Gamekeeping culled from rural course
Rural groups and educational establishments have expressed their unhappiness with a new national qualification on countryside matters.
Representatives have written to Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, articulating their concerns about the removal of the Land and Wildlife course within the T level qualification. T levels were introduced in the autumn of 2020 as a technical alternative to A levels post-GCSE.
The letter described the removal as “deeply concerning” and said the change will result in the loss of an important specialist training route for future gamekeepers, rangers, foresters, land managers and conservationists.
There are currently more than 1,000 students enrolled on the Land and Wildlife courses at 10 specialist land-based centres across England. The signatories have asked the minister and his department to overturn the decision.
Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of pathways, said: “The replacement course offered within the new education structure lacks practical training in wildlife management and controlling invasive species. It is woefully inadequate for the thousands of jobs that require a more hands-on approach to conservation and management.
“Given the Government’s commitment to increasing tree planting, the removal of a course that trains deer and pest management is counterproductive. The Department needs to urgently rectify the issue if they are going to succeed in their nature recovery programme.”