Students from Fareham College had a unique opportunity to impress sailors at HMS Collingwood when carry out work on the establishment’s gymnasium recently.
The students were invited to visit the sports centre at HMS Collingwood by Royal Navy Leading Physical Training Instructor (LPTI) Rowan ‘Bungy’ Edwards, with a view to creating their own design images in one of the fitness areas in the leisure complex.
As part of their course the students are required to spend a certain amount of time within industry to develop their skills and as HMS Collingwood has an established liaison with Fareham College both organisations saw this as an ideal opportunity to join forces in this mutually beneficial project.
The students, who are studying BTEC Art and Design Level 3, worked on up-scaling a silhouette stencil of strong men and women carrying out strength exercises with a quote to decorate one of the fitness suit walls.
They visited the site to prepare and paint the wall, then install the stencil work.
Dale Pattenden, the teacher with the students said “The majority of this work has been down to the students, they prepared the stencilling, designed in and cut if out to install here today.
“We met with Rowan and discussed the needs, then began collaborating as a team, considering all the constraints, surveying, quotes, health and safety.
“There were limitations with the frame attached to the wall and the ventilation units that we had to take in to consideration to make sure everything was balanced. The students have learnt a lot.”
Student Rachel Tindall, 18, said “We got a lot out of this, it’s been a great experience, getting out of the college into a different work environment has been great.”
Annelies James, Enterprise and Employability Coordinator at the college said “We are hoping that this is the first work experience of many working with Collingwood who are situated very close to Fareham College.
“We also work heavily with Collingwood through are Sport and Uniformed Services departments, so it is great to improve and add more links with other departments across the whole college.”
