Awards and qualifications
Volunteers, staff, and the people we support are keen to learn new skills and techniques, therefore we offer a range of courses to supplement practical learning. We believe in the investment in every person’s potential, skills and confidence and strive to help each individual meet their full potential. Each course is made up of manageable chunks, is inclusive and encourages students to work together and as individuals. New knowledge and skills are reinforced and applied on the farm.
Courses enable people on the farm to engage together, be creative and have fun whilst learning and gain certified qualifications. We believe in ability and not disability and we assess and advocate for each person’s needs in order to undertake and be successful in their chosen course, whether this support be physical, emotional or other means of assistance.
Current courses
Open Awards Level 1-3 in Horticulture
Dale Farm is currently piloting the Open Award Scheme with a view to rolling the qualification to all those who wish to undertake a qualification in horticulture. Currently, we are introducing an Open Award, Level 1 in Horticulture, we then hope to move through the other levels of the course.
“Open Awards is an Awarding Organisation approved by Ofqual and an Access Validating Agency approved by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). They provide Ofqual regulated qualifications and units across a range of sectors, QAA Access to Higher Education Diplomas and also offer bespoke quality endorsed units and flexible learning solutions”.
Open Awards
The qualification is evidence based, where students undertake a variety of modules based in a horticultural setting. Students must provide sufficient evidence that they have the required knowledge, skills and understanding of the assessment criteria and that it is their own work. In order to promote equal opportunities, anyone who requires additional support will be assigned a mentor to guide them through the process. At present two of our volunteers, Colin and Coral, who have had long established careers as teachers are guiding students through the course.
Liz and Paul are involved in the Pilot Scheme, undertaking Level One Open Award.
The course covers a wide range of skills and knowledge of horticulture, which must be demonstrated both practically through documentation; this documentation maybe, written, verbal, imaging or other method of appropriate recording.
Level one
Students need to complete a mandatory unit ‘Prepare Ground for Sowing or Planting Under Supervision’, which will provide them with the skills to prepare
ground for different horticulture activities. For the Certificate and Diploma students will be required to complete additional mandatory units in: ‘Plant Container Grown Plants’; Prepare Soil and Apply Organic Mulch’; and ‘Water a Bed, Border or Area of Plants in Containers’. Students will then complete a range of generic optional units. Examples of these include:
- Identify Weeds
- Maintain Hand Tools
- Health and Safety in a Practical Environment
- Sow Seed Indoors in Containers
Historical courses
Our students and volunteers have previously undertaken the John Muir Award; an initiative which encourages people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places.
What is the John Muir Award?
The award is an environmental scheme for people of all backgrounds – groups, families, individuals. It’s non-competitive, inclusive and accessible. To undertake the John Muir Award, our students and staff shared an adventure to discover, explore and conserve the wild places surrounding our grounds.
What we achieved
DISCOVER A WILD PLACE
We have explored some of the incredible land which surrounds Dale Farms, including the ‘Lower Meadow’, which leads into the Dales. The Lower Meadow is home to our bees and a beautiful range of wildflowers.
EXPLORE IT
We explored what grew in and around Dale Farm and why they did. We learnt the differences between different trees and plants and learnt to appreciate our natural environment as it flourishes.
DISCOVER A WILD PLACE
We have explored some of the incredible land which surrounds Dale Farms, including the ‘Lower Meadow’, which leads into the Dales. The Lower Meadow is home to our bees and a beautiful range of wildflowers.
