Posted on 19th March 2020
Foundation Course Learners:
Thursday 19 March 2020
Dear Parent/Carer & learners,
You will be aware that the Education Secretary announced yesterday afternoon that state schools and colleges across the country will close tomorrow until further notice as part of the Nation’s efforts to limit the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been justified on the basis that it will promote social distancing and also because many educational establishments are short of staff and cannot, therefore, guarantee to look after young people or deliver education and training properly.
The situation at the National Horseracing College is, for the time being at least, quite different. Learners on our Foundation Course are residents, well-separated from contact with others from outside the College and at low risk from Coronavirus themselves and pose very low risk to anyone else. It is our intention, therefore, to continue to run the current Foundation Course programme to completion, enabling learners to graduate as planned. Social distancing is increased by them remaining here to complete their studies and their prospects for the future are improved by them gaining their qualifications.
Naturally, those who are over 18 have every right to choose to go home if they wish and the parents/carers of those who are still legally children, may decide to take them away at any time. My recommendation to them and to you, however, is to allow them to complete their training with their friends in the environment that’s now familiar to them here at the NHC.
Following their completion successfully of residential Foundation training here, we will do all we can to arrange work placement in an appropriate yard, setting them on track for paid employment and their continued development via a Level 2 apprenticeship. If prevailing conditions mean that work placements are more difficult to obtain, we will endeavour (subject to capacity) to offer ongoing training here until the situation improves.
We will continue to keep learners informed of developments as and when things change. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via info@theNHC.co.uk.
Yours faithfully,
Colonel Stephen Padgett OBE
Chief Executive
The National Horseracing College
