College unveils exotic new course

COLLEGE students are set to be guinea pigs for an exciting new school course.

Macclesfield College has unveiled a fledgling course which is focused on caring for animals.

The Animal Care Course was announced to more than 200 potential students as they attended a open evening for next September’s intake.

And some of the youngsters who attended the event were so taken by the course they signed up there and then.

The specialised course will cover seven modules and teach students about different aspects to do with animal care, including assisting with animal health and wellbeing.

According to staff at the college the Animal Care course provides an introduction to the handling and day to day care of a range of animals, and can lead on to careers in the animal industry.

But it won’t be all theory; students will get up close and personal with some furry creatures. One of the modules focuses on the handling of certain animals and will have the opportunity to handle a selection of animals during the course.

Students will also learn about preparation and maintenance of animal accommodation, handling and restraint of animals and assisting with animal feeding, and will be assessed during a range of practical and research activities.

Ella Tsui-Lau, director of curriculum at the college, said they are responding to an existing ‘appetite’ for the course which they think will suit a range of pupils.

She said: “Whether students want to go into a career working with pets and domesticated animals, see their future in farming, are interested in animal welfare jobs or fancy something more exotic at a zoo or safari park, the course content we have built into the new animal-based course will provide an excellent foundation for either the workplace or further study.

“As a college, we attract a wide demographic of students from both urban and rural backgrounds and across all abilities.

“We knew that there was an appetite for an animal based course across this intake and we’ve been overwhelmed by just how much excitement there was surrounding the course during the open evening.”

Ms Tsui-Lau added: “I chatted to lots of students, school leavers and their parents during the course of the evening but I was definitely upstaged by the lamb!”