College offers School students “healthy opportunities”

Cornwall College is working with a secondary school to deliver specialist ‘sports instructor’ training and qualifications to its Year 12 and 13 students.

Treviglas School (now a business and enterprise college) already runs Sports and Surf academies, offering vocational education in industries worth billions of pounds nationally, and with government encouragement there has been an increase in people joining gyms.

Dragons’ Den panellist Duncan Bannatyne is testament to this; he owns Bannatyne’s Health Clubs throughout the UK and is enjoying ‘healthy profits’ and record membership levels.

Tim Holbrook, Cornwall College’s course manager for Sports and Fitness, says: "Treviglas has a unique approach to education; the school knows that by offering specialist lecturers and facilities their students will benefit hugely.

"These new courses are at Levels 1 and 2 and are internationally recognised. We’re delivering the Assistant Gym Instructor to Year 12 and Gym Instructor to Year 13 using the school’s classrooms for the theory and the gym at a Newquay Hotel for the practical training. It’s going really well.!

There are 16 Treviglas students currently studying for these qualifications and head teacher Helen Mathieson believes it’s not just about the qualifications.

"These courses develop valuable transferable skills, skills such as communication. On these courses students will have to take charge of classes which may have a varied age range, they’ll learn how to reach different ‘wavelengths’ and communicate at different levels, to all sorts of people. These courses also increase confidence and self esteem levels as well as developing leadership skills," says Ms Mathieson.

Treviglas student Jay Smith, 17, agrees: "This course is recognised worldwide and is giving me a fantastic opportunity to get a useful qualification, and build on my interest. The course sits quite well with my other subjects, Surf fitness and Sport. I felt it was important to take the course because, with unemployment rising, I need every competitive advantage possible."

Mr Holbrook adds: "Hotels, cruise ships, gyms, leisure centres and health clubs all need qualified staff, it’s a fun and rewarding industry to work in."

Internationally recognised courses are particularly valuable to students who may be considering taking a gap year to go travelling, either before university or starting their career, it means they can earn money as they travel.