Education
The Aims of NAFAS are to advance public education in the art of flower arranging and related subjects; to encourgare the love of flowers and to demonstrate their decorative value; to instruct, train and qualify judges, demonstrators, teachers and speakers in order to raise the standard of work throughout the country; to give pleasure to the sick and elderly through the regular arranging of flowers in hospitals; to assist worthy causes and charities by organising exhibitions and competitions and to encourage the conservation of rare and endangered species of plants.
The objective of NAFAS is to advance public education in the art of flower arranging and related subjects, and to further any other charitable purposes.
The National Education Committee is one of the eight standing committees and meets four times a year at Osborne House. This committee works to promote the educational aims of NAFAS, encourging 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 and teachers 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 and, 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 to provide Access to Higher Education 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 Pack for the Certificated Course will consist of a visit from the National Education Chairman or NAFAS Course Consultant, to offer help and advice, in addition a one off grant is available consisting of a lump sum plus an amount per student as a start up. One grant will be offered to each Area per annum. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) will be offered to 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 £50 pa. 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.
Irene Manson, National Education Committee Chairman
Click here to download the support information for the NAFAS Education Initiative
FORTHCOMING EVENTS -
NAFAS National Show Harrogate 2010 - Friday 9th & Saturday 10th July at The Harrogate International Centre (see the NAFAS Events page for more details). Meet the Committee at the Education stand and enjoy one of the mini-teaching demonstrations which will be run throughout the Show.
NAFAS/WI Flower Arranging Course - 1 to 4 August 2011 at Denman College.
For further details Click here
NAFAS Teachers Conference - dates to be confirmed - click here to review this years' conference
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 see the list of colleges running the NAFAS Course
Click here to find out details of Insight Educational Journal
Click here to find out details of Junior Flower Clubs
