The secondary school in Coventry will be the first in the country to offer an alternative qualification equivalent to three GCSEs following the successful launch of a horticultural education program.
Roots to Fruit Midlands has announced a partnership with Romero Catholic Academy to enable students at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School to complete the Practical Gardening Skills Level 2 Social Enterprise course as part of their 10th and 11th grades – the equivalent of a year ahead. other high school graduates.
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School will be the first and only high school in the country to offer a qualification that is equivalent to three GCSEs in grade C or higher.
The course, which will begin in the 2023/24 academic year, follows a year-long partnership between Roots to Fruit Midlands and the Romero Catholic Academy that saw 22 Cardinal Wiseman students participate in the program, seven of whom earned a Level 1 qualification at the pinnacle of their course of study.
The Level 2 program is usually studied after high school and can take up to two years, but Roots to Fruit Midlands will offer it to students aged 14 and over, combining practical skills and scientific knowledge with outdoor learning to complete the academic course. year – allows students to start careers in horticulture, natural sciences, landscaping and other related fields a year earlier.
Sutton Coldfield Social Enterprise, founded by Jonathan Ansell in 2013, is also working with elementary schools in the West Midlands to link plant science to the curriculum and build on classroom learning.
Programs are designed to be productive for students of all abilities, as well as provide a break from typical classroom learning and promote student mental health through sports and outdoor activities.
Jonathan Ansel, director of Roots to Fruit Midlands, said: “Many of our core values ​​align with Romero Catholic Academy and this new partnership represents the first opportunity for us to focus on supporting the pre-school age students we work with. other age groups in Midlands schools.
“Through these courses, we hope to support students who can struggle with traditional academic learning and give them a good understanding of their education, while at the same time incorporating valuable skills and knowledge applicable to a wide range of professions and industries.
“What makes Cardinal Wiseman a fantastic school is not only the useful outdoor spaces and green areas, but also the value of the Romero Catholic Academy in general and the care they give to each child.
“As a social enterprise and advocate for education for all ages, we are thrilled to be working with them and can’t wait to get started next year.”
Zoe Seth, Operations Manager at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, said: “From Roots to Fruit has had an incredible impact on students and we are thrilled they have chosen Cardinal Wiseman as the first school to introduce the new curriculum. secondary school.
“We are always looking for ways to support all students and this is a real opportunity for students to gain a qualification that supports this and gives them a solid foundation for their careers.”
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School Principal Matthew Everett said: “John and the entire Roots to Fruit team have done a fantastic job since we started working together and we can’t wait to begin the next leg of our journey.
“We are always looking for new ways to do our best and we strongly believe that this will expand our curriculum and expose students to practical skills they can acquire much later in their educational journey.”
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