STV visit Oatridge College
STV came to Oatridge College at the beginning of March to film in our state of the art forge. Past student David Newall gave a comprehensive account of the need for farriers in todays market and the importance of the Certificate in Pre Farriery offered by the College.
Current students also talked of their learning experience at the college.
Prestigious Lantra Awards
Darren takes the fifth (Lantra title in six years)
For the fifth time in six years the title "Scotland's Landbased Learner of the Year" has gone to a student from Oatridge College in West Lothian. Seventeen year old Darren Broadley has also been named Agricultural Learner of the Year by Lantra, the sector skills council for Scotland. He collected his prizes at a ceremony at the Crieff Hydro Hotel, where three other Oatridge students were also among the winners.
Agricultural engineer Graeme Brown from Blairgowrie took the prize for the Modern Apprentice of the Year, while 16 year old Christopher Adamson from Bo'ness was named Equine Learner of the Year and 21 year old Lee Eaglen, a greenkeeper at the Marriot Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club was runner-up to the Horticultural Learner of the Year.
David James, the Principal of Oatridge, who was present at the awards ceremony, said: "This is a very proud occasion for the College. We have traditionally done well in these awards, but I think it is a record for our students to make up a quarter of the finalists, win the Overall title, the Modern Apprentice of the Year award, two other category prizes and a runner-up prize.
"Our aims are to support a range of landbased industries and through them the rural economy of Scotland, by turning out well educated and trained recruits and giving all our students the opportunity to develop to achieve their full potential. These results suggest we are getting it right."