Education Minister visits Melton

The Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP, visited Brooksby on Friday as part of a whistle stop tour of Rutland and Melton.

Alongside SMB College Group Principal, Dawn Whitemore, and local MP, Alicia Kearns, the Minister toured the college’s 850-acre Brooksby Campus, speaking to a range of students about the value of the land-based education they’ve received at the college.

Also among the tour group were student representatives, Olivia Swinbourne and George Rudkin, who study FdSc Equine Performance with Business and Level 3 Agriculture, respectively.

First up on the tour was the college’s Equestrian Centre, where the Minister, a keen Equestrian himself, was able to observe a show jumping lesson in full swing in the indoor arena. Next, the group visited Brooksby’s working farm, where the Agriculture students were having a practical lesson in crutching with the college’s flock of Lleyn sheep.

The next stop on the tour was the Land-based Engineering workshop, which was abuzz with activity as students and apprentices were hard at work on various tasks, including carrying out engine diagnostics, fitting pistons to engines, and re-building a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor.

Finally, the Minister visited the college’s state-of-the-art glasshouses, where the Horticulture students were busy making their own terrariums – miniature gardens which are sealed inside glass containers to create their own self-sustaining ecosystems.

Dawn Whitemore, CEO and Principal of SMB College Group said said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome The RtHon Nadhim Zahawi MP to SMB College Group, and were particularly thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate the fantastic work that goes on at our Brooksby Campus, where we educate students in the Land-based Industries and Sport. The visit was a terrific success, and we hope to welcome the Minister back to our College in the future.’

SMB College Group is a Further Education college based across three campuses in Leicestershire. The college’s Brooksby Campus is an 850 acre countryside estate that specialises in training students in the land-based industries, sport and uniformed public services, with opportunities ranging from Entry Level courses up to Undergraduate degree programmes. For more information or to sign up for an open day, visit www.smbcollegegroup.ac.uk