The world’s most elite nanny school, whose alumni includes the Duchess of Cambridge’s nanny, has unveiled this year’s new recruits including its largest ever intake of men.
Graduates from Norland College go on to look after the children of some of the richest people in the world – including celebrities and royalty.
The prestigious institution has supplied childcare services to the likes of Mick Jagger and, most famously, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Future king Prince George’s Norland Nanny, Maria Borrallo, trained at the exclusive academy in Bath, Somerset.
This year’s intake of ‘Mary Poppins’ includes four men – the highest number of male recruits in its history dating back to 1892.
New recruits: L-R Ruby Chandler, Gregory Ridley, Connor Beckles, Nathniel Fabien, Jordon Murray and Hannah Berry who are new first year students at Norland nanny school which has had its largest amount of male students join the course
Perhaps its most famous alumna, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo trained at the institution before being snapped up by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured here with Prince George, watching the Trooping Tthe Colour from inside Buckingham Palace in June 2015)
Spot the future mannies: Women wear A-line dresses and white gloves ,while the men’s uniform is a brown tweed jacket and beige chinos. Norland welcomed four men this year
Staff say 2017 is also the largest in the college’s 125-year history with 103 students starting the coveted BA in Early Years Development and Learning.
One of the new recruits, Connor Beckles, 18, from Bath, said: ‘I’ve worked with kids before and it’s something I enjoy.
‘However, in a weird way I’m also a big kid myself so if I’m enjoying the activities then hopefully the children will as well.
‘Living in Bath I’ve been aware of Norland for quite a while. They obviously have quite a big presence with the uniform and the reputation that they uphold.
‘However, it’s not something that I seriously considered until very recently. When I went to the open day I realised it was something that could really work – it made sense.’
The world’s most elite nanny training school has unveiled this year’s new recruits – including its largest ever intake of men – with students hailing the career opportunities it provides
Abby and Lauren Barns who are new first year students at Norland. Graduates go on to look after the children of some of the richest people in the world – including celebrities and royalty
Prince George has a Norland Nanny – Maria Borrallo who trained at the exclusive academy in Bath, Somerset. This year’s intake of ‘Mary Poppins’ includes four men – the highest number of male recruits in its history dating back to 1892
Diverse: The college has campaigned to sign up students from a wider range of backgrounds and 20 per cent of this year’s intake came straight from employment or gap years (pictured, Principal Dr Janet Rose)
Staff say 2017 is set to be the largest in the college’s 125-year history with 103 students starting the coveted BA in Early Years Development and Learning
The future’s bright: Students often earn about £26,000 after leaving the college, which was founded by Emily Ward in 1892
Gregory Ridley, 19, from Warrington, said: ‘The opportunities that Norland gives you are above and beyond any other institute, certainly in this country if not the world.
‘When my mates found out that I was coming to Norland at first they were really unimpressed.
‘But then I told them about the salary and they said ‘Can I come?! Where do I sign up?”
Nathaniel Fabien, 18, from Romford, said: ‘I became a Norland Nanny because if you’re good at something and you enjoy something never do it for free.
‘Norland is really prestigious and gives the best care and the best education for looking after children.
‘I thought if I was going to do it I may as well do it well.’
Making history at the college this year are the first identical twins to enrol – 18-year-old Lauren and Abby Barnes from Eastleigh, Hampshire (pictured)
Tradition: The college, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, has more than 3,500 Twitter followers and is known for its students’ iconic brown and white uniforms
Jordan Murray, 19, from Doncaster, said: ‘I wanted to become a Norland Nanny mainly because I enjoy working with children.
‘I don’t really feel like it’s a job because it’s so much fun most of the time.’
Also making history at the college were the first identical twins to enrol – 18-year-old Lauren and Abby Barnes from Eastleigh, Hampshire.
The college, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, has more than 3,500 Twitter followers and is known for its students’ iconic uniforms.
Women wear A-line dresses and white gloves while the men’s uniform is a brown tweed jacket and beige chinos.
Brown boater hats worn by girls and the brown tie for boys are inscribed with a gold ‘N’ for ‘Norland’.
L-R Gregory Ridley, Connor Beckles, Nathniel Fabien and Jordon Murray. Nathaniel, 18, from Romford, said: ‘I became a Norland Nanny because if you’re good at something and you enjoy something never do it for free’
Suited and booted: Brown boater hats worn by girls and the brown tie for boys are inscribed with a gold ‘N’ for ‘Norland’
Jordan Murray, 19, from Doncaster (second left) said: ‘I wanted to become a Norland Nanny mainly because I enjoy working with children. ‘I don’t really feel like it’s a job because it’s so much fun most of the time’
The college, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, has more than 3,500 Twitter followers and is known for its students’ iconic uniforms
The new school year has begun at the prestigious Norland College where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s nanny was trained (pictured: Identical twins Abby and Lauren Barns who are new first year students at Norland)
Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland College said: ‘It’s a truly historic year for Norland College.
‘Not only is it 125 years since our founder welcomed the first set of Norland students, but we have also moved to a brand new building in Bath as we welcome our largest ever intake of students.’
The college has campaigned to sign up students from a wider range of backgrounds and 20 per cent of this year’s intake came straight from employment or gap years.
Students often earn about £26,000 after leaving the college, which was founded by Emily Ward in 1892.
Norland Nannies: A history
Norland College, founded in 1892 by Emily Ward, is a leading provider of childcare training.
Its alumni include Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, nanny to Prince George.
Maria Borrallo is nanny to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Emily Ward introduced a uniform so Norland graduates would be recognised as professionals and not mistaken for housemaids and it is still a strong part of the college’s tradition.
The founder focused her training on the principles of Friedrich Froebel, the German educationalist who developed the ‘kindergarten system’.
Its Early Childhood Studies course concentrates on numerous aspects of childhood.
Students study elements of social science, psychology, child health, history, literature and education.
It also trains its students – known as ‘Norlanders’ when they graduate – how to work with families, develop a child’s math skills and become a whizz in the kitchen and teach a child not only how to cook, but how to cook healthy meals.
Along with the traditional skills of cooking, sewing and first aid, new subjects on the curriculum include Taekwondo, self defence, skidpan driving – and escaping from paparazzi.
In the second year of the course, students learn from a stunt driver on the Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire who prepares them for all kinds of situations, from icy roads to potential kidnappers or paparazzi.