It’s official now! The Equine Department at Hadlow College has long enjoyed an excellent reputation – now its status is recognised officially.
Along with the rest of the college, the department recently underwent an Ofsted inspection from which it emerged ‘Outstanding’. In fact, of the 27 categories in which the college as a whole was inspected, a remarkable 24 Outstanding grades were achieved, the remaining three areas being graded ‘Good’. Putting the inspection into perspective, it lasted an entire week, involved something like fourteen inspectors - and the results place Hadlow in a very elite position among the land-based colleges.
So what is ‘Ofsted’ – and surely it only covers schools? The acronym is so familiar that it has a stand-alone entry in many dictionaries. Officially it is the ‘Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. And Ofsted covers any institution offering education and training for young people under eighteen.
Of course, a lot of people are sceptical about ‘inspections’ and ‘assessments’ and ‘targets’ because, in various areas of government, they have been brought into disrepute. But Ofsted, a non-ministerial department of HM Inspector of Schools in England, is a notable exception which is appreciated and valued by parents, employers – and most importantly by the young people themselves.
What is it that makes Hadlow’s Equine merit this wonderful result? Derek Payne, who heads up the Faculty, comments ‘It is impossible to achieve an Outstanding grade unless absolutely everything is run to exemplar standards. Teaching and learning are the central and most important factors but every single element comes under seriously close scrutiny and it is a gruelling process.’
Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow’s director of finance and resources, comments ‘We have invested very carefully in our Equine Department, consequently students are afforded opportunity to work in a diverse range of facilities so that they leave Hadlow with very comprehensive experience’. Lynda Brown, Vice Principal, adds ‘The competition for good jobs in the equestrian industry is very keen and this makes it all the more important to ensure students are well prepared and equipped to fulfil employers’ needs. In fact, the reputation of our Equine Department is so high that many employers make a special point of selecting ex-Hadlow students.’
Sonia Wilkes, event organiser and lecturer, says ‘The facilities themselves are important – not just availability but the way they are maintained – and we have a very wide range of horses. Some are ideal for less experienced riders - but we also have animals that have competed at a high level and are on loan to the college. This is a popular option with owners because they know for absolute certainty that their horses will be looked after to the highest possible standards. It also means that our students have opportunity to gain experience on many different types of horses schooled to widely differing standards.’
What else does Sonia consider to be important in relation to the horses on the establishment? ‘We stand our own stallion and we have a structured breeding programme. Several of the offspring have been retained, schooled on - and staff and students have opportunity to compete at both affiliated and unaffiliated levels. In addition, students are encouraged to compete with school horses at appropriate levels. I think this affords the sort of experience that is rare and is a huge plus.’
Derek Payne again: ‘The standards we maintain on the yard – and bear in mind we have over sixty horses – are those you expect to find in a top competition yard. This is as it should be - and it is certainly one of the reasons that at the end of their courses – whether at degree or further education levels – our students are sought after and obtain some plum jobs in the industry’.
Substantial numbers of students, rather than staying at school to obtain A-levels in order to enrol for a degree course, elect to use a different progression route. Those who have few or no formal qualifications can start at Level 1 – the Certificate in Land-based Studies – and progress through to the National Diploma which equips them to enter a degree course at foundation level with the choice of either the equine science or equine management route.’ Derek explains that some students then elect to continue their studies in order to convert the FdSc degree to a BSc (Hons).
Hadlow’s Equine Department is busy! A big competition programme, regular lectures and demonstrations by leading trainers and riders, visits to international and national events and equine-related establishments, examinations, research programmes – and a lot more besides.
Ex-Hadlow students are working in a wide variety of equestrian-related areas – not all hands-on concerned with horses. Estate agents specialising in equestrian properties, equestrian related media and public relations, research, the saddlery industry, lecturing and teaching, marketing, nutrition, practice management for equine vets, et cetera.
Derek has the last word ‘It doesn’t matter what we do’, he says, ‘we only ever aim to be ‘outstandingly outstanding!’’
Words by Pat Crawford.
