Courses and Careers

Online study resources

Faraway — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:13:31 GMT

If you are looking to get back into studying have a look at http://www.howto.co.uk/learning/uk-education-adult/

The above site has an awful lot of excellent free books/information which can be used as study material for RHS exams, particularly the Advanced and Diploma modules regarding business. There are also some gardening books.

Also have a look at http://www.yoursmallbusiness.co.uk/ for study or actual business advice and information once you have passed the exams and want to run your own business!

If you have other sites to recommend specifically for self-study for RHS exams or extra reading, please do add them here. It would be useful to specify the module/exam to which the site relates if possible.

rhs level 3 distance learning course

Tam — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:28:04 GMT

hello, i am looking for a level 3 home study course. finish level 2 in college but no level 3 available. if any one could recommend a course provider i would be so grateful because i dont no which is best. also how do you take the practicals on a home study course, and exams? any advice apprieciated

Examiners reports June 2009 exam

Faraway — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:02:40 GMT

I see the Level 2 examiners reports from the last exams are now available under courses. The Advanced and Diploma are usually not far behind. These reports are very helpful in trying to work out what the examiners require (which is not the same as being able to determine what they want from the questions )

Module C Practical Examination results have been released

RHS Qualifications — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:12:01 GMT

The results for the Module C practical examination have been released. These can be viewed on the RHS Qualifications web portal by centres and candidates who have set up an account.

If you have not set up an account you can obtain your results from your college.

The individual results notifications are being printed and will be posted to centres during week commencing 26th October 2009.

Just started L2. How to study....?

Cosmo — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:31:47 GMT

I've just received my L2 course materials (distance learning) and made a start in the introductory module.

I'm a bit miffed as I'm amazed at how I will learn all that I need to know from the texts to be successful in the exams. I've looked at past exam papers and they look far beyond the scope of the text I've received.

Am I just worrying over nothing? Did you learn all you needed to be ok in the exams?

I find it hard to just read and remember the key facts. How did/do you study? Make notes? Lengthy ones?

Help!

RHS level 3 correspondence course recommendations?

pinnih — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:13:32 GMT

hi there

i'm very interested in doing the RHS advanced certificate by correspondence. does anyone have any recommendations or warnings? the two most popular correspondence colleges seem to be HCC and learning curve.. any comments on the study material of either of these colleges?

anyone tried the gardening school?

has anyone done their studies with ACS (australian correspondence schools) and can justify their (ACS's) course fees?

has/is anyone studied/studying with any other correspondence schools?

thanks for your time and looking forward to any suggestions.

RHS courses - advice please

d90yqv — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:44:36 GMT

Hello everyone

I'm currently thinking of starting the RHS level 2 certificate in horticulture via distance learning.

My problem? I've not currently got a garden - I live in a flat in central London with no outside space, which is a bit of a nightmare, as you can imagine.

So will I be at a big disadvantage doing the course, or is it purely theory-based?

Thanks all

Brand new RHS level 2 distance learning course notes for sale

lefty — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:57:52 GMT

Hi there, last year i bought a distance learning course for the RHS level 2 exams with the full intention of doing it. Due to work and home commitments they have been sat on the book shelf since the day they arrived, therefore i have decided to sell them to someone who will actually get to use them.

Course cost £250, so i am looking for a sensible offer for them. It consists of 2 large A4 folders with a seperate study guide, and other study pamphlets. i can send pictures of them if required with more details.

i live in Birmingham if you would like to pick them up or we can organise posting.

Cheers Mark

RHS Level 2 course..again!

Izzy123gym — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:19:19 GMT

Hi again...Just to let anyone know, who is interested, there is a group on Facebook...."RHS Level 2 Study Buddies." I have just joined but it could do with a lot more people, I'm sure!

I think it would make it so much easier, I'm sure, if there were more students on there to support each other...and I'm only on Module 1!

Level 3 with Learning Curve....

kippers garden — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:31:21 GMT

Just wondering what the level 3 with learning curve is like? I have just passed my level 2 after a year back at college. I found it a very intensive year and i wondered if i would be better to go the 'distance learning' route for level 3 so i can take my time a bit.

Can anyone tell me how they found it studying like this

Results have been released for Advanced/Diploma theory examinations

RHS Qualifications — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:41:50 GMT

The results for the July 2009 RHS Level 3 Advanced/Diploma theory examinations have been released. These can be viewed on the RHS Qualifications web portal by centres and candidates who have set up an account.

If you have not set up an account you can obtain your results from your college.

The individual results notifications are being printed and will be posted to centres by Friday 25 September.

Level 2 exam results

Sunflower Vic — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:48:04 GMT

Heya! Does anyone know when the RHS level 2 (June 2009) exam results are due? Its driving me insane waiting :-)

Has ANYONE got their results?

edenhendry — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:45:14 GMT

The boards have been pretty quiet. Had anybody got any results for their level 2? I am assuming that they haven't been published on the website yet, so my snail mail results will be even later, turning up either Saturday or (nail-bitingly) later!

RHS Qualifications Dept - is everything still on board for the results to be out by today?

Mock exam for Advanced practical in September

Hortaddict — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:17:07 GMT

I don't know if this will be struck off as advertising but I'm putting it up in case it's useful to anyone - Pershore college is one of the examination centres running the Advanced Prac in September, and they are offering a mock exam with feedback on 3rd Sept. As they haven't told anyone outside the college about it, it might not run - though lots of people worried about taking the exam might find it useful. I work part-time at the college , which is why I know about it!

RHS L2: How many hours per week?

Cosmo — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:31:22 GMT

So- I've decided. I'm going to do the RHS L2 with HCC.

I plan on taking the exams next summer.

How many hours per week should I set aside?

Will I have time to also study an AS level by distance learning, too?

Examiner's Reports

edenhendry — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:51:16 GMT

RHS Qualifications - Has the examiner's report for June 2009 exams been deliberately left off the past exam paper, or will it be added to in the coming weeks? I'm intrigued to find out some of the comments regarding some of the questions this year.

Distance Learning in Ireland

Philippa — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:11:26 GMT

I am interested in doing the RHS Certificate Level 2. The options for distance learning in Ireland are limited to The Garden School in Co. Roscommon. Has anyone else used this school? Are they reliable etc??

A Couple of Questions on the RHS Level 2

Cosmo — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:10:28 GMT

-Is the RHS Level 2 course enough to get a foot into the industry? I have no work experience in hort', but would love to work in a nursery propagating, etc.

-Will employers respect it, or would a C&G be more appropriate for a career?

-Is the course more for hobby gardeners, or is it genuinely for people looking to get a hort' career?

Which course should I do?

Cosmo — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:36:06 GMT

I have 4 options on the table for me at present.

I can study the RHS route, the C&G level 2, a HNC in Professional Gardening, or a full time HND in Horticulture.

My long-term aim is to work as an estate gardener, maybe with the National Trust (etc). Which route would you suggest? I'm 30, and have no hort' work experience. I am a complete beginner. At present, I've accepted the HND place, but I'm concerened that it is more concerened with the biological/business side of things. It has a limited practical element.

The RHS and C&G are level 2, and I'm worried that these are quite a low level qualification as I already have a level 3 course in another subject under my belt, plus an AS level.

The HNC in Professional Gardening is very, very appealing, but will it be too restrictive in terms of eventual careers (based on the name of the course)?

Which do route do you advise me to follow?

Any advise would be great!

RHS level 2 - thoughts on colleges in the south east

louiseb — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:35:54 GMT

Hi - I'm based in Hastings and looking to do the RHS 2 from this September. I'm currently considering Plumpton, Hadlow College and Cooling Nurseries. Any recent experiences to report, good or bad? Thanks!

Level 2 versus Level 3 Advanced Certificate

darron — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:30:51 GMT

I am looking at undertaking a home study course and I know there is a lot of debate as to which college provides the best material etc. but would like to hear peoples comments and advice on HCC and learning curve.

Thanks

IHRS

Wiggle — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:15:25 GMT

Hello, I'm new to this forum and I hope someone may be able to advise me.

I was researching posibilities for Level 2 RHS qualification (distance learning). I couldn't find a lot of difference between IHRS and HCC course details described online but there was a GREAT difference in the price (HCC was much cheaper). I phoned the IHRS to see what was additional to their course that warrented the extra costs (I thought perhaps there was more detail, course tutors more experienced etc). Well, the lady I spoke to was very brief and didn't elaborate in any detail even when I asked direct questions and when I sent a email in to complain I got a really rude and defensive email back which also stated they had recorded my conversation and had listened to it to check my complaint. The worrying thing was my call had been answered directly by a tutor and no warning was given about the such a recording taking place.

Does anyone no where/who I could complain to take this further, as I think my genuine initial query and subsequent complaint was not deal with in a proper way and in fact could possibly verge on the illegal? (phone recording?)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

July 2009 Level 2 exams

Faraway — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:02:31 GMT

If anyone here wrote the exams - how did you find them (hope they went well!)? I am particularlay interested to know whether those studying by distance learning felt that their course, ie notes, tutors etc, covered all the work. Did you feel that your course covered the work asked in the exam sufficiently for you to pass well or did you need to do quite a bit of extra reading/research?

Would be interested to hear from those who wrote Advanced/Diploma as well

Who regulates the tutors?

edenhendry — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:38:00 GMT

Grrr..... I'm writing this as I am really peeved at my RHS Tutor. No names shall be mentioned, but I have spent the past 12 months gritting my teeth trying to get my level 2 qualification. I can honestly say I have done the work in spite of my tutor, not because of him.

I enrolled for a course at an approved centre and attended each class diligently. However, the tutor didn't teach us the subjects on the syllabus as he was "creating gardeners, not parrots". So he taught us what he thought we should know. Hence for those poor buggers who didn't read the syllabus, they revised completely the wrong things. e.g. he spent 3 weeks (9hours) teaching us how to physically draw a garden design. Not measure the land with triangulation etc, but how to bloody draw it and what watercolours to use. No surprise that by the time the 1st exam came around he hadn't even taught us ANYTHING on fruit and veg.

He has told us a load of twaddle - apparently we get letters after our name for getting the level 2 certificate which is complete pants. Oh yeah, and the RHS will happily take on anybody who passes the qualification into their gardens. Which is a little bit too far fetched to imagine.

I have now just discovered that exam results for the no.2 exam won't be out until September. He told us they would be released this week. but that has never been stated by the RHS.

He has now "resigned" from the college (although he taught there for 7 years). Out of 21 students this year, only 7 passed the first exam.

I'd like to know how the RHS can recommend some colleges for their qualifications when the level of teaching I have encountered has been so shoddy? I spent £440 on a course that I had to teach myself!

Ironically, I have since applied for the lecturer's job and wait to hear if I am successful in the next few weeks. If there has been one good thing from this past year, I know how NOT to teach Level 2.

Has anyone else been subjected to this level of incompetence?

Level 2 courses in London

GardeningFin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:36:26 GMT

Hi there,

I am hoping to start a RHS level 2 part-time evening course around central London this year. My plan was to do the day-course, but it was not possbile to get time off work - so I'm urgently looking for an evening-course option, but realise that I have now left it very late.

I enrolled in Capel Manor, but I'm on a waiting list for their Regent's Park course. COuld anyone suggest another institution where I might be able to do an evening course, preferable around Central london?

Many thanks
Fin