Maidstone Skills Centre

Centre for vocational education and community participation that aims to help people develop skills for life while providing a valuable local resource to be accessed by all

Maidstone Skills Centre is used by schools, training providers and the public – with programmes and facilities catering for all.

Vocational study

The Maidstone Skills Centre provides provision for schools and pupil referral units wanting to offer vocational study for their students in Year 10, 11, 12 and 13. Groups attend the centre to achieve BTEC qualifications with the additional aims of:

• reducing number of exclusions
• improving attainment levels (target 5 GCSEs grades A-C)
• improving attendance
• improving behaviour
• achieving reintegration back to mainstream
• increasing numbers into work or training/education
• reducing offending
• raising overall aspirations and overall connectedness to society.

Qualifications (long courses)

Catch22 tutors are industry-qualified and Catch22 learners as well as young people from the local area can study accredited qualifications.

Business

• BTEC L1 Award and Certificate Business Administration

Construction industry

• BTEC L1 Certificate Exploring Construction and the Engineering Sectors

Land-based industry

• BTEC L1 Award Land Based Studies

Hair and beauty

• BTEC L1 Certificate in Hair & Beauty

Qualifications (short courses suitable for intervention)

Construction industry

• Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS)
• British Safety Council (BSC) Level 1

CSCS Card application on successful completion.

Employability work ready programme

• BTEC Level 1 6 credit Award, Certificate and Diploma Workskills

Employability programme

• CV writing
• Cover letter writing
• Applications
• Interviews techniques/mock interviews
• Employer engagement

CEIAG appointments with qualifying staff member.

Hospitality industry

• BTEC L1/2 Award Home Cooking Skills Jamie Oliver
• Basic Food Hygiene

For more information on our work with schools, please contact the Centre Manager, Roma Ferreira.

Classes

The Centre hosts a number of daytime and evening classes including a parent and toddler club, a youth club, preparation for the Kent 11+ and fitness classes. Contact Roma Ferreira to find out more.

Rooms and facilities for hire

The Centre is equipped with:

• ICT suite
• 2 construction workshops
• activity hall
• meeting rooms
• kitchen
• café area
• private garden
• conservatory
• football pitch.

All rooms are adaptable for:

• meetings
• events such as children’s parties
• classes and clubs
• education and training sessions.

The activity hall is available to be hired at evenings and weekends, with other facilities available during weekdays depending on the nature of the hire. Equipment, such as netbooks, projectors, screens and flipcharts, is also available to hire. Refreshment options include tea, coffee and buffet lunches. The building has full disabled access. Contact Roma Ferreira for availability and a bespoke pricing package.

Download our leaflet about hiring the Maidstone Skills Centre.