Education
The National Education Committee is one of the eight standing committees and meets three times a year at Osborne House. This committee works to promote the educational aims of NAFAS, encouraging members and the general public in the skills of floral art and related subjects. The committee is responsible for the production of Insight, the educational journal for flower arrangers and for educational leaflets and books.
Training days are organised by the committee for Junior Leaders, Area Education Representatives, Teachers and Internal Moderators whilst the ever-popular mini-teaching demonstrations at the National Show also come under the committee's remit.
The National Education Committee is responsible for the organisation of the NAFAS Certificates in Floral Art and Design details of which can be found by clicking on the links listed below.
Click here to meet the Education Committee
THE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
The National Education Committee has been exploring ways to promote the teaching of floral art, in particular, the NAFAS Certificated Course and Leisure Classes, which have seen a significant decline in recent years due to the lack of funding at all levels. This has meant that budding flower arrangers are unable to gain any experience, or are not able to extend their knowledge and improve their skills. Increasing the availability of classes will lead to an increase in club members, demonstrators, judges and speakers so we have a duty to encourage new avenues of learning.
The Education Committee and the Education Forum set about looking for ways to remedy the problem.
At Certificated level we started by registering with Oxford, Thames and Chiltern Open College Network (OCN) and reviewing the courses we had. Additional units were added and NAFAS was registered as a 'Hub' which means that we can do our own internal moderation while learners can still gain OCN credits. We are optimistic that Independent Tutors will take up this option and also individual Areas of NAFAS will register with us and use their tutors to teach the course.
An Independent Tutor is wholly responsible for the delivery of the course; registering students, certification of learners and communication with NAFAS, the hub centre. When an Area is involved they are responsible for delivering the course by appointing a responsible administrator. A number of tutors may be invited to deliver individual or multiple units of the course in one central location.
The Support Package for the Certificated Course provides a one off grant consisting of a lump sum plus an amount per student as a start up. One grant will be offered to each Area per annum. NAFAS will give advice and guidance to tutors when necessary and Continual Professional Development (CPD) will be offered to Independent Tutors and Internal Moderators.
NAFAS is keen to increase the number of Leisure Classes running and has developed a package of support. A network of National Teachers has been complied to visit clubs, individuals and Area groups, to advise on setting up Leisure Classes. A small grant will be awarded (limited to 4 per Area per year). A package containing the new updated Leisure Class Initiative and other relevant information will also be available free of charge.
In addition NAFAS has negotiated Public Liability insurance cover for NAFAS tutors with Barfield Insurance Brokers at a cost of £60 pa, with the criteria being that the tutor is a member of NAFAS who delivers Leisure Classes, based on the NAFAS Initiative Document to members and the public alike or a NAFAS member with teaching qualifications, delivering the NAFAS Certificated Course to members or the public alike. Further details can be obtained from NAFAS Headquarters.
NAFAS is dedicated to providing floral art teaching and the Education Committee believes that this is the way forward - we need everybody's help to make it work.
Jenny Bennett, National Education Committee Chairman
Click here to download the support information for the NAFAS Education Initiative
FORTHCOMING EVENTS -
NAFAS Teachers Conference - Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 March 2012 at Jury's Inn, Birmingham - Please note that the conference is now full.
Junior Leaders Day - Saturday 5 May 2012 at NAFAS Headquarters
National Show Southport 12 - 14 July 2012
Area Education Representatives Day - Thursday 8 November 2012 at NAFAS Headquarters
Click here for details of Flower Arrangement Clubs
Click here for further details of the NAFAS Certificates in Floral Art and Design
Click here to find out details of Insight Educational Journal
Click here to find out details of Junior Flower Clubs
