Pilot students are flying high

Engineering students at The Oldham College receive their Diplomas. Left to right, Daniel McGlynn, Jonathan Cullen, Aqib Saghir, Rizwan Younis, Usmaan Yaseen, Jamaal Hafiz, Mohaddis Ali.

students from Oldham College who piloted a new construction award have secured their places at university.

They spent two years studying their Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment awarded by the Edexcel board, which is equivalent to three-and-a-half A-level passes.

And they will continue their studies at university on courses including town and country planning, sustainable construction and architecture.

Course tutor Keith Martin said: “Although it has been hard work, the main advantage for these students, who prior to this did not have construction knowledge, is that the usual route to higher education is A-levels.

“This is a rigorous test and the bonus is that when when they do get to university they will have a big advantage over A-level students.”

Fifteen students gained their diplomas, some have gone straight into jobs, and seven have secured university places. They include Rizwan Younis (20) from Oldham who has gained a much sought after place at De Montfort University in Leicester to study architecture. He said: “I enjoyed the course, there was hands-on experience such as practical drawing. I think it has prepared me better than other students I will meet at university.”

Daniel McGlynn (22) from Rochdale will be building a greener future after gaining a place at Blackburn University for a degree in sustainable engineering.

Jamaal Hafiz (18) from Oldham, will be at Manchester University studying town and country planning.

He hopes to eventually take a master’s degree, and study for a further eight months in London on international planning.

He said: “It was a different type of approach, rather than going to sixth form college and working academically.”

Mr Martin says two more intakes of students are now studying for the diploma, and he added: “It is a theoretical approach to the industry and students are learning the professional side of the industry rather through the trade.”



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