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Forestry and Arboriculture (Arboriculture)
(Edexcel) BTEC National Award
Full-time or Part-time
at Capel Manor, Enfield
The aim of this Level 3 course is to provide you with the skills and knowledge to carry out practical treework in such areas as amenity forestry and arboriculture.
The Course
The six-unit BTEC National Award offers a specialist qualification that focuses on particular aspects of employment within the sector. As such the Award offers a qualification which can extend the study and provide vocational emphasis for learners following an AVCE or GCE A-level route or a combination of both in their main programme of study. Equally the BTEC National Award offers a focused qualification for learners, particularly more mature learners, who wish to follow a shorter programme of study that is directly related to their work experience or to an aspect of employment that they wish to move into in due course.
The BTEC National Award in Forestry and Arboriculture provides the underpinning knowledge and understanding for those in employment who would like to obtain a level 3 qualification in Forestry and Arboriculture. This qualification would be particularly useful to those employed as technicians in the education profession. It may be attractive to learners who are unable to commit to the study time required by the BTEC National Certificate and/or Diploma.
Attendance on 2 days per week will enable completion in one year, whilst attendance on one day per week will require 2 years for completion. Days of attendance are dependent upon availability, choice and order of units studied.
Course Content
- Principles of plant and soil science
- Tree felling and chainsaw use
- Arboriculture - tree climbing, pruning and care
- Investigative project
- Forest and woodland skills
- Business management
Full details of the content of these units are available on the Edexcel website: edexcel.org.uk/qualifications and select BTEC Nationals – Land Based, followed by course title.
Entry Requirements
You are welcome to visit the College to discuss with the course tutor a study programme that will help towards your intended career. All students are assessed on an individual basis but the normal entry requirement is either
- Intermediate Level GNVQ
- Edexcel First Diploma to a merit level
- 4 GCSE passes at grade A – C, including English and one science subject
- Other qualifications of equivalent standard
- Relevant experience or Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) in Arboriculture.
Training and Assessment Methods
Your training will include:
- practical skills
- the opportunity to gain interpersonal and communications key skills, important for working as part of a team and with the general public
- visits to a variety of sites including: arboreta, woodlands, nature reserves, country parks and urban greenspace sites
- an appreciation of business and IT key skills and how they relate to the environment and the industry
- working in ‘real life’ situations including our 75 ha organic farm
- the opportunity to gain certificated NPTC or LANTRA chainsaw awards (additional cost)
- a broad understanding of environmental issues that will be of value throughout your life.
You will be assessed through practical and/or written assignments and end of unit tests throughout the course. Your work will be marked at Distinction, Merit and Pass grades. There is no end of Leaf/200447-NA-Arb/10.07
course examination; however the Business Management unit will be externally assessed by an Integrated Vocational Assessment.
Qualifications Gained
Success on this course leads to the nationally recognised award of an Edexcel (BTEC) National Award in Arboriculture and Forestry (Arboriculture). There will be the opportunity to gain additional qualifications appropriate to your course of study, for which an additional fee will be charged.
Students under 19 years of age will also be entered for Key Skills exams and older students will have the opportunity to do so.
Progression
Success in this course will enable progression to a National Certificate or Diploma or enter the industry at a foundation level.
Venue and Facilities
This course takes place at Capel Manor's main campus in Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield. The main college site is an 18th century manor house situated within 12 ha of estate, which is open to the public. The core units will be studied in and around the house and gardens.
Practical sessions are carried out on our own farm and at a range of amenity woodland and countryside sites within Hertfordshire and Essex.
We pride ourselves in performing ‘real life’ arboricultural tasks working on projects with the Lee Valley Regional Park, local Wildlife Trusts and private landowners, which gives first hand experience of the industry.
Fees
Please refer to the College prospectus
Working in the Arboricultural Industry
Tree companies are often small private firms, although there are some larger ones operating regionally or nationally or on contract to local authorities. There is a high demand for skilled, knowledgeable and well trained staff in this industry. Each year companies regularly mail the College with their employment vacancies.
Many local authorities employ tree surveyors on a contract basis and will have arboriculturally qualified personnel in management or supervisory positions in Parks, Leisure or Planning departments. Many country parks require personnel with practical tree knowledge and the ability to relate to the public and fulfil a variety of roles.
The industry nationwide employs approximately 10,000 people and there are opportunities to work in Europe, the USA, Australasia and Japan.
Web ref: 200447_NA_arb
Last updated:
18 November, 2007
For further information and how to apply please contact
the Student Registry at:
Capel Manor College
Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 4RQ
Tel: 08456 122 122
