Practical skills students are putting together an off-road buggy to learn how motor vehicles are constructed.

The South Cheshire College entry level learners have just two weeks to learn how to read technical diagrams,  use a range of different tools, and how to solve problems on their own.

Lecturer Matt Duncalf said: “This fantastic project will enrich the students’ time at the college.”

The group will record their progress by producing a step-by-step construction guide that will include photos.

The course is part of a programme for students with learning difficulties and disabilities that gives them the chance to learn key life skills in a realistic setting.

Featured image caption: From left: Learner mentor Martin Downey, lecturer Matt Duncalf, students Josh Turner, 17, Chris Williams, 20, Jordan Robbins, 18, and Kieran Woolrich, 19, and technician Martin Apps

Staff at a London college gave away free copies of their favourite books to mark World Book Night.

Richmond upon Thames College library staff Helen Berry, Melanie Jones and Patricia Nicholls,  with  Cait Orton of student services, joined 20,000 others across the UK and Ireland as nominated ‘book givers’ who were sent free copies of their favourite book to give away.

“World Book Night is about sharing great works of literature and giving people the chance to read books they may not ordinarily be exposed to,” said Cait.

“The students here were really keen to become involved in the scheme and I’m hopeful that they will continue to pass the books on to friends and family to enjoy in the future.”

The staff chose The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness and Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges by John Wagner.

Featured image caption: International baccalaureate student Jordan Graham, 17, displays her free book alongside college staff  members and World Book Day donators Cait Orton, Melanie Jones, Patricia Nicholls and Helen Berry

A young London tailor has won the Rising Star Silver Shears Award at the ‘Oscars’ of tailoring.

Yan Zhang, 22, from East Ham, who recently completed a fashion degree at Havering College of Further and Higher Education, scooped the prize at the Golden Sheers Awards at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London’s Threadneedle Street.

Yan said: “I would really like a job in fashion tailoring. The course at Havering included a major project on tailoring with our suits being showcased at Alternative Fashion Week in Spitalfields.”

Yan impressed judges, including fashion entrepreneur Lloyd Johnson, fashion writer Hilary Alexander, actress Joanna Lumley, chef Raymond Blanc and The Apprentice’s Nick Hewer, with her tweed jacket and pleated mini-skirt. Havering College curriculum manager for fashion Marie Loney said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Yan.”

Featured image caption: Joanne Lumley with award winner Yan Zhang and Creative Skillset executive director Kate O’Connor 

A group of 12 hair and beauty students from Warwickshire College have been visiting Warwick Hospital to offer massages, manicures and hairstyling to patients.

The learners are working with Kissing It Better, a national charity that enables local community members to use their specialist skills to make a difference to the care of patients and carers in hospitals and care homes.

Carole Richardson, technical academy manager for hair and beauty at Warwickshire College, said: “We are thrilled with the initial success of our partnership with Kissing it Better and hope this continues for years to come.

“It’s extremely rewarding to see the smiles on the patients’ faces, and it’s fantastic to see our students developing their skills in a very different environment.”

Featured image caption: Ellie Cox, 16, gives a manicure to a patient in Warwick Hospital

 

A team from Kent police has visited trainee special constables at MidKent college to assess how well they are preparing for their voluntary duties.

The team tested the group of public services students — all training to become volunteer police officers — on their stop-and-search techniques, and vehicle and open ground searches. Among the team of officers was former MidKent student and special constable, Chris Williams, who, like many of the trainees, hopes to become a regular officer.

He said: “I found my time at MidKent really useful as the course gave me a real insight into the police and helped me to decide that it was the career I wanted.

“Being a special constable doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll make it as a regular police officer, but hopefully through training and hard work, that’s what will happen.”

Featured image caption: From left:  Michael Baker, 16, Cheniece Richmond, 17, special constable, Chris Williams, 19, Grace Cook and Matthew Wills, both 17

A London music student has been accepted on to a four-year course at a prestigious American college.

Kacey Chambers, 19 and studying for a BTec extended diploma in music at City and Islington College, was persuaded by her tutor to audition for the Berklee College of Music in Boston, which counts 200 Grammy award winners amongst its alumni.

Kacey, from Tottenham, started performing in church when she was just seven.

She said: “It gave me a passion for gospel music and got me used to performing in front of big audiences from a young age.”

She said that her plans for her Boston stint included building up a repertoire within two years.

“I want to be writing my own songs, gigging, and pushing myself each day.

“I want to make music that inspires, encourages and can change people’s lives.”

Featured image caption: Kacey Chambers, who has a place at one of America’s most prestigious music schools

Artwork by a college student in London has been displayed at an exhibition in Monte Carlo organised by the former Empress of Iran.

Mehrak Davoudi, a second-year foundation degree in creative arts student at Barnet and Southgate College, donated her work to the show, as did other Iranian artists. All the exhibits will be auctioned in aid of The Prince Alireza Pahlavi fund for ancient Iran scholarship at Harvard University.

David Byrne, principal of Barnet and Southgate, said: “It’s rare for one of our creative industries students to receive such critical international acclaim while still studying, but this has been the case for Mehrak. We wish her well for the future.”

Mehrak, Iranian by birth, has also lived in France and Holland. Some of her work, which is influenced by Persian culture, is in the private collection of the former empress, Farah Pahlavi.

Featured image caption: Mehrak with one of her digital paintings

Middlesbrough students were given a musical treat when X Factor star Amelia Lily returned to her hometown.

Amelia, who shot to fame after appearing on The X Factor in 2011, belted out hits. You Bring Me Joy and Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got), at Middlesbrough College.

The 18-year-old gave the students an insider’s view of the music industry and told of recording a video in Los Angeles.

Her secret of success? “Practice is key,” she told the students.

“I would practise dancing in my mum’s living room every night. If you can’t dance in the living room go and practise in the garden,” she said.

Trevor Brewis, director of visual and performing arts at the college, said: “We
grab every opportunity to inspire our students. Amelia is a credit to the town
and the talent here.”

Featured image caption: Amelia Lily performs at Middlesbrough College for staff and students

A research trip to Disneyland Paris helped a group of tourism and travel students from the South West to understand how theme parks work.

The 23 Cornwall College students looked at how the parks used branding and set prices to generate profits, and then had the chance to try out the rides and watch parades, laser  displays and firework shows.

Emma White, 17, from Falmouth, who is studying level three travel and tourism, said: “We really got to see how honeypot attractions work and draw you in. It was nice to see a practical side as well as studying the theory in class.”

The students also got a taste of French culture, visiting Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower.

Featured image caption: The Cornwall College students at the entrance of Disneyland Paris