Michael

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Michael
Michael is a key stage 4 student embarking on the
Foundation Diploma in environmental and land-
based Studies. He lives in an agricultural area
but is close to the local market town. He
anticipates that he may eventually work on the
land but is aware of the value of experiencing a
range of learning contexts before he finally
decides what to do. He enjoys food technology and
chooses to do the GCSE as ASL. He is encouraged
by the possibility of progressing from one line
of learning to another and thinks that
hospitality and catering might also be an option
later on.
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Michael Foundation Diploma in environmental and
land-based Studies
additional and specialist learning 120 GLH
principal learning 240 GLH
generic learning 240 GLH

• 6 mandatory units
• The natural environment
• Environmental and land-based production, systems
  and services
• Introduction to working in the environmental and
  land-based sector
• Working with plants and animalsIntroducing the
  role and value of plants and animals to society
• Sustainability and the importance of sustainable
  use of the environment

GCSE in Design Technology (food) 120 GLH
functional skills (120 GLH)

project (60 GLH)
minimum 10 days work experience
personal, learning and thinking skills (60 GLH)
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General KS4 courses
Work experience
Project
Michaels work experience is arranged in two week
long blocks, two months apart and with two
different employers. Initially he is attached to
a local farm laid mainly to arable. He learns the
basics about the growing cycle and investigates
issues of biodiversity and organic methods as
they are reflected in practices on the farm.
Subsequently, he joins a large animal feed
company where he spends a day each with the major
departments. He has an opportunity to observe
work in the laboratory as well as tracing the
retail cycle. On one of the days he accompanied a
rep to a conference and helped by staffing a
promotional stall.
English GCSE Mathematics GCSE Science
GCSE Citizenship GCSE (short course) ASDAN Award
In Personal and Social Development
Michael decides to build his project around some
experiments and their outcomes. He started by
selecting a limited range of wheat varieties
sowed under controlled conditions, using 3
different fertilizers (and none) and cultivated
them in the schools greenhouse. He measured
growth at weekly intervals and charted this on an
Excel spreadsheet and graph. He used Powerpoint
to present his findings which comprised a
comparison and simple evaluation of the different
varieties in combination with different types of
fertilisers.
Progression route Michael decides to follow up
his Foundation diploma by taking the Higher
diploma which he is able to start during year 11
and complete by the end of Year 12. Ultimately he
hopes to find employment either with the local
animal feed company or look further afield for a
similar opportunity. He is interested in
accessing further training once employed with a
view to perhaps eventually becoming an
agricultural technician.
AND... principal learning functional skills
personal, learning and thinking skills ASL
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