| tigrablackhorse |
| (newbie) |
| 23/07/2008 13:11 |
NVQ levels ?
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i have just had the offer of running NVQ level qualifications, at my yard and Riding Centre whilist I understand the point of these levels and their place in the equestrian world - I just wanted to hear from anyone that has completed any of these levels and how they found them ? Any comments would be much appreciated.
| Pilib |
| () |
| 23/07/2008 13:18 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Hi,
I have completed level 2, did it for a bit of fun part time at a local riding school over a year. Quite straight forward although putting the evidence together can be time consuming. Really helps to track your work as you go along.
X
| Twinkling_Mrs_Claus |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 23/07/2008 14:17 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I completed level 2 and 3 , I think it was through one of the training and employment agencies , It seems that long ago, well it was I suppose 10 odd years ago
..... Try some of the colleges , I dont know what its like over in england though.
| JLD |
| (journeyman) |
| 23/07/2008 18:59 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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i did my level 1 and 2 for fun but over quite a long time as work full time ++ in non equine employment, however is pretty comprehensive and thorough when done properly, but students need to be committed to do it justice as lots of effort to do evidence /question etc. if run well i think it offers alot especially to students who are not good at exams but work hard.
| Ziggy101 |
| (old hand) |
| 23/07/2008 21:45 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I did level 2 although i never finished it, was very straightforward though and the assesors are very 'flexible' if thats the right word (they want you to pass and will help you out sort of thing). For this reason I don't know how useful they are in the equine industry as they may be seen as a soft option - someone on here referred to them as Not Very Qualifieds....
from the POV of the person running them, there is an extremely high drop out rate so consider the candidates carefully if it is going to cost you anything if people drop out.
| tigrablackhorse |
| (newbie) |
| 24/07/2008 08:06 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Thanks for the feedback - I have also known them referred to as 'Not Very Qualified' - but the standard now expected is now a little higher as the BHS will now reconise them as a Qualification.
Just intersted to hear if anyone actually found them useful and worthwhile. From an employers point of view then yes we do get paid a small amount for each student but we have to put time across for training and overseeing all work done.
Just interested to see who, these type of qualications attract and if people gained anything from their training.
Thanks agian
| Baublezebub |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 24/07/2008 09:41 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I worked on a yard which ran them (I taught) and also in a college which offered them.
To be honest, they seem pretty worthless; whenever employers phoned looking to employ a student, they were interested in BHS Stages competence, not NVQs (unless in racing, where they are valued).
At a college, we ran them in conjunction with training yards - and the drop out rate was very high - as staff moved on so quickly, and the NVQ students didn't seem to rate them enough to try to complete.
Sorry it's not more positive.
S
| tigrablackhorse |
| (newbie) |
| 24/07/2008 11:29 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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No that's great Shilasdir worthwhile feedback - exactly what I wanted to know as I don't want to waste my time and energy on something that is perceived as worthless, believe me I have enough to do without more hassle !!
Thanks !!
| Twinkling_Mrs_Claus |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 25/07/2008 01:04 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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The time I was doing mine, 6 girls dropped out of it , So I would definitely agree with the very high drop out rate
unfortuntely .
| Baublezebub |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 25/07/2008 10:50 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Quote:
No that's great Shilasdir worthwhile feedback - exactly what I wanted to know as I don't want to waste my time and energy on something that is perceived as worthless, believe me I have enough to do without more hassle !!
Thanks !!
You can get funding for running BHS exams up to Stage 4 (although usually everyone stops at Stage 3 as there aren't enough students to make running Stage 4 viable financially). To do so though, you have to get together with a training provider, as the funding authorities won't recognise riding schools/yards...maybe if you contacted your local college you could collaborate to run BHS exams?
Just a thought.
S
| Haniki |
| (Pooh-Bah) |
| 25/07/2008 12:33 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I did NVQ 1 & 2 at evening classes in our local college but only to help me as a horse owner not for a career. I enjoyed them. We used our local riding school for the assessments and practical demos.
| ZalaccaCracker |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 25/07/2008 13:28 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I've just done my stage two in conjunction with Abingdon and Whitney. I found it a bit easy but I enjoyed it more than the BHS exams - my RI made us work hard for them but I found they weren't as restricting as the BHS which could be a good or bad thing. I don't intend to work with horses but the girl who did the course with me has already got a job at a RS because of it...
| emma69 |
| () |
| 31/07/2008 20:52 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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We ran the NVQs a few years back when I taught at a yard, they didn't require a whole lot of extra effort (the assessor had an academic background anyway, so it suited her) We put all the WP through it (on the basis of 'why not', and it worked for some of them who just couldn't do exams (pressure of the exam situation mainly) That said, I don't think it really did much, other than perhaps bolster confidence for the BHS stages. An NVQ 1/2 certainly wouldn't impress me if someone was applying for a job, I would be wondering why they hadn't done their stages! I understand they have got a little bit harder since my experience with them, but really, my average-rider kids classes could have passed the 1 without any extra coaching.
Not sure why you are looking to do them, if it is money, then have you looked into the BHS Horse Owner certificates (if they are still around?) The attraction with these is they are more 'friendly' or 'casual' than NVQs so you can convince older clients that they would enjoy them - especially if you also have a snack rota and/or wine! We ran classes for those, great for extra cash in winter, as most of it can be classroom based, and it also means income without your horses needing to work more! I don't think you need much to run them, I didn't do the admin side of them, I think the person running / setting the exam etc needs to be BHS qualified, couldn't tell you if they need AI / II etc tho, pretty sure it is no higher than II tho.
| Ziggy101 |
| (old hand) |
| 01/08/2008 10:27 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Just wanted to add when we had our riding assessment, the other girl i was with stuck the saddle on the horses withers and did the noseband up outside the cheek pieces and still passed the tacking up part as the assessor conveniently failed to notice... not much point in a qualification if you can pass it without being able to do the basics properly is there?
| tigrablackhorse |
| (newbie) |
| 04/08/2008 09:14 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Thanks for the extra feed back - I was contacted by one of the local large colleges Summerhouse who set up and encourage yards and schools to run these courses and if it is useful and people get something out of it then I was considering looking at running thse courses but the feed back from here which has been great and a lot of useful comments that people have very kindly posted has been very helpful in establilishing whether these worthwhile! believe me I have enough to do without any extra hassle for nothing and no return !! I am already running the HorseOwner Cert. which are great fun and my ' Old & Wobbly' group their words not mine ! I hasten to add ,have lots of fun and get a lot of them !
Plus I throughly enjoy it too !!
| Lancs64 |
| (stranger) |
| 09/09/2008 18:30 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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Hi just found this thread and wondered if anyone had any information about available funding to undertake the level 1 NVQ?
| The_Psephologist |
| (Pooh-Bah) |
| 10/09/2008 11:28 |
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Re: NVQ levels ?
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I'm an NVQ Assessor in Animal and Equine Care and used to work for a company called KEITS in Herts. They basically recruited yards on the basis that the LSC pays for 16-25 yr olds to do the NVQs.
There was pressure on us to pass students, even if they weren't up to standard. The amount of 'help' that was expected was ridiculous.
NVQ's aren't really recognised in the horse world. It's Stages that are the ones to go for.
Despite them meant to be vocational courses, they are sold as being practical....but really there is alot of paperwork and writing involved.