A TRIO of local education providers have joined forces to offer students in West Somerset the best possible vocational training opportunities.

From September next year, West Somerset Community College, in Minehead, the Somerset College of Arts and Technology, in Taunton, and Somerset Advanced Training Associates will be jointly offering a wide range of courses.

These will give students the chance to split their weeks between college studies in Minehead and first-hand vocational training in the workplace.

More than 100 students and parents attended the launch of the innovative scheme at the community college on Monday.

Course tutors from SCAT, the college and ATA were all on hand to answer questions about the new partnership.

College principal Nick Swann said the launch represented a huge step forward in the provision of training for post 16 students.

He said: "We feel that for the first time every single student at West Somerset Community College has a genuine range of options to choose from, whether it be the well established and successful A level courses, the one-year intermediate GNVQs or now these exciting new national vocational courses."

He said the college had worked closely with both SCAT and ATA to ensure students were given the best possible help towards getting their first job.

He added: "The reaction at the launch evening was fantastic. Several parents told me that this is exactly what was needed."

Courses on offer will cover information technology, administration, care, hospitality and catering, leisure and tourism, automotive engineering and hair and beauty therapy.

Students will spend two days a week at the college in the sixth form studying key skills, having individual tutorials, taking part in the activities programme and extending their GCSEs in English and maths.

The remaining three days will be spent with their training provider on a work placement where they will gain practical experience in their chosen vocation.

The scheme will also mean that students no longer have to travel to Taunton every day for vocational courses.

Pictured at the launch are, from the left, Mr Swann, SCAT's head of division service industries Chris Sheppard and Somerset Advanced Training Associates area manager Steve Brewer.

Photo: Steve Guscott.