A new college course in motoring is gearing pupils towards a career where they can use Welsh as a working language.
The ten-week course, offered at The College Rhymney, which is part of Ystrad Mynach College, is available to Year 10 pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni and Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw.
It is part of the college’s response to the Welsh Government’s Learning Pathways policy of increasing education through Welsh-language.
The college decided to offer its popular vocational motor vehicle course in Welsh and now each term, learners from the collaborating schools attend the college to learn about basic vehicle maintenance.
Daniel Jones, the course tutor at The College Rhymney, said: “It is unusual to meet a 15-year-old who knows exactly what they want to do. This course helps students see what kind of practical courses college can offer them in the future, while learning in the language they are used to being taught in.
“It is great to see pupils learning through Welsh because there is a clear advantage of being bi-lingual in the labour market and it shows them that using Welsh doesn’t stop at the school gate.”
Fourteen-year-old Joe Daniels from Caerphilly has just completed the course. He said: “The course has given me a real taste for college and has opened my eyes to the options open to me after I leave school. It’s also great to be able to learn a new skill in the language I am most comfortable with”.
Under the guidance of Mr Jones, the pupils undertake basic vehicle maintenance modules including Health and Safety in a motor vehicle workshop, an introduction to checking car engine levels and an introduction to checking car lights. Upon successful completion they are awarded an OCN certificate.
Joe, who has always been interested in cars and is considering returning to The College Rhymney to take a further course in motor vehicle maintenance, said:
“The practical element of the course was particularly enjoyable. Learning how to examine engines, assess tyre pressures, change tyres and service vehicles taught me skills that will come in handy in the future.
“It’s a relief to know I won’t be leaving the Welsh language behind when I leave school. With more people speaking Welsh, customers now expect a bilingual service so knowing all of the important terms will hopefully improve my chances of getting a job.”
Carolyn Donegan, Head of The College Rhymney, said: “It is important that we increase our Welsh medium provision and we are delighted to be working with local schools to provide this option. We are even more pleased that the Welsh motor vehicle course has been such a success and we are looking forward to extending this method of teaching to more vocational courses in the future.”