The Western Australia College of Agriculture at Cunderdin - a senior high school/residential boarding school - is firming itself as a leader for the skills future.

Having won accolades at the 2006 Australian Training Awards, acting headmaster Paul Scholls believes it's the mix of theory and practical learning that's providing the right balance for the students to respond to.

The college offers a commercial sized farm which is staffed by students, with training facilities in automotive, engineering, furnishing, building and construction.

In the first of two parts, SkillsOne takes a detailed look at student life in the automotive and furnishing subjects.