K
kirkgas
I am not studying at a BPEC approved centre. BPEC or non-BPEC does not really matter. If a high enough % of people are passing the course with a good knowledge of the subject then the colleges are happy with this and I personally feel that real world experience is worth far more than a classroom education, especially in a practical skill like plumbing.
I do feel that you need the base theory but if this can be gained in 4 weeks and not 6 or 8 then provided the student is getting on-site experience and knows his/her subject then what is the problem?
Some students will need 6 or 8 weeks training and some will never be good enough but will still pass, this is just the way things are.
Mark.
Mark I agree with you, the theory is a base line starting point, and is something I make sure the students know, I've had a few people who can rattle through the theory no prob but the feedback from placement is that they are hopeless at practical therefore they will never get anywhere in gas unless they teach it haha, but they pass the exam and are as qualified as anyone, there are some who use the course to get a ticket for something they are doing every day and they simply don't listen or care about needing standards, its all " look mate, I will just be firing boilers in, I don't need to km
Now anything about pipe sizing or purging or good practice for fitting the pipes, people don't want to pay for a good job" haha so you let them get on with the theory they struggle through and pass and go on their merry way, after all they have been doing gas for years
Suppose the course depends on who's doing it and what they want out of it, if you work hard and put theninputmin you will get more out of it, good luck with it