Thom

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Thom
Thom is a post-16 learner with equal passion for
sport and the environment. He plays cricket,
football and tennis to a good standard and is an
enthusiastic member of The National Trust. After
doing very well on the Higher Diploma in
engineering, Thom decided to take the Advanced
Diploma in environmental and land-based studies
as he was moving towards a career in this
area. He has just become assistant coach to the
under 15 cricket team at the club where he plays,
and is enjoying the additional responsibility it
brings. He is starting to get more heavily
involved in the club's administration and has
started to help with fundraising and junior
development.
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Thom Advanced Diploma in environmental and
land-based studies
additional and specialist learning 360 GLH
generic learning 180 GLH
principal learning 540 GLH

• The ecology of the natural environment and the
  importance of biodiversity
• The management of natural resources and
  successful production systems
• Business management and careers in the
  environmental and land-based sector
• Plants and animals applied science
• Plants, animals and humans how they relate
• Plants and animals safe working practices and
  relevant legislation
• Sustainable management and development of
  resources
• Global impacts and the environmental and
  land-based sector
• Research methodology, evaluation and
  environmental analysis

3 x functional skills at level 2 (prerequisite)
BTEC National Award in land-based technology
(360GLH) Thom enjoyed his experience on the
first Diploma and thought the National Award in
land-based technology would be a good option to
add further depth to his new Diploma choice.
extended project qualification (120 GLH)
10 days work experience
personal, learning and thinking skills (60 GLH)
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Work experience
Extended Project
Thom's cricket club was having problems
maintaining the quality of the playing surface,
and was exploring relaying the turf. Thom
researched the grass varieties available and then
prepared a maintenance programme. Thom visited
numerous clubs in the county, interviewing ground
staff and finding out which grass types they
used. He took soil samples at each ground for
analysis purposes, checking the fertility
properties. Thom complemented this with desk
research, referring to relevant journals and
consulting websites that gave advice on ground
maintenance. Thom produced a proposal that
recommended using a robust grass best suited to
the soil found at the ground and this was
supported with an annual maintenance programme.
He also included advice on mowing, sowing,
chemical applications and any associated costs.
Thom concluded his research by contacting the
groundskeeper at his local professional county
club to check the validity of his conclusions.
Finally, Thom presented his proposal at the next
club committee meeting.
Thom spent his work experience with the National
Trust, working with the food and farming officer
making sure the officer had all the materials
necessary for his visits to farms on Trust land,
taking notes to complete reports later and
arranging follow-up visits. He was then asked to
help with the promotion of a series of Farmers
Markets planned for the summer, producing
literature that could be included in the monthly
newsletter circulated to all Trust members,
extolling the virtue of organically produced food
and wine. Finally he carried out the
administration required for the judges to pass
verdict on entrants for the 'Fine Farm Produce
Award'. Thom devised a logging sheet for the
judges to capture notes on appearance, aroma,
texture and flavour, and assigned unique numbers
to each entry so the judges could remain
impartial.
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