A calm and professional learning environment which meets industry needs.
Apprentices and full-time students at South West Durham Training are well prepared for employment in a wide range of engineering roles, meeting the skills needs of local industry.
That’s the positive verdict of a team of Ofsted inspectors who found SWDT to be ‘good’ in every category following a four-day visit to the Newton Aycliffe training provider in March.
Their report said: “Apprentices and learners value their calm and professional learning environment and are highly motivated to develop their engineering skills.
“…(They) benefit from a well-resourced and spacious learning and training environment. They practise and apply their understanding in a realistic workplace setting. As a result, they are well prepared for employment in a range of engineering contexts.”
It continued: “Leaders and managers have a clear strategic intent to address the skills development needs in the pharmaceutical, electrical and mechanical engineering sectors.
“Leaders collaborate well with employers to plan the training that their apprentices need. Employers appreciate how well apprentices develop the professional behaviours and attitudes that they need to work safely in often high-risk industries.
“Apprentices develop skills that allow them to progress to roles including automation engineer, assistant engineer, team manager and senior technician, and that helps to develop their employers’ businesses.”
South West Durham Training has a history of engineering training excellence stretching back more than 55 years to its opening on the same site in 1967. There are currently more than 120 apprentices on Level 3 and Level 4 programmes as well as learners on 16 to 19 full-time courses.
Higher Education
Students progressing to higher education have four options at Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Level 5 (HND): Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; General Engineering (Mechatronics).Both the HNC and HND are studied part-time over two years and on completion of the HND students can ‘top-up’ their qualification with a final year at university to obtain a full degree.
Full-Time Courses
Many of our students join us at Level 2 on our Diploma in Engineering Operations (Skills), choosing from either an Electrical and Mechanical or Fabrication and Welding pathway. On achievement of this qualification, they can continue to go on to study full-time on the Level 3 BTEC Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering or via an apprenticeship. Another option is our new T Level – Technical Qualification in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, a full-time two-year programme which includes an industry placement of 750 hours with one or two employers. We also offer full-time provision in Plumbing at Levels 1, 2 and 3.
Open Event
Come along to our Open Evening on Tuesday 27th June from 5.00pm to 7.00pm at SWDT, Durham Way South DL5 6AT
to meet curriculum staff and ask questions about our apprenticeships and full-time courses and tour the building to see our specialist facilities.
Register here: swdt.co.uk/events/openeventjune2023
Leah Scott, 19, of Spennymoor, who is studying for a Level 3 Engineering Technician Advanced Apprenticeship, is one of three SWDT apprentices with Roman Showers. The Newton Aycliffe firm manufactures luxury shower enclosures, bath screens and other accessories.
