Cardiff and Vale College showcases Junior Apprentices to local schools

Cardiff and Vale College has played host to schools from across Cardiff to showcase the work being done on a pioneering programme to provide vocational career routes to 14 to 16-year-olds.

Jointly funded by Welsh Government Creative Solutions, CAVC, Cardiff Council and Cardiff schools, the Junior Apprenticeship programme was launched in 2016 to increase the number of young people in education, employment and training.

Offering Year 10 and 11 pupils the opportunity to study full-time in a college setting from the age of 14, the programme was the first of its kind in Wales. It recently won a ‘College Oscar’ – a UK-wide Beacon Award from the Association of Colleges for Transition into Post-16 Education and Training.

Representatives from Cardiff schools that have young people on Junior Apprenticeships came to the College to see the young people on their courses before lunch at the College’s modern European restaurant, The Classroom. Schools from across the city, including Eastern High, Cardiff High School, Whitchurch High School, Ysgol Bro Edern, Ysgol Glantaf and Ysgol Plasmawr came to the tour.

CAVC Head of Schools and Sixth Form Cara Moloney said: “It was a pleasure to welcome local schools to the College and show them the Junior Apprentices in action. This programme takes the School Link model significantly further and really helps young people who might have that school wasn’t for them by offering alternative career routes in a fresh environment, providing challenges and chances to learn in a way they can identify with.

“We will continue to work with local schools in creating a new culture of success and it was an excellent opportunity for the schools themselves to see the fruits of our partnership working.”

Eastern High Headteacher Armando Di-Finizio said: “It’s great to see all of the Junior Apprentices engaged and at work. I think the programme has been a real success; these young people are getting involved in education which is relevant to them, which creates engaged students.”