The training aspect of sandwich courses

Since the mid‐nineteenth century when the Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes became an examining body, considerable changes have occurred in technical education, resulting in increasing breadth of subjects and depth of scientific knowledge. The pattern of study for the National Certificate scheme took the form of attendance at evening classes. This developed in numerous ways and Ordinary and Higher National Certificate courses are available by evening class attendance, part‐time day release, a combination of part‐time day and evening classes, or intensive full‐time courses like those prominent during World War II which enabled students to complete the requirements for the Higher National Certificates in about 26 weeks. Such awards were subject to satisfactory completion of and examination in an A1 scheme of work followed by success in the equivalent A2 scheme, each scheme occupying about thirteen weeks. This pattern is now continued in the form of block release courses involving similar periods of attendance.