This week our Cambridge Technical Level 3 Business students attended Pontlands Park Hotel. The Bartella family threw open their doors to their luxury hotel for our students gain a valuable insight into rooms, facilities, event spaces and even included a look at "Drakes" the new Pop Up Al-Fresco dining experience in the grounds of the Victorian Estate in Great Baddow. 

They took the students on a one-hour extensive tour into every part of the hotel, to give a real-life enriching experience to the students and also took time to sit with our students for over an hour, answering their specific questions to help them build on what they had learnt in their unit 4 coursework based on this luxury hotel and event space. 

This is now the third year that Pontlands have allowed us to visit, for this truly unique and enriching experience. Last year over 80% of our students gained a Distinction in this unit, with this year’s results expected to be even higher. This is not only testament to the value of enrichment and the real-life learning brought into the classroom but also shows local businesses what they can do for young people in education in their own communities.

We were delighted to note that one of our former students is now part of their kitchen team and a current student is employed front of house. Thank you so much to Pontlands, and the Bartella family, for allowing us this opportunity and playing a vital part in our local community.