Most families might have just one black sheep, but at a college in Hampshire, a ewe has given birth to four of them.

The arrival of the black lambs at Sparsholt College is an event so rare it happens once in a generation.

Shepherd John Garrett, who has 35 years’ experience in the industry and worked at the college for the last 23 years, has never seen this many black lambs born at once.

“As with all farmers we are very used to multiple births and our students are
trained to deal with such circumstances,”
he said.

“However, quads are rather rare which does make this latest litter very special.”

The lambs were born to a Suffolk cross ewe and a Welsh black ram.

John added: “I’ve had to wait over 35 years to experience my first quad of black lambs so I hope the agriculture students realise just how fortunate they are.”

Featured image caption: Agriculture students Laura Claxton, 16, and Dan Fellows, 17, with some rare new arrivals

A replica Second World War Spitfire dropped in on learners in Salford to help bring their history A-level to life.

The iconic aircraft was brought into Pendleton Sixth Form Centre by staff from the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Memorial Fund, who restored the plane, who spoke to learners about its history.

Student Katie Bagshaw said: “Seeing the Spitfire in real life helps you to understand what it was like for pilots sitting in the aircraft and feeling how small it is in the cockpit makes you appreciate the conditions they were fighting in.”

It is thought that there are only 75 original Spitfires still flying.

Student Jess Trimble said: “I’ve never seen anything like this before other than in a museum; it’s definitely going to help me visualise and understand the Second World War aspects of our course.”

Featured image caption: Katie Bagshaw, Jess Trimble, Adam Millar, all 18, and Keith Maddox, from Lytham St Annes Spitfire Memorial Fund

It was smiles all round as Skills Minister Matthew Hancock visited a West Midland college.

He toured the £77m Central Campus at Sandwell College, in West Bromwich, and met dental nursing apprentices.

He visited on Friday, May 3, and heard from representatives from Bhandal Dental Practice which is developing a new, employer-led apprenticeship with the college.

Mr Hancock also presented trophies to winners of the college enterprise society Piggy Bank Micro Business Challenge — a competition for eight new student start-ups run for four weeks.

“It’s great to be able to reward and recognise the initiative and enterprise on display in Sandwell College’s Piggy Bank Challenge. It’s this originality that proves what is on offer linking further education to enterprise,” he said.

College principal Val Bailey said: “We are very pleased to welcome the minister, to show him the state-of-the-art facilities on offer at Central Campus and in particular how we are developing employer-led apprenticeship programmes to meet evolving demand.”

Featured image caption: Sandwell College dental nursing apprentices Danniella Wyatt, 20, and Charlotte Rae, 22, brush up on their skills with tutor Janyne Rogers and Skills Minister Matthew Hancock

A foundation learning student from Kent has raised £200 by organising, hosting and performing in a charity concert.

Drummer Philip Nelson, 18, who has a mild form of cerebral palsy, staged the bash in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford.

He said: “We had several really good acts and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so it was a good night in my eyes.

“I think the concert proved that just because somebody is disabled, it doesn’t mean they’re not capable of doing the same things able-bodied people are.”

Philip put the concert together with help from his classmate Daniel Rice, 17, from Maidstone, who inspired Philip’s choice of charity.

“A relative of his who passed away recently was cared for by staff at the hospice,” said Philip.

“He wanted to do something to say thank-you, and this is what we came up with.”

Featured image caption: Philip Nelson organised, hosted and drummed in the charity show

The foundations of WorldSkills success have been laid Down Under for a 20-year-old Cheshire student.

Former Warrington Collegiate apprentice bricklayer Ashley Terron, who now studies construction and property management at the University of Salford, took gold at the Global Skills Challenge in Australia.

The competition is seen as a warm-up for July’s WorldSkills in Leipzig — where he will also be aiming for gold having already been selected for the UK team bound for Germany.

“I’m over the moon,” said Ashley, from Appleton, near Warrington.

“The competition was the fiercest I’ve ever faced so I’m delighted to win gold. I’ll now be training hard to make sure I win gold at WorldSkills.”

Paul Gould, curriculum manager for construction and the built environment at Warrington Collegiate, said: “From the start I knew that Ashley would do well. He was an exceptional student, talented and totally focused on being the best. I have high hopes of his achieving gold at Leipzig in the summer.”

Featured image caption: Former Warrington Collegiate bricklaying apprentice Ashley Terron competing in Australia

Cheshire media students struck gold in a college competition to create a local radio news show, winning a Golden Radio award.

Teams at South Cheshire College researched their project by listening to local radio stations and used college studios to produce their shows, which were then judged by their classmates and media tutor Jeffrey Fox.

The winning team, Libby Lovell, 16, Ian Macdonald, Katie Wright, and Charlie Bickerton, all 17, chose to produce a show aimed at younger listeners, who they felt were not always targeted by mainstream broadcasters.

Katie, from Crewe, said: “This was a fantastic project and gave us great experience of working as a team and using the college’s broadcast and editing facilities.”

The winners were presented with an Oscar-style golden radio as a trophy.

Jeffrey said: “The students all showed great professionalism and dedication throughout the project, exploring an area of media that was completely new to them.”

Featured image caption: Libby Lovell, Ian Macdonald, Katie Wright and Charlie Bickerton

Young dancers in Yorkshire have staged a dance showcase to raise money for a charity that helps children born with severe eye problems.

The level three dance and musical theatre students from Doncaster College raised £700 with the show, entitled ‘Through our eyes’, which was donated to MACS, the Micro and Anophthalmic Children’s Society, which supports children born without eyes or with underdeveloped eyes, and their families.

Marie Wroe, show organiser and performing arts course leader, said: “The charity came to our attention when a fellow college lecturer’s baby was diagnosed with microphthalmia at only three weeks old in 2012, so it was important for us to raise money and awareness.”

The charity aims to help families affected by the condition have a sense of normality in their lives, by running family days and weekends, where those affected can meet and support each other, as well as providing specialist equipment.

Featured image caption: The troupe of dance and musical  theatre learners who performed in the charity show

Business Secretary Vince Cable helped Nissan and West Thames College to launch an apprenticeship that will shape the future of car design.

Dr Cable was joined at the car firm’s European design centre in Paddington, London, by Andy Palmer, Nissan executive vice president, to unveil the clay modelling apprenticeship programme.

The scheme is designed to address a national shortage in skilled sculptors who give form to the vision of car designers.

Dr Cable met the first three apprentices — Sanny Kumar, 18, Joanna Bond, 19, and Robert Bennett, 23. They were selected from more than 900 applicants.

Joanna said: “Clay modelling is a very specialist role and not a job you can just walk into. This apprenticeship is giving me the opportunity to get my qualifications and go straight into work.”

College principal Marjorie Semple said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with Nissan on this amazing project. This fills a gap in the industry and opens up fantastic opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in this sector.”

Featured image caption: Business Secretary Vince Cable meets West Thames College and Nissan apprentices (from left) Robert Bennett, Joanna Bond, and Sanny Kumar. Also pictured is one of Dr Cable’s ministerial aides