14-16 Increased Flexibility Program (IFP)

Since September 2002, pupil in Years 10 and 11 have been able to study courses at Mid-Cheshire College, alongside their GCSEs. The range of courses available include: 

• Hair & Beauty NVQ Level 1
• Childcare BTEC First Certificate in Children’s Care, Learning & Development
• Construction, Units of City & Guilds 6217-01 Introductory Certificate in Basic Construction Skills
• GCSE Engineering (this will no longer be offered after 2009)
• Motor Vehicle Entry Level 3 Full Certificate
• New Media NCFE Extended Certificate in Creative Craft (Level 2) & OCN Photoshop & Illustrator
• Uniformed Services NCFE Level 1 Certificate for Entry to the Uniformed Services

 From September 2010, we also hope to offer the following additional courses: 

• Business, Retail & Administration BTEC Introductory Certificate
• Fashion NCFE Extended Certificate Level 2 in Creative Craft
• Photography NCFE Extended Certificate Level 2 in Creative Craft
• Interior Design NCFE Extended Certificate Level 2 in Creative Craft
• Ceramics NCFE Extended Certificate Level 2 in Creative Craft
• Music Technology NCFE Extended Certificate Level 2 in Creative Craft
• Applied Science – Crime Scene Investigation BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Applied Science
• Travel & Tourism First Certificate

Pupils in Year 10 attend for one half day on a Wednesday morning, whilst Year 11s attend on a Thursday morning, though pupils studying GCSE Engineering attend all day. The majority of the courses run at the Hartford Campus, except Childcare, Uniformed Services and Hair which run at the Winsford site. Pupils get to enjoy the ‘grown up’ atmosphere of college whilst being able to use the outstanding facilities on the two sites.

They are taught by highly qualified expert staff with industrial experience and all courses involve both practical and theory with ‘live’ briefs. Recruitment onto this programme is set up through the pupil's school as follows: Year 9 pupils complete an application form, are interviewed, attend a taster session and are invited to a Showcase Open Evening (with parents/guardians) before joining in Years 10 and 11. This project has been outstandingly successful with the vast majority of students going on to Further Education or a job with training.  

Schools that have taken part in the programme include:

• Frodsham Science & Technology College
• Hartford High School
• Knutsford High School
• Middlewich High School
• Rudheath High School
• St Nicholas RC High School
• Tarporley High School
• The County High School, Leftwich
• Verdin High School
• Weaverham High School
• Woodford Lodge High School

For further details on joining the Increased Flexibility Program, the pupil's school should be contacted in Year 9.