Agriculture Certificate

Course information

Without food we simply would not survive and the growing world population is making increasing demands on the agricultural industry and the people that work within it. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to the economy in the South West of England and provides a wide range of exciting job opportunities.

Level 2 is an intermediate level programme equivalent to GCSE grade 5-9. The programme is aimed at individuals with a keen interest in agriculture and a desire to develop a greater understanding of the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the industry.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop your confidence, agricultural knowledge and practical skills, alongside more general skills required to gain employment or to continue your academic study. Many of these skills will also be transferable to a range of other land based sectors to widen career opportunities.

You will be learning from experienced agriculturalists both inside the classroom and on the college farm, it could be milking our herd of dairy cows, lambing our flock of sheep or ploughing a field before we plant our maize crop. You will spend some of your course time working alongside the farm staff, following the farm activities as you progress through the year, you could be selecting ewes for breeding in September, fencing in October, calving cows in February or shearing a ewe in May.

You will have the opportunity to develop your confidence, knowledge and practical skills, alongside more general skills required to gain employment or to continue in education. As a level 2 course this diploma is all about introducing you to the agricultural industry or developing the skills that you already have to give you the very best opportunity to move onto a more technical agriculture course or enter the industry as an apprentice.

What You Will Learn

This one year course covers general mixed agriculture including crops, livestock, tractors and machinery. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of plant, soil and animal science and how these influence the growth, yields and quality of our crops and livestock. You will examine how crops such as wheat, barley and grass grow, how to plant them, how to look after them and how to harvest and store them. You will learn about the health, welfare, nutrition and reproduction of farm livestock, the practical skills to ensure that animals are well looked after and produce high quality meat or milk. You will be introduced to the basics of business management and farm profitability.

Knowledge and understanding will be developed alongside practical skills such as how to repair a stock fence, fix a water leak, build a wall, operate a tractor, reverse a trailer, use a loader and attach machinery.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for external applicants and school leavers
• Three or more GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, or successful completion of a relevant Level 1 qualification.

Entry requirements for existing learners with the Cornwall College Group
• Successful completion of previous course and, where relevant, progress in maths and/or English.

To be eligible for entry, applicants must have achieved at least a Grade 4 in either GCSE Maths or English, with a minimum Grade 3 in the other subject. Additionally, three further GCSEs at Grade 3 or above are required.

To secure an external 150 hours work experience placement.

Work Experience

You are required to complete 150 hours of work experience as a core element of your study programme, providing invaluable exposure to the industry.

Assessment

You will be assessed by a range of methods including two online multiple choice exams, practical observations and written assignments during the duration of the programme.

Progression

Success at level 2 means that you will have a good grasp of the practical skills and knowledge required in agriculture and an introduction to the scientific principles behind crop and livestock production. You can use your skills to progress to a level 3 programme where you will take your studies to the next level and look deeper into the science, business management and technical side of agricultural production, start a work-based apprenticeship and earn while you learn or enter employment.

Bicton College

Bicton College

Bicton College is based in East Devon, near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

Find out more about our Bicton campus

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