Whether your passion is animals, wildlife conservation or growing flowers and plants, this practical course will be the first step on the ladder to developing the core skills needed for further study or to work in Land-Based and/or Animal Care.
You will spend time in the Animal Unit getting hands-on experience with the animals – feeding, cleaning and looking after them. Our menagerie includes Meerkats, Armadillos, Dogs, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Degus, Snakes, Ferrets, Tarantulas, Chickens, Goats, Alpacas, Geckoes, Bearded Dragons and a Tegu.
Other sessions will be spent learning about wildlife, the countryside and horticultural skills you will have the opportunity to learn skills such as seed sowing, planting and plant division along with woodland skills, wild life conservation and community projects.
This learning programme helps you develop the skills that employers are looking for.
With us, you’ll learn from talented tutors in fantastic facilities. We pride ourselves on our investment in your future, and your success at the heart of everything we do.
You can apply using our online application form and clicking the Apply Now button at the top of this page. For more information support with your enquiry or application please contact Student Services by emailing learn@dearne-coll.ac.uk or by calling 01709 513355.
After you have completed your Level 1 Land- based qualification you can either:
If you have not already achieved a level 4 English and Maths GCSE, you will continue to work towards these qualifications at a level that is appropriate for you. You will either be studying Functional Skills from Entry 1 – Level 1 or be in a GCSE class.
“I feel much more supported and have opened up more here. I get involved in sports now, as they adapt the activities to enable me to join in. I just love it here; we have a great laugh.”
Jacob Hunter FLEX student
We make every effort to ensure information within our online course directory is accurate and a true representation of the courses we are offering in 2022-23 or 2023-24. However, we do reserve the right to make changes if necessary.
“I feel much more supported and have opened up more here. I get involved in sports now, as they adapt the activities to enable me to join in. I just love it here; we have a great laugh.”
Jacob Hunter FLEX student
The land-based sector is ideal for those who enjoy working outside in physically demanding settings or have a passion for caring for animals.
Veterinary Nurses support vets to treat and take care of sick and injured animals.
Keeping the vet practice and equipment clean and hygienic, preparing animals for treatments and assisting the vets during treatments, administering medication, talking to pet owners about treatment and how to take care of their animals and undertaking reception and admin duties.**
Veterinary practices or animal welfare centres.
*EMSI 2021 **nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Landscape Gardeners cultivate flowers, trees, shrubs and other plants - improving the appearance of terrain and cut-and-lay turf.
Discuss clients’ needs and advise them how to maintain their space, work from plans made by designers, order supplies, turf and seed lawns, plant and prune trees and shrubs and install paving.**
Gardens, at a client’s business, at a client’s home or at a garden centre.
*EMSI 2021 **nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
In-demand skills that commonly appear in job descriptions for roles within the animal care and land-based sector include*:
“One of the best things about college is that you get to meet like-minded people - everyone studying on your course is interested in the same sort of stuff and often have similar motivations.”
Emily Puk Level 3 Countryside Management Former student at Wingfield Academy
