You are here:
FAQ's
What does an Advanced Apprenticeship involve?
1. Level 3 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care and Management (formerly NVQ Level 3 in Racehorse Care & Management)
This involves 8 projects of written work, learning and study, collecting evidence of your competency and practical assessments. Your projects will be:
- Feeding horses
- Horse health and care
- Fitting tack, plaiting and clipping
- Transporting horses
- Health and safety at work
- Breaking and training young horses
- Going racing
Either:
- Riding (or)
- Training horses
2. An Emergency First Aid Certificate
This involves attending and passing a one day course with St John's Ambulance or Red Cross. This certificate must be valid at the end of the Advanced Apprenticeship.
3. A Technical Certificate in Advanced Horsecare
This is a multi choice on-line exam testing the underpinning knowledge requirements of the Level 3 Diploma.
4. Key Skills
Level 2 Communication (English)
Level 2 Application of Number (Maths)
Level 2 Working With Others
Level 1 Information Technology
Your Key Skills portfolio will be completed in one additional project, which is also relevant to your Level 3 Diploma studies.
We will accredit prior learning wherever possible to reduce your Key Skill requirements. Please supply proof of GCSE grades A-C in Maths, English or English Literature and any grade in Information Technology within the last 5 years. Exams are held every month at the British Racing School and are merely multiple choice papers.
Previous Key Skills/Core Skills acheivements at the required level, A Levels and some Scottish grades can also count as exemptions.
PLEASE NOTE: You cannot do a Level 3 Diploma alone unless you pay for it privately. To acheive the Advanced Apprenticeship, you must complete all the above qualifications, and by joining the programme, you are agreeing to undertake and attempt the whole package.
How will the Advanced apprenticeship help my career?
An Advanced Apprenticeship is the ideal way to increase your knowledge about racehorse care and management and prepare you for a position of responsibility.
An NVQ3 is a Mandatory requirement for all prospective permit holders and licensed racehorse trainers.
The NVQ3 is linked to the Grade A racing wage.
As many modern trainers have completed their NVQ3 since it became mandatory, they are aware of the research, knowledge and work that go into a portfolio and are recruiting on the basis of this qualification.
An Advanced Apprenticeship can fulfil the entry requirements for a Foundation Degree or a HND course.
Who can join?
Anyone under the age of 25, who works at least 16 hours a week for a licensed racehorse trainer and has already completed their NVQ2 or has substantial relevant occupational experience.
Most people will be full time employees and will ride and work to a high standard. Learners from point-to-point and Arab racehorse yards may also be accepted.
You are not eligible if you have a University degree of any type.
You must be a resident of the European Union or the EEA, or have the right to abode in the United Kingdom and a full National Insurance Number.
How much time will i need to spend on this?
The average learner takes 18 months to complete but learners can take anything from 12 to 24 months.
Allow approximately five days away from your yard to undergo training and to sit exams.You are responsible for arranging this with your employer at a convenient time of the season but it should be treated as paid time and not holiday entitlement.
Much of your project work will be done as part of your daily routine. Learning and written work will take about 2-3 hours a week. This work will be done in your own time, and should be neatly presented in a portfolio, with an index.
Your assessor will need to see you 2-4 hours every 2 months. Some of this will be during work time.
What learning and support will be available?
You normally have 18 months to complete the Advanced Apprenticeship. Before joining, you will have a chance to look at the coursework and decide if this is right for you.
When you join you will be assigned an assessor who will visit you at work every 2 months to mark your work, set fresh work, conduct assessments and give you any assistance you need. There is also a telephone number to the British Racing School Training Office and email address, which you may contact at any time for advice.
You will be supplied with all the books, project work and materials you require.
Projects will be completed according to the time of year and how you are progressing. For example, during the racing season, you will given the Going Racing project to complete.
Some projects will require co-operation from your employer, and this will have to be agreed. You will need to assist Head Lads with senior duties; discuss this with your senior staff and employer before you join the programme, and be sure you have their support.
If you are unable to finish some projects at work (i.e., if you are not allowed to learn to clip) then you may come to the BRS and we will teach you here.
From time to time the BRS may hold project-building days to assist you with development of your folder and to provide opportunities for assessment.
What about the exams?
This is an Advanced qualification, designed to train the managers and senior staff of the future, and it should be expected that you will have to pass exams.
The Technical Certificate may be attempted whenever you feel ready, but we would recommend that you finish the Horse Health project before you sit this exam. You will be supplied with sample questions for revision and preparation. You may sit this paper as often as necessary in order to pass it.
The Key Skills exams may be attempted at any time after joining the programme, and you may sit them as often as necessary. We will supply mock papers, and web site addresses where you may practice. When you come to sit your exams we can provide tuition before you sit your paper. You may sit all your exams in one week or take them separately as you prefer.
The Key Skills exams should not deter anyone from enrolling on the Advanced Apprenticeship, we ask that everyone compiles the relatively simple portfolios, (which form a part of the NVQ), and gives the exams their best shot. The NVQ3 is by far the largest part of the Advanced Apprenticeship and can be acheived in its own right, like all the components.
What will it cost?
Nothing! This programme is funded by Skills Funding Agency and the ESF.
Where you need to attend the BRS for training or to sit exams, we will provide free accommodation and meals whilst you are here. We will also reimburse the cost of travel.
Lantra the awarding body for the Advanced Apprenticeship, have determined that employers must pay for the Mandatory First Aid Qualification and learners and employers must arrange this. However, any learner completing a First Aid course at the BRS, arranged to coincide with Key Skills exams or project-building sessions, will not be charged.
We provide all your study materials but you will need to buy your own file, stationery etc.