and other civic functions. This and other
ventures such as our regular attendance at the Senegallia (Italy)
International Bread Festival have enhanced our reputation as a
provider of excellent training for Hospitality and Catering and we
are getting repeat requests for external events.
VAHC is the model for future learning at West Cheshire
College and we are rolling the model out across College. We would
welcome other colleges coming to see our successful working
methods.
For more information about the subject of this case study - contact
Sam
Stevens 01244 670600. For PR details contact Penny Pallett 01244
350583/ 07880 717983 More information can be found on West
Cheshire College's website