Get well prepared for employment in engineering in a ‘calm and professional learning environment’

If you are considering enrolling at South West Durham Training you can be reassured that when you complete your course you will be well prepared for employment in engineering.

For that’s the positive verdict of a team of Ofsted inspectors following a four-day visit to our Newton Aycliffe training facility earlier this year.

Their report found SWDT to be ‘good’ in every category: overall effectiveness; the quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; education programmes for young people; and apprenticeships.

It said: “Apprentices and learners value their calm and professional learning environment and are highly motivated to develop their engineering skills.

“Tutors have high expectations of learners and apprentices, who in turn behave in a safe and orderly manner in workshops, replicating the behaviour that is expected in industry.

“Learners and apprentices benefit from a well-resourced and spacious learning and training environment. They practise and apply their understanding in a realistic workplace setting. As a result, they are well prepared for employment in a range of engineering contexts.”

The report continued: “Leaders and managers have a clear strategic intent to address the skills development needs in the pharmaceutical, electrical and mechanical engineering sectors.

“Leaders collaborate well with employers to plan the training that their apprentices need. Employers appreciate how well apprentices develop the professional behaviours and attitudes that they need to work safely in often high-risk industries.

“Apprentices develop skills that allow them to progress to roles including automation engineer, assistant engineer, team manager and senior technician, and that helps to develop their employers’ businesses.”

Inspectors also praised the quality and experience of staff, safeguarding and governance -highlighting that most governors have engineering backgrounds themselves which enabled them to use their expertise to support and strengthen leadership.

SWDT has a history of engineering training excellence stretching back more than 55 years to its opening on the same site in 1967. There are currently more than 120 apprentices on Level 3 and Level 4 programmes as well as learners on 16 to 19 full-time courses. SWDT has been part of the Bishop Auckland College Group since 2014.

• If you’d like to find out more about South West Durham Training or apply for one of our full-time engineering courses starting in September, visit swdt.co.uk. Our Results and Enrolment Event runs on Thursday August 24 and Friday August 25 for school leavers who have already applied and received an offer. Book your slot at swdt.co.uk.