Motor Vehicle (MVRUS) - Campbell College

Name of Department: Motor Vehicle and Road User Department
Head of Department: Mr G Young
Staff List: Mr A Stanfield

"This department strives to bring awareness and education from the real working world into education. Our mantra is to keep boys and the wider community safe on the road and develop lifelong learning and understanding of our roads. The result is a more informed and enthusiastic road user who is better able to combine their enjoyment of driving with a healthy respect for the road."

As a department we aim to educate and inform boys that every decision they make has consequences. Boys study this subject for two years and from having little or limited knowledge of how our roads work graduate the subject with a deeper understanding of cause and effect for their actions on the road both as pedestrian and motorist.

Our vision is to share with that of the Department for Infrastructures campaign of “Share the Road to Zero”. We equip our boys with skills which help them make informed mature decisions about the responsibilities they have when behind the wheel. Statistically it will be boys aged between 17 and 25 who are more likely to end up in a serious collision than any other. We feel we are trying to do our part so that no Campbell College pupil will become a statistic of any road traffic collision.

Course Content/Curriculum:

Our course is structured into three units which are outlaid and explored below.

Unit 1 Practical Riding Element – 25% of the final grade moderated externally

Unit 2 Investigative study – 25% of the final grade moderated internally

Unit 3 Theory Content – 50% of the final grade examined externally.

We cover 6 key areas from Motor Vehicle Technology and how each car operates and how to cure minor car defects to the purchase of their first vehicle and how costings need to be budgeted from purchase costs, to standing costs as well as running costs. In addendum to these key areas we focus on the road users either pedestrian, driver or passenger and how their decisions all have effects and consequences for their actions; whether it be distracting others or alcohol related elements. Other units included focus on what to do at the scene of a collision, legal requirements of owning and running a vehicle, as well as an in-depth look at the Highway Code.

Notable Achievements:

Since this subject’s inception five years ago Campbell College has achieved some very fine accolades. In our first year Zac Elmore (Allisons House) placed 2nd in the country, which is a huge credit to both Zac and the Department as he had to beat off candidates from over 50 school to achieve this recognition.

In true Campbell tradition the bar was set and then bested by Josh Irwin (Davis’ House) two years later as he received the award for best candidate in the country for Motor Vehicle Studies. He was also awarded the Ulsterbus Cup for his application and dedication to Motor Vehicle at a private awards ceremony held at the Laganside Bus Station. He was also invited to the Titanic Exhibition Centre for CCEA’s annual awards ceremony to receive a similar award. In addendum to our worthy winners our graduating class of 2018 all achieved a pass grade or better for the first time, with 92% of students earning A*- B grades. The bar has been well set.