It’s a record-breaking year for the world famous Norland College, the prestigious nanny education and training establishment, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2017.
This year’s intake is the largest in the college’s 125 year history, with 103 students starting the BA (Hons) Early Years Development and Learning degree alongside the Norland Diploma.
Of those, there are four male students – the biggest number to enrol on the course in the same year.
2017 also sees the first set of identical twins to study at Norland. 18 year old twins Lauren and Abby Barnes, from Eastleigh in Hampshire start the four year course this week.
Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland College said: “It’s a truly historic year for Norland College. Not only is it 125 years since our founder, Emily Ward, welcomed the first set of Norland students, but we have also moved to a brand new building in Bath as we welcome our largest ever intake of students.”
The college has recently launched a ‘widening participation’ recruitment campaign to help make Norland more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.
The proportion of students coming from independent schools has dropped to 15%, whilst 20% of this year’s intake have come straight from employment or gap years.
The college has a student bursary scheme to help students from a wide range of backgrounds and grants available for students have more than doubled since 2014.
Dr Janet Rose added: “We’re able to help almost twice as many students this year as we were in 2014, and this is set to double next year. In 2018 we forecast that 10% of our students will be supported in some way through bursaries.
“Over £400k will have been granted to Norland students via bursaries between 2014-2018. This is all part of our ‘widening participation’ recruitment campaign to ensure we attract the very best students to the college, whatever their background.”
Norland College students have guaranteed employment opportunities after graduation and can expect to earn around £26,000 as a starting salary for qualified Norland Nannies – and they can go on to earn significantly more. Jobs through Norland Agency consistently outnumber graduates by three to one.
