What a brilliant success story! Katie was a student on our entry level supported learning course ‘The Green Scene’. At South & City College Birmingham we run hundreds of courses from higher education to T Levels to apprenticeships and more. This includes courses for those with additional needs, designed to grant employability skills and independence by volunteering in gardening around the community. And Katie has been a model student!
Katie has atypical autism, dyspraxia and sensory-processing disorder. Thanks to her hard work and the supportive learning environment set by the college staff, Katie passed and is now going onto a Horticulture course at Pershore College to follow her dream of working in a garden centre.
Let’s hear from Katie (and her tutor Wendy…)
KATIE: My name is Katie and I did the Green Scene with South & City College Birmingham at the Bournville campus. The Green Scene is all about gardening and horticulture. Gardening is one of my interests, I love learning about the different plants out there, and the botanical names of them all.
Q: When did you discover your love of gardening?
KATIE: I remember loving plants even back in Primary School. We had a mini vegetable plot and we grew some artichokes. Ever since then I’ve been drawing plants, and making origami flowers. I can make different species so I’ve made a columbine, amaryllis, daffodil and more.
For my future job I actually want to work in a garden centre. I love going to garden centres, they are my haven. When I am there with my parents, I keep pointing out all the plants that they should pick out. (LAUGHS)
Q: What made you choose South & City College Birmingham?
KATIE: My first experience was coming to an Open Day. I have atypical autism. I also have dyspraxia and sensory-processing disorder. So, when I came I was nervous about meeting new people.
But the community here definitely stuck out to me. The inclusion. You can be whoever you want to be. I feel like I can be myself here, and feel like I have been supported every step of the way. I have made friends here, and we will be staying in touch after I have finished as well.
That feeling has come from everyone at the college, but I particularly want to thank my tutor Wendy Harris-Hill, who has been lovely. Wendy has helped me with my Maths and English, as well as the main course.
Q: How did you find the course?
KATIE: The course has been really interesting. I’ve learned so many botanical names and common names. I have learned about the different medicinal uses of herbs, as well as the culinary uses. I have learned how to propagate plants and sell them off in plant sales. You can get hands-on with practically everything. It’s a really good course for people that need to grow their confidence.
Q: What sort of community work did you do?
KATIE: We spend 2 days a week working with Kings Heath Park, and Birmingham City Council workers doing landscaping, gardening and also nursery production.
WENDY: The college has its own nursery at Kings Heath Park. When the Council get their plants in, the students will plant them. One year we planted 13,000 plug plants. And those go out to sale, they actually produce the plants for sale for retail. So students get that experience as well as working alongside Birmingham City Council.
KATIE: We also created green spaces for a school. One was a decorative outdoor space for learning. The other was a mini woodland pile to attract biodiversity like hedgehogs, so it’s ideal for nature.
Q: Where are you heading next?
KATIE: For my next step, I’m going to Pershore College to do a mainstream (non-supported learning) Level 2 Horticulture course. I will be learning things like bricklaying, plant science, soil science. I’m looking forward to it. I really feel like the Green Scene course has prepared me well.
Thank you so much to our fantastic Katie! Anywhere will be lucky to have her.