News & Events

OATRIDGE FAMILY FUN DAY

EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, IT'S IN YOUR NATURE

It all begins at 12.45pm on Sunday 5th of February and will run until 4.00pm.

HNC Countryside Management students are set to hold an exciting environmental and historically based activities day at Oatridge College, Ecclesmachan.

  • Have a hoot! Come and see the owls and discover what they've been eating
  • Discover how spiders and humans are similar, but don't get tangled in their web!
  • Swords! Shields! Come and see the tools of medieval warfare.
  • Can you identify woodland creatures using bones, tracks and poo?
  • Swoop in to feed the birds and make some birdy-licious seed cakes
  • Washed up & stranded? Learn essential survival skills that could save your life
  • Rock on! Learn about our rocky history and the fossils contained within

Everyone is welcome to join us in a celebration of wildlife, wilderness and weapons!

No-one will leave without having learnt some new knowledge or skills that can help you understand, protect and cope with the environments we live in.

It's going to be full of fun and interesting activities for children under 12 years of age. There will be tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks available. Dress warmly, for the weather & wear sensible footwear.

Hope to see you there.

For any queries please call Sarah Reay or Carl Gilbert at Oatridge College on

01506 864800 or by e-mail: sreay@oatridge.ac.uk or cgilbert@oatridge.ac.uk

  

  

Open Days

Take a tour of the facilities and discuss your careers option on our new Open Days for session 11/12:

Friday 25 November 2011, 1.30-4.00pm

Friday 3 February 2012, 1.30-4.00pm

Sunday 11 March 2012, 1.30-4.00pm

Thursday 7 June 2012, 5.00-8.00pm

Friday 24 August 2012, 1.30-4.00pm

School Taster Days

Thursday 23 - Friday 24 February

[Advanced booking essential]

Oatridge College is the New Training Provider for the BALI ROLO Card in Scotland

The BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) ROLO Scheme (Registration of Landbased Operatives) is open to anyone who works in the Landbased Industry. Following completion of the one day ROLO landbased Health and Safety Scheme you are able to achieve a ROLO card or further to successfully undertaking the CSCS(Construction Skills Certification Scheme) touch screen test a LISS/CSCS card.

Courses are available at Oatridge College on ;

30th September, 9am -5pm. Further dates available.

£ 120 per person.

Price includes;

  • Registration
  • All course materials (sent to you in advance)
  • Certification
  • Refreshments and Lunch

Alternatively we can come to you to train your workforce;

£100 per employee (minimum 10 employees) + travel cost.

Price includes;

  • Registration
  • All course materials (sent to you in advance)
  • Certification

To book your place or please contact Moira on:

Tel:  01506 864807

or email mmontgomery@oatridge.ac.uk

For advice and guidance regarding ROLO card visit http://www.oatridge.ac.uk/news_and_events/news/oatridge_deal_rolo_card or please contact:

Nikki Feltham

British Association of Landscape Industries

T:  024 7669 8652

F:  02476 690077

W:  http://www.bali.org.uk/

BALI ROLO card Scottish Launch Thursday 30th June 

Oatridge College has been appointed as the first Training Provider for the BALI ROLO card in Scotland.

The new format for ROLO leading on to the CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) will hold its National launch at the BALI Landscaping Show at Stonelegih on 21st-22nd June and in conjunction with Oatridge College they are holding the SCOTTISH LAUNCH later this month.

Tim Grace, BALI National Vice-Chairman and BALI Director responsible for Training will Chair the event and Wayne Grills, the newly appointed BALI Chief Operations Officer will also be in attendance. Ann Burns, Team Leader in Horticulture at Oatridge College will give an informative presentation covering all the aspects of the new ROLO Training Status and the courses and opportunities for BALI Members and Contractors to enroll their staff on the courses.

This is a FREE event and everyone is welcome to attend and bring along guests.

Venue: The Clyde Room, The Watersports Centre, Strathclyde Country Park, 366 Hamilton Road, Motherwell, Nr glasgow, MI1 3ED

Date: Thursday 30th June 2011

Time: 5.30pm for 6pm (light refreshments will be served)

RSVP: Nita Redfearn by emailing her at nita.redfearn@slaidburn.org no later than 27th June.

  

  

Highland Show 23-26 June

Come and visit Oatridge's stand during the Highland Show between the 23rd and 26th at the SAC building.

Find out about our courses or how we can work together if you are employer.

If you require more information about Oatridge at the Highland Show, please contact us on 01506 864800.  

  

  Fun Day on Saturday 11th June

Start at 10am

The programme includes:

  • Nolvelty Dog Show (Start at 11.30)

        Entries on the day. 

        Classess include: Waggiest Tail, Prettiest Bitch, Buscuit Catch and more...Prizes and rosettes to be won!!!!

  •  Clyde Vailley Birds of Prey

          Birds on display from 12.30.

          Flying demo begings approx. 3.30

  • Plant sale
  • Lots of prizes to be won at the tombola
  • Home made jams and chutney for sale

£1 Entry fee-Entries at Gate-Prices and Rosettes to be won

Dogs to be kept on lead at all times. Owners must clean up after their dogs.

Everyone Welcome.

  

Fun Day on Sunday 13th February

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oatridge-College/127325360666416

Grow Your Own Business  

Have you always wanted to work outdoors?
Have you considered working for yourself?  
Have you recently been made redundant?
(within the last 6 months)     

If you can answer "yes " to all 3  questions,  you could start 2011 on a positive note and  enrol for our free ‘Grow Your Own Gardening Business' Course, with support from the Scottish Funding Council.

What's in the Course?

The course runs for 12 weeks (Feb* - May 2010) 3 days per wk and is ‘benefit friendly'

On the course you will study 4 key topics: 

  • Garden maintenance

  • Garden Construction

  • Plant selection and design

  • Small business start-up advice

You will be able to use your ILA** for quality add-on qualifications in, for example: Mower operation, Sthilsaw, Hedge Trimmer and Strimmer Use.  We will support you to find 2 weeks work experience in the industry sector.

What can I do after the course?

You could

  • Start up your own gardening business
  • Seek employment in the gardening industry
  • Apply to continue your studies at Oatridge College

To book your place, contact Hilary Morton now at Oatridge College:
Telephone: 01506 864800                     Email: info@oatridge.ac.uk

                                                                                                   

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forging Certificate

The college offers this exam for both internal and external candidates. This is a  Practical and Theory exam for which you are required to submit your portfolio of exam pieces, further details can be obtained from the college or NPTC direct. www.nptc.org.uk

The 2011 exam dates are:

16.02.2011
27.04.2011
08.06.2011

Please apply to Anne Hazelwood for further information.

Open Days in 2011

Open Days 2011

Friday 11th February 2011 - 1:30- 4:00pm
Friday 11 March 2011 - 1:30- 4:00pm
Wednesday 6th April 2011 6:00- 8:00pm
Sunday 8th May 2011 1:30- 4:00 pm
Friday 10th June 2011 1:30- 4:00 pm
Friday 19th August 2011 1:30 - 4:00pm

School Taster Days - Thursday 24th and Friday 25th February 2011
(Booking for Taster Days is essential)

Students in accommodation

If you need to make contact with the accommodation manager call 01506 86804 or 07887 660552. 

SVQ Qualifications

Oatridge College is offering nationally recognized SVQs at Levels 2 and 3 in agriculture, sports turf, horticulture, landscaping and landbased engineering.  Modern Apprentices are available at level 2 and 3.  We are also offering animal welfare and horse care at level 2 only. 
All of the courses are for employees already working in these sectors. 

Employees will be allocated an assessor/liaison officer who will visit them regularly in the workplace to support and assess their progress.  Each level can be completed within 1 / 2 years.
Successful candidates may progress after level 3 to the next level, Higher National Certificate or other qualifications in the same area.  For candidates between the ages of 16 and 19 years of age, these qualifications can be fully funded by the Scottish Government.

Important information for 2010-11 students

The following information was received by the college on 25 June 2010.

Dear colleagues
We have been informed by the Scottish Government that there will be two changes to the EMA programme this year:


1) from academic year 2010-11, bonus payments will no longer be part of the programme.
2) given the anticipated pressures on the budget this financial year, the Scottish Government will be reviewing the EMA programme in December 2010 to consider whether further adjustments are needed. Any awards issued to young people for academic year 2010-11 are therefore only guaranteed until December. 

We are awaiting an offer of grant from the Scottish Government which we expect to receive by the end of this week.  Once this is received we will issue you with updated EMA guidance for AY 2010-11.

Crop Circle

Farm Director and Agriculture Team Leader Peter Scott gave the following comment: 

I think the HND Agric course which has just finished may have had a hand in it. The closest thing we have to ‘evidence' is a couple of reports of lights being seen during the night in the general direction of the field. That makes it even more remarkable that someone could replicate the College logo so accurately, if they were working by torchlight in the dark of the countryside."

 It may be that little green men found the material used on a farm known for producing Rasps and Potatoes near the vale of Strathmore who's son happened to be on that course.

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