News
27/08/2010
The Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, visited Newcastle College to see how one of the UK’s largest further and higher education colleges is meeting the national skills agenda and supporting employers through education, training and skills.
John Hayes, MP, was delighted to speak to plumbing and electro-technical apprentices (David Douglas, 17, from Gateshead; Arran Taylor, 17, from Longbenton; David Donkin, 19, from Sunderland; Robert Storey, 17, from Prudhoe; John Mowbray, 18, from Chester-Le-Street and Liam Barrass, 17, from Newcastle) developing their skills in the workplace.
Bev Robinson, Principal of Newcastle College, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Mr Hayes and discuss the innovative ways we are working with employers to ensure that our learners are fully equipped with the skills and knowledge that they require to drive their business forward.
“Newcastle College offers over 40 apprenticeship frameworks making us the largest provider of apprenticeship frameworks in the north east. We work in partnership with over 1200 employers and together develop training which can up skill and cross skill the workforce in response to changes in industry.”
John Hayes said: “Learning is essential to building strong communities. Local employers need people with the right skills to run a successful business, local workers need the right skills to get a good job, and everyone needs a wide range of formal and informal learning opportunities.
That’s why we are committed to ensuring that everyone can benefit from learning, whatever their age, career, or circumstances.
“We have already signalled our commitment to apprentices and education and to renewing further education colleges, and later this year will set out our skills strategy for the future.
“I am delighted to see one of the most successful colleges in the country here in Newcastle and hope to watch it go from strength to strength in the coming years.”
24/08/2010
The regional media spotlight focused firmly on Newcastle College as A level and GCSE results were released.
The college’s own Sharon Walker, Student Liaison Coordinator in Student Services, was much in demand to advise students of their options.
Sharon conducted interviews for the North East’s three main radio stations Metro, Real and BBC Radio Newcastle joining excited A level students as they opened their results live on air.
And it was back to the studio on GCSE day, for an interview to publicise the college’s dedicated GCSE advice line, set up to help students make an informed decision regarding their future.
Sharon said: “Every year we get calls from parents, carers and young people who are worried that they did not get their predicted grades or are just unsure about what they now want to do.
“It may be that they have achieved better results than they expected and are looking for something a bit more challenging. The key thing I say to everyone is not to panic. There are many options available, some of which you may have never considered. The important thing is to discuss the individual’s goals and aspirations and explore the routes available to get them on the right path.
“Results day can be very stressful and it is important to have the opportunity to speak to someone who understands the concerns and issues that you may have. Not getting the grades that you expected may feel like the end of the world, but we see many people every year in the same situation, who still go on to achieve their ambitions.”
For more information on Student Services at Newcastle College visit our website.
Photo Caption: Sharon Walker talking to BBC Newcastle on GCSE results day.
24/08/2010
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP visited Newcastle College for a special meet the people event.
Mr Clegg took questions from members of the public at the event held at the college’s multi-million pound campus, which has had recent investment of £250 million and includes the £21m Performance Academy, £16 Lifestyle Academy and £3.3m Aviation Academy at Newcastle International Airport.
The visit was a boost for the college which on the same day published record A Level results. Audience members included students who had collected their results earlier that morning.
During the event Mr Clegg spoke to Tom Hancock, a politics student at Newcastle College, who achieved an A and two Bs and has been accepted into the University of York.
Tom said: “It was great to meet Nick Clegg. We didn’t find out he was coming until just before the event so it was a huge surprise and a fantastic end to A Level results day at Newcastle College. The event itself was very interesting and a great insight into politics.”
The event was part of a series of Question and Answer sessions held across the country.
Photo: Nick Clegg (far left) meets students from Newcastle College's Performance Academy.
23/08/2010
The National Skills Academy for Hospitality has endorsed Newcastle College for excellence in the content and delivery of its Professional Cookery Diploma.
The college is one of only 13 colleges across the country to receive the ‘excellence’ endorsement, which is only given to those that deliver the Diploma to the highest of standards.
Such is the demand for the graduates of endorsed colleges that 10 employers have signed up to a pilot Graduate Chef Programme. This will now be extended and businesses which sign up will attend two events per year to meet and recruit students graduating with merit or distinction in levels 1, 2 & 3 from Academy endorsed colleges.
The Professional Cookery Diploma is just one of a range of courses available at the Lifestyle Academy at Newcastle College.
Greg Smith, Director of the Lifestyle Academy, said: “To be endorsed by the National Skills Academy for Hospitality is fantastic and testament to the skilled team we have here in the Lifestyle Academy.
“As one of only 13 colleges nationwide to have this stamp of excellence, our students will leave college with a qualification which is highly sought after by employers.”
For information on The National Skills Academy Hospitality visit: www.excellencefound.co.uk or excellence@hospitalityskillsacademy.co.uk
10/08/2010
Newcastle College students were left wondering at campus lampposts sporting designer woollies.
The mid-summer whodunnknit was solved when a group calling themselves ‘The Yarnbombers’ claimed responsibility for the artwork on display around the college’s central plaza at Rye Hill.
‘The Yarnbombers’, ten students studying for A and AS levels in both art and textiles, had the idea for the woolly installation after learning to knit as part of their course and being inspired by other Knit Graffiti artists.
Knit Graffiti started underground and is now embraced by crochet and knitting artists of all ages, nationalities and genders. Its practitioners create stunning works of art out of yarn, then “donate” them to public spaces as part of a covert plan for world yarn domination.
The work is on display throughout the summer and includes crochet and multicolour knits.
Naomi Lai, 17, of Boldon said: “My mum taught me to knit. I had never heard of knit graffiti until the group started. It was great fun”
Naomi has recently completed four A levels, including Fine Art, at Newcastle College Sixth Form College.
The students’ tutor, Louise Ditch, said; “The Sixth Form Yarnbombing Club was started earlier this year. The group met every Tuesday during their lunch hour and their knitting skills progressed amazingly quickly. Each member of the group designed and created a piece to decorate a lamppost in the quad. They were inspired by the idea of creating a piece of work available for everyone to see around the plaza and to cheer up the college landscape.”
Photo caption: The Yarnbombers (L-R from back) Kayleigh Gunn, Tze Him Liu, Agnese Agiare and Naomi Lai.
02/08/2010
An aspiring young Director is celebrating success in a search for the brightest theatre talent in the North.
Rachel Oliver, 21, originally from Lancashire, now resident in Benwell, has won a place on the prestigious InterACT programme hosted by Alnwick-based theatre company Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC).
Rachel, who recently achieved a BA (Hons) (1st) in Contemporary Directing at Newcastle College, follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Andy Hayes from Newcastle who also graduated from the course delivered by the college’s School of Creative Industries.
InterACT is a year long, mentored training programme covering four main areas of theatre practice: acting; directing; design and stage management.
The programme includes placements with professional theatre companies; graduates of the scheme have worked with companies such as Theatre de Complicite, Phoenix Dance Newcastle’s own Northern Stage and Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough.
Trainees develop their skills base through master classes with a range of renowned practitioners and showcase their work throughout the region.
Speaking about her decision to specialise in directing, Rachel said: “I had always wanted to act, but I really got interested in directing in the second year of my foundation degree in contemporary acting. John Kirtley, my tutor at college, was a massive influence on my decision to look further into directing. John really encourages experimentation and trying out new ideas and that has really helped me find my way as a director.
I love the idea of picking up a piece of text and putting my own interpretation into it.”
Rachel is planning to stay in the region once her training finishes. She added: “I want to see what I can learn from InterACT and then, hopefully, stay in the North East. I’ve gained so much from my time in the region it would be nice to be able to give something back.”
Rachel’s tutor at Newcastle College, John B Kirtley, said: “I believe that Rachel could go on to be the next big thing in directing; her work is contemporary, challenging modern and interesting. The Contemporary Directing degree strives to produce practitioners who constantly look forward. We are as interested in what will happen in the next two years as we are in what we can learn from the past.
“We are extremely proud of the fact that, for the last two years, a programme as important as InterACT has chosen to take on a graduate from the Contemporary Acting programme here at Newcastle College.”
Gillian Hambleton, Artistic Director at NTC said: “InterACT represents a transition stage between education, training and the profession. In the past, we saw many young people coming straight out of drama school with no experience of the real world of theatre. InterACT bridges the gap between training and the profession.
“Throughout the audition process Rachel communicated well with the professional actors and was open to suggestions and ideas regarding the interpretation of text”
09/07/2010
Students attending Newcastle College’s summer school are the first in the world to have access to a new prototype decomposed body.
The body, used to promote the college’s forensic science and computing provision, is the first released by Crime Scene Resources, the company that provides bodies for the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) for the training of Scene of Crime Officers.
The new prototype, a female dead body made of silicone, has been made to represent the level of decomposition after one day. The design, featuring bone detail and natural anatomy, is much more realistic than previous versions, and dramatically improves the ability of students to retrieve DNA, blood and fingerprint samples.
The body has been unveiled for those attending the college’s Summer Schools programme. Students from both the college and local schools are being given a taste of what is covered on two of the college’s foundation degree courses, Scientific and Investigative Methods and Computing Forensics.
During an open day event at the college activities included; crime scene investigation, DNA, finger print profiling, blood analysis, narcotics and suspect profiling. A realistic crime scene, including body, forensic tent and planted evidence was set up for the students to investigate. Using specialist equipment and dressed in full forensic protective clothing, the students were tasked with looking at the full crime scene and collecting vital evidence to help them determine cause of death and solve the crime.
The students then moved on to computer forensics, examining how private information on a computer is; they were shocked by what they learned. Electronic evidence from a crime scene was gathered and the students looked at ways in which information can be hidden through Steganogrpahy, where text and files are concealed inside a picture or music file on a computer system.
The joint working between the two forensic disciplines gives students a broad overview of how all areas of forensic investigations fit together. In the future, the team are looking to work with the Automotive and Aviation sections at the college to stage a ransom scene or aircraft hijacking, using the college’s Boeing 737 based at Newcastle College.
Gordon Crombie, Section Manager, in the School of Applied Science, said: “To be the first in the world to access this new prototype is a real coup for the college and will give our students access to higher level skills analysis. The body is state-of-the-art and totally realistic. It gives our learners a real sense of what it is like in a genuine crime scene and allows them to develop the skills and techniques required to work in this industry.
Ellie Jones, 17, from Dame Allan’s, said: “We have been collecting DNA samples and fingerprints. We have also been learning about how blood spatters can hold clues to how the person died.
I really liked looking at the bugs on the decomposed body which will tell you when the person died.”
Rebecca Farman, 17, from St Thomas Moore Sixth Form, said: “I am considering doing Psychology and Criminology and so wanted to come along and find out more. I would highly recommend the summer school as it gives you a taste of the practical side of forensic science, rather than just the textbook.”
Hannah Bowman, 16, from Ponteland High School, said: “I am currently doing my A Levels, but am really interested in forensic science. I really wanted to know what real forensic science is like, compared to the shows I watch on TV. I have really enjoyed the experience and am certainly considering going into forensics.”
David Knight, 20, who has just completed a National Diploma IT Practitioners (Systems Support) and has applied to progress on to the FdSc Computer Forensics said: “I have always been interested in computing and forensics. My ambition was to join the police force, but I was unsure whether or not to remain in education or to get a job. I have enjoyed the taster course so much more than I thought I would and I now definitely want to go on and do the foundation degree.”
Newcastle College offers a range of courses for those interested in forensics. Scientific and Investigative Methods and Computing Forensics are available at foundation degree level. A full time Applied Science course is available for 16-18 year olds and an adult part time pre-access course and full time course in forensics.
Photo Caption: Hannah Bowman and Ellie Jones with the new prototype body.
02/07/2010
Local people are being encouraged to ‘Get In’ to further and higher education and attend a new fun event held at Newcastle College on Wednesday 7 July.
‘Get In’ is a new information, advice and guidance event with a fun twist. Taking place at Rye Hill Campus between 11am – 7pm, activities include inflatable bungee run, surf board simulator, mechanical rodeo bull, and funfair stalls. And for the children there will be an enclosed inflatable ball pool and bouncy castle.
Metro Radio presenters, Anna Foster and Joel Goldman from the Tony Horne Breakfast Show will be on hand to provide entertainment between 4pm and 7pm and visitors will be able to challenge the presenters to win concert tickets and other prizes.
‘Get In’ is aimed at those considering an apprenticeship, further or higher education and their family and friends. The event has been designed to give people the chance to come along and see the wide range of courses offered by the college from entry Level through to Masters Degrees. College staff will be on hand throughout the day to give advice and guidance and to help people to enrol on their course of choice.
For more information visit www.newcastlecollege.co.uk/getin.
02/07/2010
Blue Peter scientist, Steve Mould made a special appearance at Big Bang North East, an event held today to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
Around 400 people attended the event, co-ordinated by Newcastle College and held at the Discovery Museum. Visitors were treated to a range of entertaining shows, workshops and demonstrations, including the Steve Mould Show, an origami bus display, Ask an Astronomer, 3D Technologies and an Environmental House Design project.
Individual students and teams from schools across the region were the highlight of the event. They were given the opportunity to showcase their STEM related projects as part of The National Science and Engineering Competition CREST Awards and The Young Engineer for Britain Competition; all are open to all 11-18 year olds living in the UK.
A few of the remarkable projects on show included a green powered Goblin car, which was built by year 8 students at George Stephenson Community High School. The students built the car over a three month period during her lunch hour for primary students to race at croft next week. Students from St Bede’s designed an automatic tap which runs off temperature sensors, St Anthony’s Girls’ School build a special money box to help raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Care and Queen Elizabeth High School has been working with BAE Systems looking at the movement of a Challenger 2 tank barrel.
The individuals and teams behind these projects will have the opportunity to represent the North East at the National Big Bang Fair in March 2011 after the selections are finalised in the autumn.
The National Science and Engineering Competition is an initiative of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and is coordinated by the British Science Association in partnership with Young Engineers and The Big Bang CIC.
Commenting on today’s event, Steve Mould said: “I’ve been impressed by how incredibly smart these young people are. They were happy to explain their projects and really showed their passion for Science. It’s great to see them share that passion.
“It is important to recognise and celebrate their achievements and I think events like Big Bang provide an excellent opportunity to do just that.”
John Sexton, Director of Newcastle Sixth Form College, said: “I am delighted at the success of the event. As the Stempoint and STEM Ambassadors contract holders for the Tyne and Wear region, we are always looking at new and innovative ways to engage young people in STEM subjects.
“I hope that today’s event has inspired the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers. I would also like to thank Steve for his involvement in the event and the work he does to promote STEM subjects at a national level.”
Vince Porteous from Komatsu, who exhibited at the event, said: “Komatsu are committed to working with the community. Our graduate plan has identified a lack of candidates for future engineering jobs. Event like Big Bang encourage a new generation of Engineers.”
Big Bang North East is part of The Big Bang and is one of a series of free, annual events for young people held around the UK.
Further information on Big Bang North East can be found at www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/northeast.cfm.
Photo Caption (L to R): Shaun Fleck 13, from George Stephenson Community High School, Kate Wilson, 10, from Amberley Primary School (in car), Steve Mould, Christopher Race, 12 from George Stephenson Community School and Abigail Mills, 10 from Amberley Primary School
24/06/2010
Eighteen teenagers from Newcastle College are embarking on a trip-of-a–lifetime that will see them contribute to important conservation work in the Caribbean.
The students, from Newcastle Sixth Form College, jet off in the early hours of Wednesday 23rd of June to spend twenty days on a remote island off the coast of Cuba where they will study marine wildlife including manatees and turtles as part of a conservation management programme.
The budding biologists, some of whom have never before left the UK, will head for the mangroves and forests of Cuba’s Isla de Juventud (Island of Youth) to join Operation Wallacea, a series of biological and social science expedition projects that operate in remote locations across the world.
Sleeping under the stars on the decks of the project’s research ship, the Felipe Poey and washing in freshwater showers on isolated beaches, the students will assist in the monitoring of the behavioural characteristics, and habitat preferences of manatee populations in the area.
The Cuban expedition will represent the third time that students from Newcastle College have taken part in Operation Wallacea following visits to Indonesia in 2008 and South Africa in 2009. The expeditions are designed with specific wildlife conservation aims in mind - from identifying areas needing protection, through to implementing and assessing conservation management programmes.
Many of the students taking part in the programme are studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB), an academically challenging and balanced programme of education that prepares students, aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme, an alternative to traditional A Levels, is delivered over a two-year period and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities. Newcastle College is the only college in the North East recognised by the International Baccalaureate as a “World School”
Daniel Fell, studying Biology, Spanish and History as part of the International Baccalaureate will be making his first ever journey by air. The 19 year old, from Blaydon said, “We’re all really excited about the trip. I’ve always wanted to travel and I’m looking forward to meeting people from different cultures and finding out why they do what they do. We will have the opportunity to learn new skills and do some scuba diving while we are away, I can’t wait”
Biology tutor Rebecca Beber who has organised this and the college’s previous participation in Operation Wallacea said, “The students benefit from the experience of travelling somewhere they wouldn’t normally visit with their parents. The trip is about broadening horizons and becoming an adult. Students on previous trips have returned with an entirely fresh outlook on what they wanted to do with their lives.”
John Sexton, Director of Newcastle Sixth Form College said, “Activities like Operation Wallacea represent an invaluable opportunity for learners to not only place their studies in context, but to learn valuable life skills in preparation for future endeavours”