As part Love our Colleges Week ‘Engage your MP’, Strode College was delighted to welcome James Heappey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the Armed Forces, to open the college’s new mock hospital ward. Mr Heappey toured the state-of-the-art facilities and met students studying new Health and Science T Levels.
Ofsted Outstanding Strode College is one of the first FE colleges in England to teach the new T Level qualification. In 2020, the college also successfully bid for a £650,000 grant from the Government’s T Level Capital Fund. The grant allowed the development of high quality, industry standard facilities for Strode College T Level heath and science students. 
As a result, T Level health students will benefit from a new ultra-modern mock hospital ward complete with birthing room, nursing station and dispensary. The real-life environment will allow students to gain a greater understanding of the behaviours, facilities and procedures used in modern healthcare settings.
The ward will also be equipped with new interactive mannequins. These people-like dummies will be used in simulation-based medical learning by creating realistic scenarios. This effective learning tool mimics symptoms of human conditions such as strokes, heart attacks and pain via electronic cards inserted on the back of their neck.
For T Level Science students, a new, purpose-built laboratory will allow them to start developing their laboratory skills. Set up as professional laboratory rather than a classroom, students will have the opportunity to build practical and employability skills relevant for roles such as a laboratory technician or food technician.
Mr Heappey said: “I was honoured to be able to open this brand new hospital ward and laboratory at Strode College. I am so impressed with these fantastic facilities and great to see the excellent educational work ongoing in Somerset.
“Strode has been leading the way with the newly-introduced T-Levels and the progress they have made in a short space of time is remarkable and hugely beneficial to students here in Somerset.” 
Terri Clemo, Vocational Manager, said: “We are really excited about the addition of our new hospital ward, dispensary, nursing station and brand new science lab as these will enrich learners’ professional development and prepare them for their chosen careers. They will be able to develop clinical and non-clinical skills in state of the art, industry standard environments.”
Katy Quinn Principal and CEO, added: “I am incredibly proud of what the staff and students at Strode have achieved. The official opening of our new T Level facilities for Health and Science is a key milestone in the launch of these new, high quality technical qualifications. We are delighted to have had such a successful start to our T Level journey, which will continue to be rolled out over the coming years.
“Strode College has a long, established reputation for outstanding academic provision; we must also ensure young people have access to the highest quality technical education too. It’s important that our courses prepare students for employment, leading into strong careers, as well as courses which provide excellent routes into university. Our offer of A Levels and vocational and technical courses mean our students have that choice.”
Strode College welcomes all students interested in studying T Levels to attend open evenings – there are two taking place on November 18 2021 and February 10, 2022. To book in and to take a tour please see www.strode-college.ac.uk/events.
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
