Students show off their skills in regional specialist colleges contest

Chris Chapman during Ground Force test

Seashell Trust has hosted a regional individual skills competition for specialist colleges.

 

Royal College Manchester, run by the trust in Cheadle Hulme, took on Derwen College in Oswestry and Condover Collegein Shrewsbury at cooking, gardening and cycle maintenance.

 

Tricia Ramjutun, learner voice co-ordinator, said: “World Skills is an international initiative to promote excellence in workplace skills through competitions. It ensures as many learners as possible have access to competition and have established inclusive skills competitions for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

 

“These competitions promote fairness and inclusiveness for all learners attending specialist colleges. They raise students' aspirations and promote equal opportunities to students with a range of needs.”

 

Nine students took part in the Brazilian-themed sandwich making challenge. They had to make brigaderios and a bauru cake. For the ground force section, they were examined on weeding in the sensory garden.

 

Three students competed in the cycle maintenance test.

 

Students worked to set criteria judged by Maura Beasley, community governor of Royal College, Patricia Pearson, formally of St Helen's College, and Sam Silletto, from Barclays Bank.

 

The winners were Chris Chapman from Derwen in the Ground Force test, Elliot Upton from Condover in the sandwich making, and Hannah Gerrard from Royal College took first place for cycle maintenance.