Young learners get a taste of Army life

Members of the Army put sixth form students through their paces to test their military skills.

Soldiers from the Royal Engineers transformed Fenton Manor Sport Complex in City Road into an Army training centre, where students from the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College interested in a career in the uniformed services were assessed on their foot drill skills.

Staff, students and proud parents were invited to watch the Year 2 Public Services students on parade, and the test forms a key part of the course which aims to arm young learners with the necessary practical skills to pursue a career in the Fire, Police, Ambulance Services or the Army, Navy or RAF.

The BTEC course is practical based and incredibly popular at the college, with students achieving a 100% pass rate year on year.

Esther Brennan, Public Services course leader at the Sixth Form College, said: “The drill assessment is an important test of discipline, co-ordination and concentration as students will have to form up, march in time and salute.

“How well they carry out the different drill sequences is assessed and then the score from the Drill Parade forms part of their final course assessment.

“It can be a bit nerve-wracking for them, but they all practised hard and most of them had their families there to offer them moral support.”

Any students interested in finding out more about the Public Services courses at the Sixth Form or any of the other courses available are invited to attend an Open Event on Tuesday November 15th from 5-8pm. For more information call the college direct on 01782 848736 or log on to www.stokesfc.ac.uk.