in partnership with Pearson.
Royal seal of approval from Duke of York
Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) got the royal seal of approval when it was visited by The Duke of York.
Andrew was at the UTC’s official opening ceremony with former education secretary Lord Baker, who is chair of the UTC brand.
Andrew spent time with information technology and construction students who
showed him a new computer game they had created and their bricklaying skills.
He said: “Having listened to the students today, I can see that they have clearly grasped the the purpose of the UTC which I believe they will make a significant difference both to their own futures and their community.”
The UTC, which specialises in IT and construction, cost £10m to build and opened to students last September.
It currently has 100 students, but still has the capacity for another 400.
Cap: Construction student Matthew Greaves, aged 16, with Prince Andrew and Nick Hand, head of construction.
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Dance show crosses the generation divide
Younger learners shared the stage with a group of dancers aged over 60 for a show organised by Richmond-Upon-Thames College.
Second year dance students performed a routine to the song Lost in Paradise, by rock band Evanescence, while first year dance students performed a routine to Money Makes the World Go Around, from the musical Cabaret.
Alena Bennett, a dance lecturer who organised the show, also brought in acts from outside the college including a group of people aged over-60, called Age Of Grace, who did a Charleston-style dance to the song Hot Honey Rag, by Valarie Pettiford. Ms Bennett said: “It was wonderful to showcase all the talented dancers, both young and old, that the local area has.”
Cap: Students performing to Money Makes the World Go Around, from the musical cabaret
Visitors can hardly ‘baa’lieve their eyes as newborn lambs delivered
Visitors to Sparsholt College could have been forgiven for thinking spring had arrived early as they watched agricultural students helping to deliver dozens of new-born lambs.
Members of the public weren’t sheepish as they were welcomed into the Hampshire-based college’s lamb baa-rn during an open weekend.
The college shepherd John Garrett provided a running commentary as a group of eight students delivered 33 lambs under his guidance.
Philip Holroyd-Smith, who organised the event, said: “I can’t imagine there are many opportunities for people to get so close to a new born lamb and to witness one being born is pretty special.
“There were a number of occasions when visitors let out a collective aaah as they saw a new lamb arrive in the world.”
Cap: From left: Student Harry Benney, aged 17, shepherd John Garrett and student Tom Van Oppen, 17, with a newborn lamb
Young volunteers travel to Uganda to help Aids and cancer patients
Winstanley College students who dream of becoming doctors spent three weeks volunteering in Uganda working with Aids and cancer patients.
Catherine Merriman and Hannah Rodrigues, both 18, who are both currently studying maths, biology and chemistry A-levels at the Wigan-based sixth form college, organised the trip themselves.
They were also joined by Catherine’s sister, Hannah, 23, who used to attend the same college.
Hannah said: “Shadowing nurses and witnessing the administration of morphine for those with HIV, Aids and terminal cancers had a profound impact on me.”
Catherine said: “It was extremely challenging and I quickly became aware of the influence of poverty and culture on the accessibility and delivery of health care.
“It was also a great opportunity to practice my French while interacting with Congolese patients at a local hospital.”
Cap: Catherine Merriman (back left) and Hannah Rodrigues (back row, second from right) at the day care centre with Catherine’s sister Hannah (centre front), another young volunteer from England and children suffering from cancer, HIV/Aids and other illnesses
Going Gaga for talented young singer Georgia
A winning rendition of Lady Gaga’s hit song Speechless left the audience at the MidKent College talent final lost for words.
Georgia Murray, aged 18, received a standing ovation following her performance, which saw her beat 16 other MidKent’s Got Talent finalists to win the annual competition.
Street dancer Harry Rowe, 18, from Maidstone, and dance collective Urban Vibe clinched second and third place, respectively.
Other acts included a circus skills performer, a gymnast, several singers, a live band and another dancer.
Students Union president Matt Stanley, who was a member of the judging panel, said: “It was difficult to pick a winner from so many talented students, but I think Georgia deservedly came out on top.
“She has an amazing voice and makes singing seem so effortless.”
Cap: Georgia Murray with her winner’s certificate
The Education and Training Foundation ~ an introduction
Download your free copy of the FE Week 16-page introduction to the Education and Training Foundation.
Click here to download (5 mb)
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Introduction
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has a tough job ahead of it.
Not only does it need to spread the word about its existence, it needs to convince sceptics of its necessity in an industry which knows what it wants.
With this supplement, we hope to aid the ETF in that first task.
Although the organisation officially started its life August last year, our focus is on its direction under the stewardship of new chief executive David Russell, who is profiled in the pages which follow.
We also hope to spell out the ETF’s approach with its expert panels, and will introduce you to its board and tell you a bit of the backstory.
As part of our work to introduce you to the ETF, we carried out a survey of members of the sector, the results of which have revealed some interesting things about how the fledgling organisation is perceived and the areas of the industry which seem most engaged with it so far.
The responses may have come from a variety of people in different areas of the sector, but one thing is very clear from their answers — the word hasn’t spread as far as it needs to just yet.
Of 234 people questioned on the progress of the ETF so far, 41 per cent said they did not know how the organisation was progressing, while 13 per cent said they did not even know what the ETF was.
Another point made crystal clear by those who responded to the survey was that ETF’s engagement needs to be thorough and wide-ranging.
Of 234 respondents to a question about who the organisation should be working most closely with, 55 per cent said people in all roles should be involved.
And 69 per cent of respondents said the ETF should be using social media, newsletters by post or email and its website to reach people across the sector.
Of the 192 survey respondents who told us what their job role was, 33 per cent said they were heads of departments, 20 per cent were directors, 15 per cent were curriculum managers and just over 10 per cent were managing directors. The rest were tutors, lecturers and principals.
Most responses came from FE colleges (49 per cent) and independent learning providers (34 per cent).
The results tell us a lot of things, but mostly affirm a view across the sector that the ETF, like any organisation, must prove itself, and that Mr Russell has got a bigger job ahead of him than simply finding the paper clips.
Edition 91: Julie Robinson, Steve Whitehead
Greater Manchester independent learning provider has appointed a new chief executive.
Julie Robinson has taken the helm at Bolton-based Alliance Learning having risen through the ranks from sales and marketing manager 20 years ago.
She started her career at Gullick Dobson as an office junior before joining Alliance Learning in 1994 as a sales and marketing officer.
Wigan born Ms Robinson graduated through the management structure, reaching the post of deputy chief executive in 2006.
She saw Alliance achieve a satisfactory, or grade three (renamed requires improvement), Ofsted rating in 2010 under the leadership of Steve Whitehead.
“Throughout my 20 years at Alliance Learning I have gained extensive knowledge of the organisation and its business,” she said.
“The staff at Alliance Learning are truly outstanding in terms of commitment to their learners and to our organisation and this has recently reflected in our outstanding success rates of over 90 per cent and being graded as a good provider in all areas of curriculum by the education watchdog in July 2013.
“Alliance Learning has already devised the blueprint which will ensure outstanding inspection results at the next inspection.”
Ms Robinson takes over from previous Alliance chief Mr Whitehead, who left after seven years to become head of education and skills at Blackburn-based Training 2000.
Before that, he spent almost 15 years with Accrington-based North Lancs Training Group.
Steve Gray, chief executive at Training 2000, said: “Our company is on a journey of continuous improvement and Steve’s new appointment will allow the company to look into ways to develop our provision, ensuring that we can continue to invest in staff and facilities.
“As an ex-apprentice, Steve will be a great ambassador for young people and will play a key role in promoting the value of apprenticeships to employers.”
If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your college or training provider, please let us know by emailing news@feweek.co.uk