Welbeck College
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Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College (Welbeck DSFC) is a sixth form college in the United Kingdom providing A-Level education for candidates to the technical branches of the British Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence Civil Service.
Welbeck is located near Loughborough and is funded by the Ministry of Defence
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[edit] Role
Welbeck DSFC provides a two year programme of education and training leading to A-Level qualifications in preparation for University entry on the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme followed by entry to the Armed Forces or MOD. Academic work is complemented by leadership development inculcating a military ethos and an understanding of the purpose and structure of the British Armed Forces.
[edit] Selection and entry
Candidates for DSFC are sponsored by the elements of the British Armed Forces or the MOD Civil Service, entry is predicated on having been selected as a potential officer candidate or technical civil servant. All candidates must be considered as likely to succeed in a technical undergraduate course and will be funded through University and accepted into the sponsoring service.
Royal Navy candidates are required to undergo the Admiralty Interview Board and are selected into the Engineer branch specialising in Weapon Systems, Marine Systems or Aviation. After undergraduate studies they will enter Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth for basic training.
Army candidates are required to undergo the Army Officer Selection Board and are selected into a technical role; Royal Signals, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Engineers or the Royal Logistics Corps. After undergraduate studies they will enter Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for basic training.
Royal Air Force candidates are required to undergo selection and are selected as Engineer officers. After undergraduate studies they will enter RAF College Cranwell for basic training.
[edit] History
[edit] Curriculum
As DSFC prepares candidates for technical branches the academic syllabus emphasises science and technical subjects, recognising that Officers in the Armed Forces are first and foremost officers rather than engineers, opportunities exist to study non-technical subjects.
First year students study four subjects with all being required to study Mathematics and many also studying Physics. Other available subjects include: Government and Politics, Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies, Information and Communication Technology, Electronics, Systems and control engineering. Students also study Communication Skills, supporting a future career in the military or MOD.
Second year students are required to study four subjects, opting to continue all four from the first year or opting to replace one with an enrichment subject. Opportunities for enrichment include: Further Mathematics AS, Critical Thinking, Sport or a distance learning topic of their choice.
[edit] Extra-curricular activity
[edit] Combined Cadet Force
A permanent military staff exists at DSFC to support military training for students. This military training is delivered through a Combined Cadet Force structure which is mandatory. Training occurs twice per week
Initial training encompasses parade training and basic military knowledge, succesful completion of which leads to the entitlement to wear headgear in uniform.
Training for first year students includes: hillwalking and navigation, military history, adventurous training and leadership.
Training for second year students includes: etiquette, battle PT, leadership assist and adventurous training.
Etiquette includes defence writing and behaviour in an Officers’ Mess, culminating in a dining in night.
Battle PT improves fitness and teamwork, involving the assault course and running whilst carrying heavy objects, and often each other.
[edit] Adventurous training
During the autumn term students are required to undertake a 24 hour field exercise to practice fieldcraft skills learned in the CCF. First year students are expected to be self sufficient in field conditions but not required to be so, second year students are required to be self sufficient.
During the summer term students undertake a two week camp in the Gareloch area near HMNB Clyde. This camp involves command tasks, hillwalking and tactical skills leading to a three day military phase at the end of the camp. The military phase involves camouflage and concealment skills, Surveillance and Target Acquisition, conduct of vehicle check points (VCPs) and armed building search using the SA-80 rifles and blank rounds.
Second year students undertake live firing on a military range facility.
A good performance on camp may lead to promotion in the CCF unit.
[edit] Sport
Sport plays a big part in life at Welbeck as it does for the careers that the students pursue. Welbeck have many teams including:
- Rugby - 1st XV reached the quarter finals of the Daily Mail Vase
- Hockey
- Football
- Basketball
- Netball
- Cricket
- Squash
- Athletics
- Cross country
- Tennis
- Badmiton
- Rowing
Students have compulsory sports sessions twice a week, but many choose to continue their interest, or pursue a new one in their spare time as the facilities are open throughout the working day and after prep.
[edit] Accomodation
Students are accomodated in one of five boarding houses named for significant figures in british military history and the history of the college: Nelson, Portland, Alanbrooke, Stirling, and Trenchard. Healthy rivalry exists between the houses and a number of inter-house competitions are undertaken.
[edit] Facilities
Welbeck is home to a variety of on-site, independent facilities.
Welbeck put a heavy emphasis on physical educational in order to help prepare students for their later careers. To do this Welbeck is home to the following facilities:
- 25m indoor heated pool
- Various fields (for rugby, football, cricket including cricket nets among other sports)
- Floodlit astro turf
- Large indoor sports hall with basket ball hoops
- Indoor climbing wall
- 4 indoor Squash courts
- A weights room (comprising of free and resistance weights)
- A cardiovascular room (comprising of running, rowing and cycling machines)
- Hard surface tennis/netball courts
Although they are the core facilities, the range of sports available is very much dependent on the students as they are free to arrange / organise sports at their own leisure, and if there are enough people wanting to do it, specialists can be called in / equipment can be purchased. These include such sports as karate or archery.
Students take part in 2 compulsory games sessions a week (on a Wednesday and Saturday) and get to choose three major sports a year. Pupils also have one PT session a week where they have the chance to learn theory as well as taking part / trying different training techniques.
Students are very much encouraged to do sport in their spare time, and due to the nature of the inhabitants there are always people in the gym / pool / playing rugby / running.
[edit] Reputation
The institution has had a long-standing reputation for academic excellence at its former picturesque Worksop site.[citation needed] However, some in the military have a preset image of the standard "Wibbly Wobbly Welbexian". Welbexians were sad to lose the historic connections associated with the old college due to the move to Loughborough; however, the move to new premises has been accompanied by a more modern approach to team building and mentoring which could do much to improve the effectiveness of Welbexians as leaders. In recent years the numbers of privately schooled students has dramatically fallen, giving way to a new working or middle class majority.[citation needed] It can also be said, though, that the DSFC is a tragic step down from Welbeck College, and that it is now nothing but a boarding 6th form college with slightly stricter standards. Health and safety regulations have taken over, removing much of the military aspect. It is no longer run by the MOD. Students do, however, get a place in the regular Army/Navy/Air Force/MOD Civ Service upon leaving the establishment, and it is perhaps a means to an end.
[edit] References
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
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