City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture

FULL TIME ONE YEAR COURSE

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2012-2013

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CONTENTS
CONTENTS.........................................................................................................................................................................2 First Diploma COURSE TEAM..........................................................................................................................................5 COURSE TUTOR...............................................................................................................................................................5 ATTENDANCE...................................................................................................................................................................6 Assignments.......................................................................................................................................................................10 Assignments continued .....................................................................................................................................................11 Verification .......................................................................................................................................................................11 Internal verification............................................................................................................................................................11 A selection of student assignments together with grading decisions are internally verified by the course team to ensure standardisation of marking. ...............................................................................................................................................11 External verification...........................................................................................................................................................11 Student assignments and assessments are sampled externally by a City and Guilds External Verifier who visits the college at least once a year. The External Verifier may also wish to see an assessment taking place on the day of his/her visit and to speak to students individually or as a group...................................................................................................11 Grading ............................................................................................................................................................................11 BOOK LIST.......................................................................................................................................................................12 You do not necessarily need to purchase any books to enable you to complete the course. The Library at Witney Campus has an excellent stock of horticulture books which you should find useful and informative..............................12 However, students usually wish to know what books are considered to be essential reading for the course and which are recommend. The list below is by no means comprehensive but is meant to be a guide to some of the most useful reference works. The subject teacher is likely to suggest further books worthy of investigation. ..................................12 Plant identification.............................................................................................................................................................12 The Expert books by Dr. Hessayon are invaluable for plant identification. The most useful ones for you on this course will be: The Tree and Shrub Expert; The Flower Expert; The Rock and Water Expert; The House Plant Expert; The Pest and Weed Expert: The Lawn Expert..........................................................................................................................12 Plant information...............................................................................................................................................................12 Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs: no pictures but an invaluable companion when choosing trees and shrubs for gardens. .............................................................................................................................................................................12 The RHS A-Z Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants: expensive but a good source of information on a comprehensive range of plants. ............................................................................................................................................................................12 Right Plant, Right Place by Nicola Ferguson: useful for selecting plants for different sites............................................12 Plant science.......................................................................................................................................................................12 Botany for Gardeners by Capon........................................................................................................................................12 Collins Guide to Pests and Diseases..................................................................................................................................12 Principles of Horticulture by Adams, Bamford and Early.................................................................................................12 General...............................................................................................................................................................................12 A Handbook for Horticulture Students by Dawson.* .......................................................................................................12 NB: This is a highly recommended textbook for students attending RHS or NCH courses.............................................12 VISITS AND TRIPS .......................................................................................................................................................13 During the course there will be several accompanied visits, including a study tour, to areas of particular interest and importance to horticulture students. Students will visit gardens, garden centres, nurseries etc. These trips are integral to the course and are of great benefit to those wishing to develop their understanding and appreciation of the Horticultural Industry..............................................................................................................................................................................13 HEALTH AND SAFETY..................................................................................................................................................13 Working in the land based sector can be a hazardous occupation. ...................................................................................13 Abingdon & Witney College places great importance on providing and maintaining safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work. ....................................................................................................................13 Students must obey the instructions given by members of staff and ensure that they abide by campus regulations. ......13 If a fire alarm sounds you are to leave the premises by the nearest exit and assemble at the designated assembly point where your lecturer will take a register. Do not return to the classroom unless instructed to do so.................................13 All students must attend practical activities suitably dressed. It is essential that you wear steel toe capped boots for all practical activities. It is also recommended that you equip yourself with a pair of work gloves and ear defenders.........13 Students are advised to have an up to date Tetanus injection............................................................................................13 The attached Horticulture Health and Safety Policy provides details of your responsibilities.........................................13

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Abingdon and Witney College and to the full time City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture course. This booklet is intended to provide you with a guide to the course; it gives details of course content, how it is delivered and how you will be assessed. You should find this a useful document to refer to especially during the early stages of the course. The aim of the course: The aim of this course is to teach you the practical and theoretical skills necessary to enable you to build a career in horticulture. It leads to a well respected professional qualification that is highly regarded within the industry.

COURSE STRUCTURE
This is a one year full time course. You will find information on term dates and details of the course in this handbook. This Handbook details the units that you will be studying over the year. You will attend the course on: Monday and Thursday from 9.30 4.30, Tuesday from 9.30 to 12.30 Work Experience will on a rota basis on Tuesdays from 9.30 to 12.30 and Wednesday from 9.30 to 4.30, these rotas will be published on the college Moodle and displayed in the relevant classrooms TRANSPORT Charlton coaches operate a shuttle service between Witney and Common Leys. Times are available in reception

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TERM DATES

Term 1-Autumn

3rd September to 21th December 2012 Half term 29th October 2nd November 2012

NB Thursday 25th & Friday 26th October are College Development Days and therefore the College will be closed. Term 2-Spring 7th January to 26th March 2013 Half Term: 11th 15th February NB Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th March are College Development Days and therefore the College will be closed. Term 3-Summer 15th April to 5th July 2013 Half Term: 28th 31st May 2013 (Note that the 6th and 27th May are Bank Holidays)

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First Diploma COURSE TEAM

Pam Wilshire Nik Thomson Alan Brown Christine Brown Simon Cahill Lorraine Cole Laurel Kriegler Head Faculty Manager, Land based and Life Sciences Course Leader Lecturer Horticulture Technician Workshop Technician Faculty Administrator Reception (currently on maternity leave)

COURSE TUTOR
Nik Thomson is the Course Tutor for the full time City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture. The Tutor's role is to provide you with a direct link to the Support Team and to counsel and advise you on both academic and personal matters. It is in your interest to keep your Tutor informed of any issues that may affect your performance on the course, as he will be monitoring your progress closely. You will be given one individual tutorial each term. Your Tutor will provide you with a tutorial timetable at the start of term. If you have any concerns about the course, including assignment work, your progress etc. make an appointment to speak to the course tutor.

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ATTENDANCE
The college policy is for 100% attendance for all courses. You are required to attend all timetabled activities unless you are unable to do so for genuine reasons of health, or you have obtained permission for your absence from the Course Leader in advance. A register of attendance is taken at the start of each teaching session. Failure to meet with these requirements for attendance may lead to disciplinary action or withdrawal from the course. If you are ill or unable to attend college for any reason you will be required to contact the college. Details on the procedures for contacting the college will be given during induction.

A PIECE OF ADVICE If I had to give you just one piece of advice that would enable you to be successful on the course it would be this:

Attend regularly; people who struggle with the course and with assignments and assessments are those who miss sessions.

LIBRARY FACILITIES
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The library at Witney has been redeveloped and all of the horticultural books etc. have been transferred to Common Leys. If you would like to borrow a book please contact one of your tutors. If there are any changes you will be notified via the course Moodle. As students of the college you are able to use the Libraries at both Witney and Abingdon Campuses. If you would like to use these facilities please contact your tutors and they will assist you.
Computers are available that provide open access for students doing research and coursework. Your tutor will provide you with a username and password. A limited amount of printing credits for the black and white and colour printers are allocated to you. Further credits may be purchased at reception in Common Leys or via the Hub on the Witney or Abingdon campuses. Computers may be booked by individual students. The computers in the classroom foyer at Common Leys are available for student use. Computers in empty classrooms can be used but be aware that you will need to leave as soon as the classroom is needed Learners may use the photocopier in the foyer at Common Leys. Photocopying credits may be bought from reception at Common Leys or via the Hub on the Witney or Abingdon campuses.. The cost of printing and photocopying is displayed in the reception at Common Leys.

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The Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture course introduces students to a wide range of topics and leads to a well respected professional qualification. It is a very practical course, with work being undertaken in the gardens and grounds at Common Leys Campus. The course consists of six units. CORE UNITS (2 UNITS) Unit 204 Undertake Work Related Experience in the Land-based Industries Unit 205 Establish and Maintain Plants Outdoors SPECIALIST UNITS (UNITS selected by college) Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit 201 Understand the principles of plant science 202 Understand the principles of soil science 229 Participate in propagation techniques 213 Participate in Providing Estate Maintenance 221 Introduction to the Principles of Land-based Machinery

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Equipment

You will need to provide yourself with the following items: Practical work

Safety boots Work gloves Ear defenders Safety glasses High visibility vest Secateurs College logo tops and indicated on your joining instructions

Class work Lever arch file for handouts and class notes File dividers A4 lined paper Pen, pencil and ruler

NB: Divide your lever arch file into the units you are studying and file all your notes and handouts for each unit. It may seem obvious to say it but do this from day one and file your notes every time you come to college.

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COURSE WORK
The course is assessed by a combination of practical assessments, short written tests and assignment work. Assignment work will include mind maps, posters, fact sheets etc. For each assignment you are able to achieve a pass, merit and distinction grade. You will be given the grading criteria on how to achieve each grade when the assignments are launched and this information will also be available on the college Moodle. Each unit will also be graded as a pass, merit or distinction. Assignments
1.

All assignment work must be completed and submitted on or before the date set by the lecturer. a. An assignment timetable is published on the Moodle to help you plan your work. b. Deadlines are set with plenty of time for you to achieve the assignment. c. Usually it is expected that assignments will be handed in during the lecture session on the date of the hand in date. d. The latest they will be accepted will be 4pm on the day of the hand in date. If you are unable to meet the deadline set you should complete an extension form as found with the assignments on the Moodle and present this to your tutor or the subject lecturer for agreement and signatures. a. An extension should be applied for and agreed at least 1 week before the hand in date. b. Except in exceptional circumstances an extension applied for on the day of the hand in will be unlikely to be granted Notification of students with outstanding work or referred assignments work will be made on Moodle. It is your responsibility to check and manage your work. No assignments are set to be impossible but they do at this level require you to do some work on your own. If you are unsure about how to attempt a piece of work then make an appointment to see the subject tutor or your course tutor prior to the hand in date. The subject lecturer will mark the assignment and return with feedback comments and grades within three college weeks, when work is submitted on time.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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Assignments continued All deadlines are set for your benefit so that assessments are evenly distributed throughout the year. Failure to meet a deadline will result in work being marked at the subject tutors convenience with a maximum grade of pass. 7. Assignments that do not meet the grading criteria for pass will be referred and given back to you a. The feedback sheet will provide details of the extra work needed to bring the assignment up to the required standard. b. You will need to resubmit the amended work within a given timescale. c. If you have failed an assignment you may resubmit your work once in order to try to achieve a Pass grade. d. Merit and distinction grades will not be awarded to any resubmitted referred work. 8. If you achieve a pass or a merit and wish to reattempt the assignment you may do so to deadlines to be agreed with your subject lecturer. You must have handed in your first attempt on time or to an agreed extension to take advantage of this facility. 9. You are able to appeal against a grading decision if you feel that a piece of work has been marked unfairly by the subject lecturer. Speak to the course tutor if you have any concerns. 10. Students that fail to attend a practical assessment must take responsibility to agree an alternative arrangement with the subject tutor/instructor. Verification
6.

Internal verification A selection of student assignments together with grading decisions are internally verified by the course team to ensure standardisation of marking. External verification Student assignments and assessments are sampled externally by a City and Guilds External Verifier who visits the college at least once a year. The External Verifier may also wish to see an assessment taking place on the day of his/her visit and to speak to students individually or as a group. Grading Grades are recorded in a course assessment file and progress regularly monitored during 1:1 meetings with your tutor. You are encouraged to keep track of your grades by noting the grades on the assignment timetable spreadsheet (downloadable from Moodle). A copy of the grading guidance is available from the examining board website.

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BOOK LIST
You do not necessarily need to purchase any books to enable you to complete the course. The Library at Witney Campus has an excellent stock of horticulture books which you should find useful and informative. However, students usually wish to know what books are considered to be essential reading for the course and which are recommend. The list below is by no means comprehensive but is meant to be a guide to some of the most useful reference works. The subject teacher is likely to suggest further books worthy of investigation. Plant identification The Expert books by Dr. Hessayon are invaluable for plant identification. The most useful ones for you on this course will be: The Tree and Shrub Expert; The Flower Expert; The Rock and Water Expert; The House Plant Expert; The Pest and Weed Expert: The Lawn Expert. Plant information Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs: no pictures but an invaluable companion when choosing trees and shrubs for gardens. The RHS A-Z Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants: expensive but a good source of information on a comprehensive range of plants. Right Plant, Right Place by Nicola Ferguson: useful for selecting plants for different sites. Plant science Botany for Gardeners by Capon Collins Guide to Pests and Diseases Principles of Horticulture by Adams, Bamford and Early General A Handbook for Horticulture Students by Dawson.* NB: This is a highly recommended textbook for students attending RHS or NCH courses.

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VISITS AND TRIPS During the course there will be several accompanied visits, including a study tour, to areas of particular interest and importance to horticulture students. Students will visit gardens, garden centres, nurseries etc. These trips are integral to the course and are of great benefit to those wishing to develop their understanding and appreciation of the Horticultural Industry.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Working in the land based sector can be a hazardous occupation. Abingdon & Witney College places great importance on providing and maintaining safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work. Students must obey the instructions given by members of staff and ensure that they abide by campus regulations. If a fire alarm sounds you are to leave the premises by the nearest exit and assemble at the designated assembly point where your lecturer will take a register. Do not return to the classroom unless instructed to do so. All students must attend practical activities suitably dressed. It is essential that you wear steel toe capped boots for all practical activities. It is also recommended that you equip yourself with a pair of work gloves and ear defenders. Students are advised to have an up to date Tetanus injection. The attached Horticulture Health and Safety Policy provides details of your responsibilities.

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Horticulture Section Health and Safety Policy 1. All staff and students must be familiar with the following information: a. What to do in the event of a fire. b. The location of first aid equipment. c. The nearest telephone. d. The names of the first aiders in the section.

2. All accidents must be reported immediately to the nearest member of staff on duty. After the incident has been dealt with, the accident, however minor, must be recorded in the accident book and the Safety Officer informed. 3. Staff should ensure that all equipment in use is in good working order and that all tasks are carried out in a safe and effective manner. 4. It is the duty of both staff and students to ensure that they comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act and that they have a duty under that act to look after themselves and others in their work activities and not to put anyone at risk. They should ensure that work is carried out in a safe manner and that it complies with current Health and Safety legislation. 5. It is the duty of all students and staff to report any faults, defects or breakages to the course co-ordinator. Defective items must not be used until they are fully repaired. 6. The correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is to be worn at all times during the appropriate practical sessions. 7. Safety boots are to be worn during all practical sessions. Students who fail to comply with this will not be allowed to take part in practicals, which will affect their ability to complete the course. 8. Risk assessments are to be carried out for all practical work on or off site. Staff are to risk assess all tasks and keep a record in a Risk Assessment file. Students are to be involved in the risk assessment of their practicals and to record this process. These risk assessments are published on the college VLE 9. The Horticulture Unit must be maintained in a clean, tidy and organised fashion at all times. Tools and equipment must be cleaned after use and stored safely and in the correct place. 10. Students will not be allowed to operate any machinery or equipment until they have been trained. 11. Students will not operate any equipment or machinery unless told to do so by a member of staff. 12. Tractors are to be driven in a sensible manner around the site and drivers should adhere to the speed limit of 5mph at all times.

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BASIC RULES There are a few basic rules which help to ensure that the course runs effectively for both staff and students.

Mobile phones should not to be used during teaching sessions, unless directed by the lecturer. This is a college policy. Please ensure that these are either switched off or on silent.

There are adequate break times during the teaching day so please do not eat or drink during teaching sessions.

However, please be aware that you are actively encouraged to drink water in class as research tells us that continual hydration helps your concentration.

Please ensure that you return to your classroom promptly after breaks and lunch times as sessions will start and finish at the times indicated on the timetable.

Students are reminded that they should not go into unauthorised areas at Common Leys Campus unless supervised or instructed to do so. These include the Animal Care and Equine Units (both outdoor and indoor units).

Smoking is not allowed on any of the college sites, including in vehicles parked on the grounds. Please refer to the college No Smoking Policy. There is a smoking shelter on the Common Leys Campus by the main entrance as it is considered dangerous to stand by the road on this campus.

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COLLEGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Colleges Student Policies can be found on the College Intranet. Click on Student Pages and then Student Policies and are summarised in your college handbook. If you have any problems accessing these policies see your course tutor or a member of the Library. The college policies are listed below: Additional support Code of conduct Comments and complaints Counselling policy Disability statement Drugs and alcohol Dyslexia checklist Equal opportunities Harassment and bullying Health and safety No Smoking Plagiarism Study support Student disciplinary policy Towards inclusiveness
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