26th October 2015
The Technical Skills Academy (TSA) celebrated its 3rd birthday this week. Opened in 2012, the TSA, located in Barking town centre has proved very popular; it now has over 330 students, has launched 3 more courses due to increased demand.
The Technical Skills Academy is a unique learning facility which is a partnership between Barking & Dagenham College and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, purpose-built to provide a real-work environment that resembles the workplace.
It offers a wide range of courses, including hairdressing, beauty, media make-up, catering, business, creative media and IT, child care, construction (multi-skills) and plumbing.
Adding to the opportunities for students, the "Career Ready" programme was launched on 24th September for personal business and finance students and due to popular demand, level 2 child care.
In addition there is a restaurant, including a Starbucks, and three salons on site for hair and beauty, run commercially and open to the public, in order for students to gain as much ‘real-work’ experience as possible.
Hilary Moore, Head of the Technical Skills Academy said: “It is amazing to think that three years have gone by since our official opening in 2012. Since then many hundreds of students have started their career paths of choice, achieved and progressed to University, to apprenticeships and employment with relevant work ready skills and experience. It was typical of students and staff not only to celebrate but also to support a charity, ‘Wear it Pink’, at the same time".
This week, the students and staff have been supporting the ‘Wear it Pink’ breast cancer campaign by baking and selling cupcakes.
Wear it Pink’ day is today 23rd October.
