News
01/02/2012
Newcastle College has been ranked as the best performing general FE college in England for 16-18 year old achievement for the third year running.
The college, one of the largest in the UK, was again named as the highest achieving general further education college in the Department for Education league tables.
The tables confirmed that Newcastle College achieved the highest average point score per student of all General Further Education Colleges nationally. The college also scored higher than any state school in the Newcastle area cementing its position as one of the region's and nation's top education providers.
The league table measured achievement in full time 16-18 provision at level 3, which includes A levels, National Diplomas and the International Baccalaureate.
Newcastle College, based at its Rye Hill campus in Newcastle city centre, is graded outstanding by Ofsted and is a LSIS Beacon Award college. Part of NCG, the college has started building work for a new state-of-the-art sixth form centre opening in 2013, the first dedicated Sixth Form College in the city.
Newcastle College also received national praise for its financial aid which it created in response to the Government's withdrawal of the Education maintenance Award (EMA). This provides £1200 support to young people from low-income households enabling them to study.
Bev Robinson, Principal of Newcastle College, said: "We are delighted to have been ranked top of the DfE league tables for the third successive year. This achievement demonstrates the outstanding teaching and learning we have at Newcastle College. Our dedicated staff work with our students to help them reach their full potential and they are given every opportunity to progress into higher education, training or employment".
NCG recently announced £60m of investment in the north east over the next four years, including the new sixth form centre at Newcastle College.
For more information on the range of courses available visit www.newcastlecollege.co.uk or call 0191 2004000.
24/01/2012
Newcastle College is helping to tackle the region’s rising unemployment by hosting its first jobs fair in partnership with Job Centre Plus and many of the region’s major employers.
The event, sponsored by Avanta, City and Guilds and Next Steps, will be held on Tuesday 7 February between 12-4pm at St James’ Park, and will bring together a range of North East businesses all of whom are actively looking to recruit to fill current vacancies.
Jobseekers will have the opportunity to meet representatives from businesses, such as Orange, BT, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel, the new Hotel Indigo Newcastle featuring celebrity chef Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill, JD Wetherspoon, Balfour Beatty, British Engines Ltd and Rolls Royce.
St James’ Park will also be recruiting for 400 London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteer positions for when the stadium hosts nine matches, including a quarter-final in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Visitors the Jobs Fair will also be able to access advice and support from the college’s Employment Gateway.
Latest figures show that 153,000 people are currently unemployed in the region equating to nearly one in eight of the local population without work.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, Newcastle College will also provide information about the range of apprenticeship opportunities available to individuals and businesses. As one of the region’s leading apprenticeship providers, the college works with a range of employers and has a number of live vacancies as well as a free matching service. Local businesses have already been encouraged to consider the many business benefits of taking on just one apprentice through the college’s new campaign, The Power of One.
Newcastle College Deputy Principal, Robin Ghurbhurun said: “Latest unemployment figures show that nearly one in eight people in the region are now out of work. We need to act now to address this issue and provide those looking for work with every opportunity available. Newcastle College’s first jobs fair brings employers and partner organisations together under one roof. We believe that this approach gives individuals the best chance of finding a job; be it through helping them search for a suitable vacancy, relevant training or support to enhance their CV and interview techniques.”
For more information on the Newcastle College Jobs Fair visit www.newcastlecollege.co.uk/getajob.
20/01/2012
A Benton schoolgirl has stepped into a leading role in a West End musical with her first ever audition.
Nine-year-old Dayna Cherry Chapman Dixon, from Benton, has won the prestigious role of Debbie Wilkinson, the dance teacher’s daughter, in the hit musical Billy Elliot.
Dayna, a pupil at Benton Dene Primary School, has been dancing since she was two when she was taken to the Shelley Dobson School of Dance in Benfield, by her mother Sandra, herself a former professional dancer. She has since continued taking classes at the Jill Errington School of Dance in Benton.
Dayna, said: “I’m really excited. I can’t wait to get on stage. I was so nervous when I had to audition as I had never done one before but I just tried my best.”
Dayna leaves for London this weekend for rehearsals and will make her first appearance in the show in February.
Resident choreographer for the West End production, Lee Proud, has links to the region as a former lecturer and current advisor on the Musical Theatre Foundation Degree Course at Newcastle College where Dayna’s audition was held. In the three months leading up to her audition Dayna was coached by Carly Woodhouse, a musical theatre lecturer within the college’s School of Creative Industries.
Carly, said: “Dayna has been great to work with. She is so hard working, really enthusiastic and a great little dancer. I just know she is going to be fantastic in the show.”
Dayna’s mother, Sandra Chapman, 47, who is now also a lecturer at Newcastle College in Events Management, said: “Understandably I’m so proud of her. I know I am bound to be biased and say that I always thought she had talent, but other people who saw her would also come up to me and say the same. So, I don’t think that anyone who knows her will be surprised by her being able to pull off such an amazing achievement with her first audition.”
“I think it’s great that even though this show is now a hit all around the world, the producers still try to recruit authentic cast members from the North East where the story is based.”
20/01/2012
Going back to school has helped one local teenager find the job of her dreams as a childcare apprentice.
Michaela Ovington, 19, from South Shields, has joined St Albans Roman Catholic Primary School, in Walker, as a new apprentice within the Children and Young People’s Workforce, thanks to help from Newcastle College.
The school decided it wanted a childcare apprentice to join the staff and approached Newcastle College’s Health and Social Care team for free help in finding the perfect recruit that best suited their needs.
Michaela was chosen as the ideal candidate from a number of applicants who were identified as good matches for what the school was looking for, and she took up her new post at the start of term.
Head teacher Mike Donnelly, said: “We always look for something special in our staff and Michaela has just that. The children are really responding to her enthusiasm and attention.
“ I think that the college’s matching service really benefited us because we were able to be really specific about what our ideal candidate needed to be able to demonstrate, and the team really did help us find just the person wanted in Michaela.
“It was the first time we had considered going down this route in our recruitment, but we have been so pleased that we have already recommended the matching service to another school in Fenham who are also looking to recruit.”
The childcare apprenticeship, available through Newcastle College, can be adapted to support individual business requirements and can be a cost effective way for some organisations to create more local jobs in a tough economic climate.
Michaela’s new job covers a broad range of tasks including everything from setting up planned activities with the children, to assessing health and safety requirements and helping during lunchtimes.
Michaela, said: “I’ve always loved children and hoped that I could work with them one day. I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to get this apprenticeship.”
Barbara King, Director of the School of Health and Enterprise, said:” St Albans is one of many local organisations who have come to us recently looking for apprentices for the first time. At the same time, we are getting many more approaches from those who are considering becoming apprentices. For both employers and employees alike apprenticeships are becoming a useful and flexible training and employment tool.”
For more information about the free recruitment service and to speak to a member of the Business Contact team or for more information about apprenticeships available at Newcastle College, visit www.newcastlecollege.co.uk or contact 0845 600 4140.
10/01/2012
Six Newcastle College beauty and spa students will be getting into the swing of life as therapists to the rich and famous during a placement at one of the world’s most luxurious spas.
The students have each been offered a week-long placement at The Gleneagles Hotel Spa, exclusively set in 850 acres of beautiful countryside in the heart of Scotland.
The students include: Sophie Kidd, 19, from Northumberland, Rebecca Gould, 18, from Seaburn, Eleanor Mackenzie, 18, from Newcastle, Rachel Cook, 22, from Newcastle, Jean Swinney, 25, from Newcastle and Rebecca Boucheron, 18, from Northumberland.
Each year Newcastle College beauty and spa therapists compete to win a placement at the exquisite spa with more than ever being accepted this time. Placements are available to all students on the level 3 Beauty Therapy and Spa Therapy courses.
The girls get to each spend a week at Gleneagles with accommodation provided. They will work alongside the Spa’s therapists and have an area of their own to carry out massage treatments.
Jean Swinney, said: “I’m really looking forward to going, I’m nervous at the same time, but I think I’ll learn a lot from the spa therapists about how to handle myself professionally in this sort of environment.”
When Gleneagles opened its doors in 1924, it was hailed as a ‘Riviera in the Highlands” and the ‘eighth wonder of the world.’ Its three world-class golf courses have enticed many famous names including Bing Crosby, Sean Connery, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, and members of the Royal Family.
Newcastle College’s Retreat Manager, Sue Irons, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for the girls to work in a venue of this calibre which is renowned throughout the world.
“Year on year our students are chosen to work at Gleneagles. This alone is testament to the talent we have within the Lifestyle Academy and the high standards that we instil into all of our Beauty and Spa therapy students.”
10/01/2012
Newcastle College has helped give a Fenham jobseeker the skills and confidence to find work after being out of the job market for over a decade while caring for a relative.
Dawn Fleming has started a new job with Care UK, a leading independent provider of health and social care services, just weeks after completing an employability skills course at the college.
The five-week course designed to provide jobseekers with the necessary skills to work in a range of vocational professions, gave Dawn the confidence she needed to apply for her first job in 14 years.
Dawn, 46, said: “My greatest fear after being out of a job for so long was going for an interview. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and I just felt that if I was going to be successful I needed someone to help me prepare.
“My tutors were great; they helped me by getting me to think about what questions I may be asked and let me practice what I was going to say as if it was a real interview.”
The college then arranged for Dawn to have an actual interview with Care UK to put her new found skills into practice.
Tutors also worked with Dawn to help her build upon her existing caring skills and improve her knowledge of the current healthcare industry.
Dawn said: “If it wasn’t for this course I wouldn’t have been given the job opportunity I got. I really enjoyed it and have learnt so much that is really going to help me in my work.”
Barbara King, Director of School for Health and Enterprise, said: “Dawn was really committed to this course from the start and showed us through her hard work that she genuinely wanted to work in the care industry.
“Through this course we have helped a number of people into work by providing them with employability skills, confidence and the all important initial contact with employers.
“It’s really rewarding to take people through the programme to help them to identify those sectors they have an interest in, and then see them go onto change their lives by getting new jobs at the end of it.”
Care UK has now recruited a number of graduates from the course as domiciliary care workers in the Newcastle area.
Sharon Bell, Care UK’s Recruitment Manager, said: “Care UK prides itself on providing high quality care for each of our clients, so it’s vital that we find candidates like Dawn with the nurturing and empathetic skills we need.
“The standard of candidates we have seen applying for posts having completed this course has been incredibly high and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Newcastle College in the future.”
The course runs for 15 hours a week, Monday to Wednesday, between 10am and 3pm. Travel expenses are available to support learners up to a maximum of £10 per learner, per week. For more information call 0191 200 4000.
Anyone who would like to know more about Care UK’s services in the Newcastle area should visit www.careuk.com.
04/01/2012
If you think you are the best band in town, one of the region’s newest independent record labels - Push Puzzle Records - want to hear from you.
After launching just a few weeks ago, Newcastle College-based Push Puzzle Records is now beginning its search for a new signing.
Bands from across the region are being invited to submit their music to win the chance to record an EP single on the Push Puzzle label.
To enter the search, bands need to post three songs on to the label’s dedicated new signing Soundcloud page found at http://soundcloud.com/push-puzzle-b-o-b/dropbox. Bands can link to this and upload their tracks. The organisers will then get in touch with the bands that make it through to the shortlist.
In addition to getting to release their music, the winning band will also benefit from use of the college’s extensive recording facilities. Record label staff, all of whom are second year Foundation Degree students from college’s School of Creative Industries, will work in partnership with students from across the college in recording, mixing, video production, design, PR and plugging services.
Bands need to submit their songs by Friday January 20 2012. Those that make the shortlist will perform in the first heats of the competition at the college’s HE venue, SPACE Bar, on Wednesday, January 25. Subsequent heats will then take place every two weeks until a winner is found.
Scott Baker-Marflitt, Instructor in the School of Creative Industries, said: “The competition will help us to uncover some of the real talent that we know exists in the region.
“The North East has a long tradition of producing some groundbreaking bands and that still endures today. By giving some of the latest up-and-coming talent a chance to be heard by a larger audience, we have the potential to discover the next artist or artists to continue to put the region on the map musically.”
The competition has three age categories: 16-18, 18-21 and 21-23.
The successful band will join Push Puzzle’s first signing, Sean Hainey, 24, from Washington, who is currently in the studio and is ready to release his debut single this year. Sean who is currently studying towards a Foundation Degree in Popular Music at Newcastle College is also a member of the A&R team responsible for finding new signings for the label.
Tom Bradley, Section Manager for Music said: “We seek to create a real-life industry environment within the school. Running a record label which strives to uncover commercially viable new artists is about as real as it gets.
“Once we have our winning act then our students working at the label will be able to fully demonstrate the high quality of skills and talent they too possess in helping to produce and promote the final product.”
16/12/2011
Just weeks after Newcastle College’s new Employment Gateway opened its doors to help local job seekers find work; two administration apprenticeships have secured posts with the service.
Sharon Pegram, 22, from Gateshead and Sophie Anderson, 18, from Sunderland, have been taken on as level three Business Administration Apprentices to help support the Employment Gateway’s increasing number of customers.
Sharon had completed an employability course in Business and Administration at Newcastle College aimed at helping her to find a job. Just a week later both Sharon and Sophie had been appointed through the apprenticeship scheme.
Abigail Bundy Employment Gateway Manager said: “Both Sharon and Sophie have been a fantastic addition to the team.
“The launch of the Employment Gateway has proved to be a huge success. Our key aim is to offer customers a quality service which is tailored to their individual needs. In order for us to be able to do this it is vital that we have the right team in place.
“The Apprenticeship Scheme provided us with a cost effective way to recruit. Sharon and Sophie are really keen to learn and are working with the team to develop their skills. This really was a win-win situation for us. We now have two highly motivated members of staff and are delighted to have been able to offer employment to local people.”
The Employment Gateway is designed to give local unemployed people the necessary support to help them get back into work, training or to gain essential employment skills. The new service is available to those who are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or inactive benefits
Delivered by Intraining, a national training and employability provider, the Gateway can provide customers with a range of services tailored to their individual needs.
Sharon said: “I’d had about seven interviews before I got this job so I was absolutely over the moon. It just goes to show that even if you are beginning to give up hope there are still opportunities out there.
“I really love meeting new people and having just recently been unemployed for about a year I can really relate to what clients are going through which I think helps.”
Sophie Anderson, 18, from Sunderland, said: “The best parts of the job for me are interacting with customers and getting to use the computer skills I learnt when I did my ICT A’Level at Newcastle College. I definitely would recommend taking the apprenticeship route to other people in my position.”
Sharon and Sophie are responsible for greeting clients and being their first point of contact, liaising with external partners, organising diaries and taking minutes of meetings.
They were matched with the Employment Gateway by apprenticeship and training support worker James Costello.
James’ role includes matching candidates to vacancies and providing full recruitment support - from arranging interviews, to gaining feedback and arranging sign up.
James said: “It can often be a really big undertaking for some businesses to find the time to look through hundreds of CVs. So we help in this process by doing this for them and then forwarding only the details of those who seem the best fit for their particular circumstances.”
The Employment Gateway builds on a strong partnership developed with local employers and organisations such as Job Centre Plus and community organisations. The service aims to work with customers to create an individual service which combines support, training and identifying transferable skills.
Customers can get guidance on successful CV, covering letter and personal statement writing, help in finding suitable job vacancies and access support to help overcome any barriers preventing them getting work. In addition, the team can also provide free training to help prepare for job interviews and improve IT skills.
The Employment Gateway also operates on a drop in basis for those wanting to access IT facilities for seeking employment or to find out more about the wide range of specialist vocational training qualifications available. Newcastle College offers a number of short employability courses covering a range of subjects from English and Maths to Business Admin; from Customer Services and Health and Care.
To contact the Employment Gateway call 0191 200 4984 or drop in during open hours 9.00am and 4.30pm.
12/12/2011
Newcastle College issued a challenge to business leaders – invest in just one young person, by taking on an apprentice and help tackle the growing issue of youth unemployment in the north east.
The college laid down the gauntlet at ‘what’s up with the economy?’, a business event held on Wednesday 7 December at The Baltic, which was attended by over 50 representatives from key businesses across the region.
Deputy Principal, Robin Ghurbhurun unveiled the college’s latest apprenticeship campaign, the Power of One, and outlined the significant economic and social benefits that taking on just one young apprentice can bring to a business. Through its free recruitment and matching service, the college can help employers to recruit enthusiastic and motivated members of staff and develop bespoke training which meets the specific requirements of the business.
Mr Ghurbhurun, said: “In this tough economic climate businesses are reluctant to take on new members of staff. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement paints a bleak picture for growth and it is understandable that employers are taking a more cautious approach to investment.
“However, it is imperative that we continue to invest in the next generation and provide opportunities for them to realise their potential and contribute to the local economy. The Power of One provides employers with a cost effective way to recruit motivated individuals who are ready and willing to learn on the job. The employer will benefit from an additional team member and the knowledge that they have given something back to the local community.”
Mr Ghurbhurun also talked about how the college is trying to help tackle youth unemployment by encouraging its students to be more enterprising. Guests were asked to consider how they can support the next generation, including the college’s 30,000 students, all looking for an opportunity.
This view was supported by Roy Stanley, entrepreneur and founder of the Tanfield Group, who asked for an immediate commitment from guests to support one person to set up in business.
Mr Stanley said: “I am passionate about social enterprise. The market sometimes breaks down in our most deprived areas and I want to see the community band together and create enterprise. Newcastle College is embedding enterprise across its curriculum and helping young people with the aspiration to create their own businesses. Enterprise creates employment and we must support those with an idea and buy into those opportunities.”
Other key speakers at the event included Professor Graeme Leach, Chief Economist and Director of Policy at the IoD and Rosie Smith, North East Agent for the Bank of England.
Professor Leach ran through a view of the UK economic outlook in light of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, stating that in the current economic climate “it is difficult to forecast tomorrow, never mind weeks, months and years”.
Comparing the recession to that of the 80s, Professor Leach said: “The story this time is very different. There are a number of explanatory factors and a far more subdued recovery. Disposable income fell last year and then again this year. There is a significant squeeze on household income due to higher VAT and direct taxes. Consumers and businesses are displaying cautionary and postponement behaviour.”
He also talked about growing concerns in the Eurozone, adding: “Throw in all of the speculation about the Eurozone and it adds to the downward pressure. There is so much uncertainty and we are seeing a flat line view of the world. The situation is so fluid you can lose track. Government’s can come to the rescue, but they simply don’t have the money or the power to control the money supply.”
Rosie Smith gave a view from the Bank of England about the economic outlook.
Businesses looking to support young people through either apprenticeships of enterprise opportunities, should contact Newcastle College on 0845 6004140 or email employers@ncl-coll.ac.uk.
12/12/2011
Newcastle College is celebrating the success of former student Perrie Edwards – the college’s second performing arts student to win the X Factor.
Perrie, who is part of Little Mix, made X Factor history by becoming the first group to ever win the competition.
Perrie entered the competition as a solo artist, but was grouped with fellow contestants, Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock during the audition stages. The girls went on to achieve fantastic success in the competition, proving popular with the public from the outset.
Perrie’s success mirrors that of Joe McElderry, who won the competition in 2009, whilst still studying within the college’s School of Creative Industries. Both Joe and Perrie successfully completed a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, which includes modules such as dance, singing, acting and musical theatre.
The qualification is delivered in the college’s £21 million Performance Academy which features state-of-the-art facilities including a 250 seat theatre, studio theatre, 10 recording studios, television studio and nine dance and acting studios with sprung floors.
Students within the academy are taught by industry professionals who can offer insight into industry as well as practical and theoretical knowledge. Courses in the School of Creative Industries are designed to meet the industry needs and to give students the grounding and confidence to realise their ambitions.
For more information about the BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts or for other courses within the School of Creative Industries, visit www.newcastlecollege.co.uk or contact 0191 2004000.