Learners from Worcestershire-based Pershore College decorated their Student Union bar with coffins, blood stained walls and creepy cobwebs for a Halloween party.

Dozens of learners who attended dressed as murderous clowns, zombies, devils and psycho killer Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th films.

Matt Hood, aged 25, treasurer of Pershore College Student Union, said “It went really well with around 80 people in a wide range of amazing scary costumes.”

 

Picture Caption: Students from Pershore College enjoying themselves at the Halloween Party.

Paintings by level three art students depicting women’s role in keeping Britain’s farms going during the First World War will go on public display.

Bracknell and Wokingham College level three art learners Georgia Nosal, aged 17, and Alex Welch, 19, created the artworks for the tenth annual Binfield, Warfield and Winkfield Arts Week.

Their paintings will be unveiled at Brownlow Hall, in Warfield, on Friday (October 31) and will also be displayed at South Hill Park Arts Centre, in Warfield, before being exhibited at the college.

Georgia said: “It was a fun project which started with a lot of research about war propaganda and artists from the time to help us plan out our work.”

Alex said: “I really enjoyed working on this and I’m proud of my final painting.

“I think my family and friends will go along and have a look at it so I am glad it has turned out so well.”

 

Picture Caption: From left: Georgia Nosal and Alex Welsh

A former soldier who served in Afghanistan and Iraq has been recognised for research he did at Bournemouth & Poole College that could save troops’ lives, writes Paul Offord.

Robert Lewis knows all about the shortcomings of the body armour worn by soldiers.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Army aged 16 after leaving school without any qualifications, wore the bulky and uncomfortable protective suits under his uniform during tours of duty in Bazra, Iraq, in 2005, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2007.

Robert left the Army five years ago and enrolled on an access to higher education science diploma at Bournemouth & Poole College in September 2013.

He had the idea of researching whether non-Newtonian fluids, which harden when they come into contact with solid objects, could be used in body armour for a three-month project that counted towards his studies.

Robert carried out a series of laboratory and practical tests at shooting range over three months with fellow students Paul Malonowskui, 38, and Nevy Baze, 20.

They proved that a combination of silicon and polyethylene glycol combined to make a gel could repel bullets and knife attacks.

Robert said: ““We were warned we were going to be given a special project. But there was nothing out of the options we were presented with that really excited me, so I asked if I could come up with my own idea and drew up the proposal overnight which they liked. I was interested in Newtonian fluids and thought to myself ‘I wonder if it could be used for body armour?’

“We had to prove the concept was viable in the lab, but then did the tests by shooting at it in a firing range.”

He added: “The substances we researched could be used instead of the metal or ceramics, making the armour a lot lighter and more flexible.”

The research earned the trio special recognition from the Royal Society of Chemistry in London.

Anthony Wright, college director of adult education, said: “Rob went in harm’s way for his country and that inspired him to apply some of the basic science he learned at the college in the context of a practical problem every soldier faces — how to get the best protection when under threat.

“People working in perhaps less stressful environments than Robert can now follow his example and to contribute to the science knowledge base in this way.”

All three of the learners completed their college courses in June and have now started science degrees at Bournemouth University.

“My mum Jill is proud of me. She probably didn’t think I was very academic after I left school without any qualifications, but thought the Army would sort me out,” said Robert.

“My interest in science started in the Army. I was always fascinated with, for example, the measurements used to assess how to hit targets with artillery fire — you have to take into account things like trigonometry and the magnetic pull the earth has on shells.”

Robert hopes to work in defence after he graduates from university.

He said: “I have been in contact with the Ministry of Defence about taking our research further so we will see.

“It would be nice to think our research could help protect soldiers one day.”

 

Picture Caption: From left:  Paul Malonowskui, Robert Lewis and Nevy Baze

City of Bath College students are campaigning to improve safety along the River Avon following the death of a local teenager.

More than 50 level three IT students are working with community leaders to come up with innovative ways, including a possible new app that would track movements of groups of friends and send out texts if anyone gets separated, to make sure people get home safely after a night out.

They will work with Bath and North East Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police to launch a city-wide campaign aimed at young people, particularly students.

The college was approached following the death in September of local teenager Sam Amin (pictured left), aged 18, who was friends with some of the learners.

His body was recovered from the River Avon after he became seperated from friends on a night out in Bath, making him the sixth person to die in the stretch of river since 2009.

Level three information technology student Matthew Elliot said: “Something needs to be done to improve the situation. There have been too many deaths already.”

IT Lecturer Geraldine Hudson said: “We are just urging everyone in a group of friends to stay safe.”

 

Picture Caption: From left: City of Bath College students Callum McGarry and Jack Griffin, both aged 17, and Matthew Elliot, 30, by the River Avon in Bath

World-famous artist David Hockney said he was “thrilled” after a new teaching block at his former college was named after him.

The six-storey £50m building at Bradford College contains more than 90 classrooms, a TV studio, commercial-sized teaching kitchens and hair and beauty training salons.

Staff and students, who were invited to vote on what it should be called, opted for The David Hockney Building, after the Bradford-born artist who studied a national diploma in design at the college from 1953 to 1957.

Mr Hockney said: “I am thrilled that Bradford College has requested to name their new building after me and of course I am delighted to give my consent.”

Former college principal Michele Sutton said: “I’m really delighted because it’s important that our buildings reflect our legacy, history and future.

“With David Hockney, who is today’s greatest living British artist, I think it sets the tone and reputation of Bradford College and enhances our future as a college.”

He attended at the same time as John Loker, Norman Stevens and David Oxtoby, who all went on to be successful artists.

There will be an exhibition of Mr Stevens’s work at the college from November 10 to December 12.

 

Picture Caption: From Left: John Loker, Norman Stevens, David Oxtoby and David Hockney playing cards at Bradford College, in the 1950s

Learners unveiled a plaque at Westminster Abbey honouring 18th Century Birmingham industrialist Matthew Boulton.

A group of 11 Birmingham Metropolitan College students studying a range of science, technology, engineering and maths courses and senior staff including principal Andrew Cleaves travelled to London to attend a memorial service for Mr Boulton.

Level three pharmacy student Jacob Pearson, aged 19, and English, history and sociology A-level learner Ellie Coleman, 17, unveiled a plaque on the Abbey’s floor in his honour.
Ellie said: “It was a great privilege to unveil a national memorial to one of Birmingham’s leading entrepreneurs.”

Birmingham-born Mr Boulton developed the Boulton & Watt steam engine, which drove up production rates at factories across Britain during the Industrial Revolution, with his business partner James Watt.

He also revolutionised minting techniques for British coins and features on the back of £50 notes with Mr Watt.

Mr Boulton’s plaque was installed next to an existing plaque for Mr Watt.

Principal Andrew Cleaves said: “It was a pleasure for us to be involved in a ceremony which recognised the impact Birmingham had on the Industrial Revolution.”

 

Picture Caption: From left: Birmingham Metropolitan College learners Jacob Pearson and Ellie Coleman and principal Andrew Cleaves by the plaque

A Cronton Sixth Form College student won an international talent contest with her rendition of a song from a Disney film.

Level three dance student Nakita Argomandkhah, aged 17, won in the senior solo singing category of the International Festival of Dance and Performing Arts event with her version of Colour of the Wind from animated film Pocahontas.

She impressed judges in the final at Disneyland Paris.

Nakita said: “The whole competition was such a high standard and I didn’t expect to do so well.

“The staging for the final was amazing. I was thrilled to take part and over the moon to win.”

Matt Plant, artistic director for performing arts at the sixth form college in Cheshire, was delighted by Nakita’s success.

He said: “I have had the privilege of directing her in major roles from Fontine in Les Miserables to the title character in Jane Eyre and she never ceases to amaze me.

“Nakita’s approach to her work, so much of which is extra-curricular, is faultless and leaves us in no doubt that she has a great deal of success to come.”

 

Picture Caption: Nakita Argomandkhah after winning the competition.