It has been called one of Solihull College’s “best kept secrets”, and now it has officially been named as the best in the country. The Blue Cross ‘Animals in Education’ Awards has awarded the College’s Animal Care facility as the best ‘Overall Animal Care Unit’ for 2014.
The Animal Care Centre was awarded the title following a number of positive comments from judges including the College’s “good supervision and organisation of student practicals so animals get peace and are not over-used”. The judges also praised the Animal Care team’s use of the nocturnal room and the video library used in each area, which reduces the amount of animal handling, and the excellent condition of the two donkeys, Eeyore and Archie.
Claire Powell, Animal Care Centre Manager at the College, comments: “To receive recognition for the team’s hard work and dedication is wonderful. We are really proud of the Centre we are able to offer learners and always endeavour to maintain the highest standards of care, which we build on when teaching our students.”
Solihull College is the only college in the local area that boasts such enviable and attractive amenities. The Animal Care Centre at the Blossomfield Campus encompasses a three-storey building, complete with specialist rooms to accommodate the diverse animal family, which includes aviary birds and skunks. In addition, a large range of exotics including lizards, snakes, tortoises, fish and turtles are also enjoying life in specially designed reptile habitats. Two external barns and paddocks have also been built to house the larger animals, including goats and pigs.
Tracy Genever, a Blue Cross judge, comments: “Solihull College is one of the largest organisations we have seen, in terms of student numbers, with an animal care facility. The College stands out from others due to the implementation of care and the professionalism of the staff. We were really impressed with what we saw at the Blossomfield Campus in what they can offer learners and the animals who live there.”
The range of Animal Care courses at the Blossomfield Campus are some of the most popular across the College’s prospectus and attract learners from as far as Warwickshire.
In addition to the College offering Animal Care courses for school leavers, higher education learners are able to gain Oxford Brookes University degrees in both Veterinary Nursing Studies and Animal Welfare at the College.
