Safari tie-up with local college.

The Academy at Kidderminster and West Midland Safari Park have teamed up to offer students a brand new course in Animal Care from September – and the partnership has proved it’s got legs.

Staff at West Midland Safari Park gave pupils from local Wyre Forest schools an insight into careers in Animal Care recently with over 60 people turning up at the Discovery Centre to find out about the new course which will be delivered jointly – with students studying one day a week at the Academy at Kidderminster and two days a week at the Safari Park.

Rod Jones, Faculty Director for Land Based Provision at Birmingham Metropolitan College, said: “This is a unique partnership locally which will see staff at the Safari Park offering hands on animal care and welfare advice as well as real life experience in a working environment. The course is fully accredited by City and Guilds and will prepare students for future careers in the animal care industry.”

Caroline Richards, Head of Learning at West Midland Safari Park, said: “With over 70 animals and 19 different species in the learning department alone, as well as an experienced learning team, we already teach 15,000 pupils a year through our current programmes. This partnership will offer insights into animal science, biology, housing and behaviour as well as focusing on both theory and practical through written assessments and practical observations.”

The Academy at Kidderminster is offering Animal Care Diploma Level 2 with the potential for progression to Level 3 in the future. Call 0845 155 0101 to register your interest or apply online on the website: www.bmetc.ac.uk.