Jane Samuels, Director of Projects and Operations at Edge caught up with Adrian Ash, Head of Higher Education and International at Strode College to find out more about their Beacon Award winning initiative.
Adrian you must have been delighted to win the Edge sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Excellence in Real World Learning. Tell me more about the Beacon initiative?
“Our initiative is level 4 apprenticeship as an Historic Environment Advice Assistant (HEAA), developed as a partnership between Strode College and Historic England and supported by local authority environment departments and other heritage organisations. It is very employer focused and students work closely alongside experts, both within college and in the field.”
What makes this different from what other colleges may be doing?
“One unique element was the direct interaction between Historic England and Strode College in the course design, development and delivery. Historic England weren’t just the employer, they were a subcontracted trainer for technical aspects, for instance arial photography of historic sites. Historic England recognises the importance of this programme and has dedicated staff resource to support it. We believe this partnership working was key.
“Another unique aspect is that it is a national programme, engaging employers throughout the country, with training consisting of block release workshops supported by e-learning. Pastoral support and workplace assessments were scheduled between workshops, whilst preparation for block release and the EPA-focussed assignments were done virtually. Fieldwork videos, webinars created from research, and presentations of archaeological sites were shared digitally or through video conference. We believe it is a model that can be adopted in other specialist fields.”
Obviously the Covid situation has had enormous impact on all aspects of education. How did you adapt the delivery of the initiative in the light of the current pandemic?
“Because of the restrictions, we were not able to offer the field-based workshops. Initially we anticipated being able to run some hands-on work later in the programme, so we rearranged the timetable to delay the practical elements. As time went on, we accepted this would not happen, so we looked at how we could deliver practical elements online.
“For instance, we had planned a two-day workshop in York, bringing together students to listen to various experts. We realised those types of inputs were perfect for video links, as we didn’t need to have everyone together at the same time. For other elements we had to be more creative. For example, we had planned a field trip to Bishop Auckland. Instead, Historic England took a camera team and literally filmed a video through the streets of the town that we used in an online workshop.
“We have learned and adapted, both in planning and content delivery. In future we will have more online content, but we will still maintain a hands on element. It will be a true example of blended learning. “
HEAA Apprentice“Straight away we had this really strong community and that has really helped us pull together during lockdown and that has moved to the virtual learning”
What impacts or outcomes has the initiative had for your students?
“The feedback from the apprentices, both formally in evaluations and informally in workshops, has been very positive. Irrespective of their job role – building conservation, countryside protection, archaeological survey or town planning – apprentices have had chances to work with specialists in their area, as well as with experts in disciplines less familiar to them.
“In addition to giving them practical skills that benefit their current roles and career aspirations, the course structure required them to adapt to different environments and build relationships with a wide range of colleagues. These are real-world skills applicable to any field.
“We believe career prospects for apprentices is also very positive. While it may seem a niche qualification, considering the impact of tourism on the country, historic sites are very important and the roles relevant to the qualification are broader than one might realise.”
HEAA apprentice“It’s real world learning and we’ve been taught things that we can put in practice – that’s the main thing”
What plans does the college have for developing and/or disseminating the initiative further?
“The Trailblazer Group has already proposed working with the college to create Level 3 and Level 7 apprenticeships, and talks are at an advanced stage for the introduction of a traineeship with Historic England. In this way the HEAA is laying the ground for work-based learning at a variety of levels in the heritage sector.
“In addition, the block-release workshop model is being adapted for use in apprenticeships with other professional partners in sectors such as IT and Management.
“Finally, the college is looking to add an international element to the HEAA. It applied to the Turing Scheme (successor to Erasmus) and is now working with HistoriCorps in the USA to take a group of apprentices, A level History students and degree students to the American South West in summer 2022 to work on heritage projects. This means that students will have the opportunity to study and work abroad regardless of their socioeconomic background.”
If another college was interested in doing something similar, what one piece of advice would you have for them?
“Aim high and take every opportunity, no matter how out of reach it may seem. Don’t assume that because you are a small institution or don’t have track record, you will not be successful. Enthusiasm and a willingness to try new things are important. “
The AoC Beacon Awards are widely respected throughout the FE sector. What do you see as the benefits of winning a Beacon Award?
“The Beacon Awards are the Oscars of the FE sector. Just as any film maker would want to win an Oscar, every FE college should have their sights set on winning a Beacon Award.
“Outside of FE, the term Beacon Award is less well known. However, when employers and prospective students know you have won a national award – and you are able to tell them it is the most highly prized award in FE – it says something about you. Being able to say ‘the award winning apprenticeship’ helps you to stand out from the crowd. It says you are doing something right. “
For more information on the Historic Environment Advice Assistant (HEAA) apprenticeship contact Adrian Ash on aash@strode-college.ac.uk or visit the college website.