Junior Apprentices graduate from Cardiff and Vale College
The latest cohort of 14 to 16-year-olds who have taken the opportunity to transform their lives through a pioneering vocational career route at Cardiff and Vale College have celebrated successfully completing their courses.
CAVC’s Year 11 Junior Apprentices were joined by friends, family and their tutors to be treated to a Graduation Ceremony at the College’s City Centre Campus and receive their graduation certificates.
This year, 39 Year 11 learners graduated. Of those who graduated, 33 are going on to vocational post-16 courses ranging from Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy through to Hospitality and Catering, Construction and Building Services, Car Repair and Maintenance, Public Services, Health and Social Care, Business Studies and Art and Design. One has progressed into employment, one will progress on to an Automotive apprenticeship and two are working with Careers Wales for personal career guidance, while two will continue their studies at CAVC Group member ACT.
The graduation also featured an awards ceremony. Sixteen-year-old Chloe Ryan won overall Junior Apprentice of the Year for her outstanding hard work and commitment.
Cardiff and Vale College Principal Sharon James-Evans said: “Congratulations to all of our latest cohort of Junior Apprentices – you have worked so hard over the last two years to get to where you are today. You have developed and achieved your goals in a way that has been truly inspirational.
“To see that you will be progressing in your chosen career paths is wonderful. Thank you and to the fantastic team that have worked with you – we are very proud of you all.”
Jointly funded by CAVC, Cardiff Council, Welsh Government and local schools, the Junior Apprenticeship programme is designed to increase the number of young people in education, employment or training. It offers young people the opportunity to study full-time in a college setting under the guidance of industry-qualified teachers in specialist vocational facilities while continuing to sit GCSEs in English and Maths.
CAVC launched the programme in 2016 – the first college in Wales to do so. The College won an Association of Colleges UK-wide Beacon Award for Transition into Post-16 Education and Training in 2017, and the Welsh Government rolled the programme out across Wales.
Since 2016, more than 300 14 to 16-year olds have studied on CAVC’s programme from 25 schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, as well as young people being educated out of school. Success rates are high with an average of 86-88% achieving vocational qualifications and GCSEs and progressing on to further education or employment.
Fore more information about CAVC’s Junior Apprenticeship programme visit https://cavc.ac.uk/en/junior-apprenticeships
