Safari Park Opens Doors for Animal Care Course

Kidderminster Academy’s new Animal Care course, due to start in September and delivered in partnership with West Midland Safari Park, is a first for the region.

Students studying for the Animal Care Level 2 Diploma will spend one day a week at Kidderminster Academy and two days a week at the Safari Park where they will get the opportunity to work with snakes, spiders, armadillos and racoon dogs.

Rod Jones, Faculty Director for Land Based Provision at Birmingham Metropolitan College, said:  “This is an exciting new partnership locally, the first in the region, which will see staff at the Safari Park offering hands on animal care and welfare advice as well as real life experience in a working environment.  The course is fully accredited by City and Guilds and will prepare students for future careers in the animal care industry.”

Neil James, Training & Development Manager at West Midland Safari Park, said:  “We already teach 15,000 pupils a year through our current programmes but this is the first time we’ve partnered with a local college to deliver an Animal Care course which provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with animals in a live, natural setting.  Our aim through the partnership is to ensure that young people are equipped with the right skills and experience to fill jobs in the industry in the future.”

Kidderminster Academy is offering Animal Care Diploma Level 2 with the potential for progression to Level 3 in the future.