Teacher:
Miss Eyvor Irvine along with crofter Mrs Ingrid Sutherland.
Who is Rural Skills For?
If you are interested in a career working with animals or in the land based industries, you may be interested in this course. The qualification is for anyone in S3 who would like to study an introductory course in rural skills.
Course Outline
This two year course will give you a range of practical experiences on a local croft, working with sheep and carrying out estate maintenance tasks. You will also work in a classroom environment to reflect on activities and to investigate land based industries and job opportunities.
You will attend Whalsay School and Whitefield Croft 9am-2pm on alternate Fridays.
The course consists of 5 separate units:
Land-based Industries
You will investigate the nature of some of the very diverse industries of the land-based industries and also to examine some of the job opportunities of the sector.
Estate Maintenance
You will become familiar with a range of hand tools and will participate in fencing, drainage/plumbing, tree planting/care and working with walls/hard surfaces.
Employability Skills in the Land-based Industries
You will reflect on skills considered important for employment such as good time-keeping, attendance, good team working and safety awareness.
Animal Husbandry – Sheep
You will learn the skills for some of the basic tasks of maintaining the health and well-being of sheep on a croft in Shetland.
Animal Handling – Sheep
You will learn the basic skills of handling and restraining sheep on a croft in Shetland.
Qualification
On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded SQA accreditation at National 4 level.
Progression
Successful learners may progress to:
- SVQs/ NVQs in land-based sector vocational areas
- Programmes in Further Education Colleges
- Vocational training
- Employment
