College helps teach future teachers

Sabrina Craddock, Alice Jones and Chloe Wood

Hopwood Hall College has been working in conjunction with St Gabriel’s R.C. Primary School in Castleton to help recruit and train three new teaching assistant apprentices.

Alice Jones, 19, from Healey, Sabrina Craddock, 19 from Middleton, and Chloe Wood, 21, from Royton, applied for the apprenticeship placements through the College and having successfully been chosen by the school, are now fully fledged apprentices. They are now on their way to achieving their Teaching Assistant qualifications as part of their apprenticeships.

Teaching Assistant apprenticeships are fairly new, and sees the College and St Gabriel’s R.C. Primary school working closely to deliver them. Over an 18 month period, the girls will work with their allocated assessor from the College, Angela Wadsworth, to complete their training, which is carried out while they are at work.

Commenting on her new role, Chloe Wood said: “I think the apprenticeship scheme has worked really well. I am very pleased with all the help and support of the College and St Gabriel's to help us gain our qualifications. The scheme is a good way to get the experience you need for the job you want, whilst gaining the qualification. It is so flexible to do the work as well; you can do it to suit you.”

The students’ assessor, Angela Wadsworth commented: “There has already been real progress in the students’ knowledge and understanding that under-pins the qualification. This has been combined with on the job training and support provided by the school on a daily basis. As the assessor it is a pleasure to see how the students are growing into the role of teaching assistants.”

Claire Ahern, Head Teacher at St Gabriel’s R.C. Primary School added: “The apprenticeship scheme has been an excellent addition to our school. In partnership with Hopwood Hall College, we have been able to provide quality training to three very good candidates who have, in turn, contributed widely to school life and to the St Gabriel’s family. They have enriched the experience of the children by demonstrating that we are all life-long learners and have developed their knowledge, skills and understanding of the primary curriculum, on the job, alongside the rest of the St Gabriel’s team, making this a very successful venture for our school.”