Love animals?
Would you enjoy a career caring for them?

The school of Animal Care and Saddlery offers full-time courses for school leavers and mature students returning to learning and part-time day courses, 14-16 schools provision and apprenticeships.

We are home to a wide range of animals across our north, west and south London centres and farms in Enfield and Crystal Palace Park. Each centre has dedicated teaching facilities and resources appropriate to the courses we offer.
Students benefit from hands-on practical experience working with animals, including exotics such as snakes, small reptiles and spiders; popular pets like rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets; livestock including ponies and goats; zoo mammals and birds as well as commercial organic livestock including pigs, sheep and cattle.

The industry
The animal care industry offers a wide range of career opportunities in handling, supervising and caring for animals from small domestic and exotic pets to wildlife and zoo animals. Opportunities exist in a range of organisations such as veterinary practices, animal welfare organisations, livestock production, kennels, pet shops, animal visitor attractions, wildlife parks, laboratories, teaching, local authorities and public education.

Is it for me?
Yes, if you’re caring, sympathetic and love animals; you’re interested in animal health and welfare; you love science and have good communication skills; you want a career that’s satisfying and rewarding.

Opportunities
Success in our courses can lead to a variety of professional careers in veterinary work, zoology, education, farming, the pet industry or animal welfare. Many of our level 3 learners progress to university to study Zoology, Animal Science, Animal Management, Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Nursing and Animal Behavioural Science.

Click on the images below to see our Animal Care and Saddlery students at work

Assessment of all of these qualifications is based on coursework more than examinations. Assessment of applicants is based on an interview exploring interest, experience and ambitions. References are also taken up and screening tests conducted. The entry requirements are given as guidelines.

Calling all future Veterinary Medicine and Zoology students: get professional experience at Forty Hall Farm

Gain a Royal Veterinary College-endorsed Animal Management certificate, equivalent to 1 AS level, which provides an excellent grounding for the required work experience for vet medicine

The course runs for 12 weeks on Saturdays and Thursday evenings and covers handling livestock, heavy horses, small mammals and reptiles, animal health, feeding and accommodation

For more details call Admissions on 08456 122 122

Download course leaflet

Access to FE in Animal Care
A three day a week entry level programme for students who need to gain qualifications to enable them to progress on to level 1 courses in animal care. For more information please refer to the School of Student Services.

C&G Level 1 Diploma in Land-based Studies (Animal Care)
This introductory course provides basic knowledge and the chance to develop practical skills. It is a full-time skills development programme and bridge for students hoping to progress to level 2 or confirm that this vocational area is right for them.

Entry Requirements
Boundless enthusiasm for working with animals, GCSEs with grades D to F, Key or Functional Skills to at least Entry level 3. Summer school participation is strongly encouraged for school applicants. Alternatively, accreditation of prior learning and appropriate experience gained in a relevant working environment may be considered. All applicants are assessed on an individual basis with interviews arranged at any time throughout the year.

Progression
Successful students may progress to the Level 2 Diploma subject to meeting the entry requirements, to apprenticeship training in industry or part-time courses as well as full-time employment.

C&G Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care
This one year full-time course offers an introduction to working with a wide variety of animals. It provides the practical skills and background knowledge required to form a solid foundation in animal care.

Entry Requirements
4 GCSE’s grade D or above including Maths, English and Science. Key or Functional Skills at level 1/level 2; Level 1 Land-based Diploma or NVQ Level 1 or equivalent completed at distinction level. Summer school participation is strongly encouraged for school applicants. Alternatively, accreditation of prior learning and appropriate experience gained in a relevant working environment may be considered.

Progression
Success in this course can lead to a variety of professional careers in the animal care industry, for example veterinary nursing. Students gaining distinction grades overall including distinction in Biology and Functional Skills accreditation may use this as a progression route onto the BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma/Diploma/Extended Diploma in Animal Management.

Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma/Diploma/Extended Diploma in Animal Management
These qualifications, equivalent to 1, 2 or 3 A levels, blend practical skills with theoretical knowledge and understanding designed to prepare you for a professional career in animal science and management. You build up credits as you complete a combination of core and optional units and complete the Subsidiary Diploma over two terms of full-time study, the equivalent of 1 A level. Successful candidates may progress onto the Diploma, completed in a further two terms, which is equivalent to 2 A levels, or the Extended Diploma completed in a further 4 terms, equivalent to 3 A levels. Learners also undertake Functional Skills qualifications in English, Maths and IT.
All learners initially complete the Subsidiary Diploma and progress to the Diploma or Extended Diploma where appropriate.

Entry Requirements
4 GCSEs at grade A to C including Maths, English and Science or overall distinction in the Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care with distinction in Biology plus Key Skills Communication and Numeracy at level 1 or above.
Equivalent qualifications or accreditation of prior learning and experience gained in a relevant working environment will also be considered. You’ll also need independent study skills to be successful at level 3.

Progression
To employment, apprenticeships or Higher Education.

Cordwainers' Diploma in Saddlery
This two-year course comprises two separate qualifications: the NPTC Level 2 Certificate in Saddlery and the Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Saddlery. The full course provides a solid foundation in bespoke saddlery and harness manufacture, preparing you for the separately accredited Diplomas in Harness, Bridle and Saddle making required for the industry recognition as a Master Saddler. There are additional separately accredited Skills Test Certificates in Saddlery and a qualification in Lorinery. It includes both traditional craft saddlery and modern factory-based production methods. Completion of both qualifications leads to award of the prestigious Cordwainers' Diploma.

Capel Manor is the only provider nationally to offer full-time training in saddlery and hand sewn leathercraft, and has
excellent practical facilities. The Cordwainers’ Diploma draws international recruitment and was transferred to
Capel Manor from Cordwainers’ College after its merger with the London College of Fashion in 2000. It is run by two equestrian expert master saddlers, one formerly a professional rider, has guided students to make bridles for Princess Anne and the Queen as well as winning a raft of awards for everything from tack to handbags.

Entry Requirements
Normal entry requirements are Level 2 vocational qualifications or 4 GCSEs including an art/craft subject at Grade C or above (or equivalent), other qualifications of an equivalent standard or accreditation of prior learning and experience gained in an appropriate working environment will also be considered.

Progression
To employment or Higher Education courses in leather technology.

The industry
In a climate of declining manufacturing sectors in Britain such as the leather industry, Capel Manor is committed through its work with the venerable livery companies of Cordwainers, Saddlers and Loriners to keeping the tradition of hand-sewn leatherwork alive.

Is it for me?
Yes, if you are interested in horse riding and the associated industries; you are creative and artistic; you are interested in fashion and the manufacture of leather goods.

Opportunities
The transferable traditional old English saddlery skills see our students enter the workplace with a range of employers such as: Globe-Trotter, J Simpson fine case and leather goods makers, the British Army and the Royal Mews, as well as entering self employment in leather goods design, repairs and restoration and making costumes for historical re-enactments.