After a year of intermitted learning, young people from YMCA Plymouth’s Discovery College have returned to learning on a range of vocational courses for ages 16-19.
Students are being prepared for the new post-covid economy through a range of courses key to getting the Plymouth workforce ready for the new economic climate.
Courses delivered at Discovery College include; Sport & Fitness, Business, Childcare, Uniformed Services, Travel & Tourism and Health & Social Care.
As a smaller provider in the city, the college prides itself on creating a close-knit and supportive environment for students while engaging them positively in the wider work of the YMCA. This is achieved through volunteering opportunities, such as encouraging its Sport students to get involved in their brand-new state of the art gym and spin studio.
The college is based at the YMCA on Honicknowle Lane, opposite All Saints Academy school. The venue has recently had huge regeneration works transforming the 70s Sports Centre into a modern facility, rivalling any other in Plymouth for sport and recreation.
Discovery College has proved a success story for the YMCA since it was founded 10 years ago and the college was awarded Best Education Project at the England & Wales Youth Matters awards in 2019 for its pioneering approach to helping support young people.
Kirsten Puddephatt, education manager at Discovery College said,
“Our role is to raise the aspirations of all students, encourage them to succeed and develop into well-rounded individuals, whether that be progressing into Higher Education, Degree Apprenticeships or preparing them for the world of work. We want to ensure all students leave Discovery College with a positive destination.”
Ryan, who graduated in BTEC Sport this summer and is looking ahead to starting university, sums up the difference Discovery College has made for him:
“Coming here has definitely made me a better person and set me on the right track and I feel the future is bright.”
Aside from their supportive approach, Discovery College breaks away from some traditional teaching styles with their courses; this includes frequently taking students out of the classroom to obtain practical experience or team tasks designed to engage students learning in real-life scenarios.
All of these things not only make learning more relevant to the workplace, but they also make it fun and inspiring, which is what the college believe learning should be.
