Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician
Course Details
-
Department
Apprenticeships -
Qualification
Level 3 -
Length
18 months -
Location(s)
York
Course at a glance
An apprenticeship is a job with training. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to embed and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career.
Entry Requirements
GCSEs
L3 Apprenticeships require the Apprentice to have prior base experience in the Sector and be working in a role with sufficient responsibility to enable them to demonstrate all of the knowledge, skills & behaviours required.
You will have already achieved L1 (as a minimum) & L2 Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (or old GCSE Grade C) or above. Where applicants do not already hold L2 Maths & English, they must demonstrate the ability to achieve these prior to enrolment.
Cost for students aged Under 22
Free
For students over the age of 22 please contact us
Course summary
The broad purpose of a sport turf technician is to ensure that public and private sports turf surfaces (including hybrid but not fully artificial surfaces) meet the requirements of the sport and are available for use at all levels from amateur to professional sport. They supervise the staff and the maintenance of the sports turf surfaces.
This sports turf occupation is found in a wide range of relevant venues, for example, golf, rugby league and union, football athletics, bowls, cricket, croquet, hockey, equestrian event, and tennis. Venues include public parks, sports clubs, schools, first class stadia, training facilities and golf courses including links, parkland and heathland. Facilities can range in size and stature, from international stadia and championship golf courses that host big events through to smaller, local venues serving the local community.
Key Information
Through your daily work with your employer and your training sessions with the college, you will learn the requirements of the Level 3 Advanced Sport Turf Apprenticeship. Although, where you can evident significant knowledge in the below prior to starting the course, you will not need to duplicate work and therefore your timescale may be reduced.
Below are some examples of what you will learn:
- Evaluate performance and agronomic data of playing surfaces (e.g. weather data, soil conditions, performance quality standard). Recommends improvements to turf health and playing surface conditions.
- Monitor and control threats to turf health and apply sustainable integrated pest management practices (encompassing weeds, pests, and diseases).
- Supervise and implement processes, procedures and strategies for the effective usage of irrigation and drainage systems to maximise sports turf health and surface performance.
- Plan, prepare for and supervise the construction or renovation of the sports turf facilities.
- Communicate with stakeholders on the factors affecting the condition of the sports turf and manage expectations.
For this apprenticeship the assessment will include:
- Written test consisting of short and long answers.
- Â Project based on your workplace
- Â Professional discussion about your journey and your workplace.
Your apprenticeship will be graded: Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.
The duration of the apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis but is likely to be delivered over 18 Months with an additional 6 months for final apprenticeship assessment.
This could be reduced where an apprentice holds previous experience.
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria for the roles, but it is likely you are progressing within the sport turf industry and are looking to lead on projects within the workplace or with teams of staff. You need a base understanding of the sports turf systems such as soil, irrigation and ecological constraints.
Most candidates will have achieved grade C/4 or above in English and Maths at GCSE level prior to commencement of their apprenticeship. However, should a candidate not have reached this level, employers will have to ensure they achieve Level 2 in English and maths. Adaptations for 19+ learners without English and Maths GCSE’s can be discussed upon enquiry.
Employers pay for apprenticeship training from their Growth and Skills Levy where applicable. Those who do not pay the Levy, will need to pay 5% towards the training cost (Maximum of £400).
For employers, who employ an apprentice on this programme, before their 19th birthday or before 25th if they’ve been in care or have EHCP, the employer will qualify for a £1000 incentive (payable in 2x £500 payments).
The fees charged for the apprenticeship include any awarding body registration costs, all on-programme teaching, assessment and support delivered by the college, support materials, access to college facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre, OneFile, Enrolment, Student
Moodle, and access to wider college student support services where required. There may be additional costs to the employer, should there be any need to re sit assessments at the end of their programme.
Employers must pay apprentices at least the minimum rate set out by current National Minimum Wage Legislation. This includes payment for all off-job learning and any associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Click here to find more information about the National Minimum wage.
Your employer must enable you to complete assessments and further training in the workplace, to meet the minimum number of hours outlined in the original agreement which are discussed upon enquiry. It is recommended that an average of around 6 hours per week is suffice. This is defined as Off The Job (OTJ) learning. OTJ is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship. This can include training that is delivered at your normal place of work but must not be delivered as part of your normal working duties and must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard. All of this will be discussed with employer and apprentice upon enquiry.
Off-job learning could include the following:
- Teaching of theory such as lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning or manufacturer training.
- Â Practical training such as shadowing experienced staff or mentoring, industry visits and attendance at competitions
- Study support and time spent writing assessments/assignments
Your employer must commit to supporting you in the workplace, participating in progress review meetings, providing use of ICT facilities so you can access your e-portfolio and agreeing/ensuring your readiness for the Apprenticeship Assessment. They may be required to provide further supporting evidence/endorsements about your performance, which form part of the Apprenticeship Assessments.
Further details of the Apprenticeship Assessments will be made available to you during your induction.
We will support you through regular Apprenticeship Progress Review meetings with you and your manager, provide well planned vocational training and theory delivery by block release model and support your theory learning in the workplace with a range of learning materials.
This programme is delivered at our York campus on block-release.
Applications should be made using the register your interest form found here
Upon receipt of your application you will have an interview with the Course Manager
Further information about the Standard is available at:
Advanced Sports Turf Technician / Skills England
Or, for more information, contact the Apprenticeship Admin team on:
-
York Campus
York is the College's residential campus and is located just four miles from York city centre. At York we offer a full range of subject areas and levels including Apprenticeships, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Foundation, Top Up and BSc Honours Degrees.
