More than 100 media students in the East Midlands could be shooting straight to the heart of the film industry with on-the-job training.

Learners at New College Nottingham will have the chance to work on real camera shoots after production company Skeleton Productions pledged to offer a student a placement on every one of their shoots. Broadcast media student David Whitaker, who has already worked with Skeleton Productions, said: “I got so much out of it – getting on-the-ground experience in this industry is so difficult but hugely important to help me progress onto my first job. This is great opportunity and I can’t wait to go and do another shoot soon.”

The company averages five shoots a week, and students will be able to take part in all aspects of the creative planning, filming and editing processes.

Skeleton Productions co-founder Jonathan English said: “It’s important that we play our role in nurturing the creative talent of the future, inspiring students to stay in Nottingham and support the city’s hugely successful creative industries.”

Two young photographers in Cheshire had their work snapped up in a flash by a leading photography website.

Paige Haig, 17, and Callum Blithell, 18, both from Crewe and studying at South Cheshire College, won awards when they submitted their photos to competitive online photo community Pixoto. The pair put their photos on Pixoto as part of a live project brief for their BTec level three photography course.

Paige’s image of a pier stretching out into the water in the Lake District was named photo of the day in its category and was rated in the top 15 per cent of all photos on the site.

Paige said: “I feel very pleased to be honoured in the category I entered and it has definitely given me a lot more confidence.

“It has been good experience submitting photographs to competitions and seeing how you fare against some great photographers.”

Callum managed to capture a busy motorway and was awarded both photo of the day and photo of the week in his category.

Callum said: “It has been fun to enter this Pixoto competition and great to see my work online.”

Trainee jewellers in London polished up their history knowledge on one of the city’s hidden gems for a documentary project.

Jewellery students from Kensington and Chelsea College teamed up with filmmakers Digital: Works to produce a film about Hatton Garden, London’s jewellery quarter and the heart of the UK diamond trade.

As part of the Heritage Lottery Fund-backed project, students were given a tour of the area by historian Rachel Lichtenstein and conducted interviews with craftspeople, residents, and metal and gem suppliers.

Jewellery student Chris Townsend, 37, said the project was an invaluable experience for himself and his classmates.

He added: “It’s not often you meet and interview some of the finest crafts people in the industry. This film has given us that opportunity.

“Hearing their stories and experiences of living and working in Hatton Garden has been fascinating.”

The film, which began shooting in January, will premiere in April.

Chris added: “We’re hoping people
enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

Young chefs in Cheshire demonstrated their skills were on fire when they competed at the Welsh Culinary Championships.

Of the 30 catering students from Macclesfield College competing at the event in Llandrillo, North Wales, 28 came away with medals or certificates, including five silver awards, nine bronzes and 12 certificates of merit.

“We’re immensely proud of the achievements of our students, all of whom performed brilliantly at the event and were a credit to the college,” said curriculum leader Mark Boswell.

The Macclesfield team’s speciality at the competition was flambé, with Anton Partington, 16, winning best in class for his flambé main course and Whitney Jennings, 17, winning the same for her flambé dessert.

Whitney, along with fellow student Josh Singleton, 21, also received a silver award in the open category, which invites entries from experienced professionals as well as learners.

Mr Boswell said: “It is incredible that both Whitney and Josh received such high awards in the open class, which includes other people who have been in the industry for much, much longer.

“To get silver awards in that category deserves a great amount of credit.”

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw dropped in on a Yorkshire college and praised it as an “example to others”.

The four-hour visit, on Friday, February 22, to Hull College involved meeting staff and students and came four years after it got outstanding across the board following inspection.

Sir Michael said: “The college has certainly impressed me. It is my third visit to a college and it was a heart-warming experience.

“I have spoken to the students and the staff and all of them have said how much they enjoy working here, being here and learning here.

“This is a shining beacon of good practice and one of the issues we have just discussed is how we can disseminate that good practice to other institutions.”

Hull College chief executive Gary Warke said: “We’re very proud of our students and staff and all that they achieve, and the fact Sir Michael has gone away with such a positive impression of the organisation will only serve as motivation to continue striving even harder.”

Lincolnshire students got the chance to strut their stuff when their college brought a little bit of London Fashion Week to town.

Hairdressing students at North Lindsey College, in Scunthorpe, were tasked with designing hair, make-up and costumes to illustrate a chosen theme  for a contest judged by lecturer Hazel Wheatley and local experts Sarah Cockin and Julie Joyce.

The level one winner, Emily Bushell, 17, created a peacock look for Laura Richardson, 18 (pictured above).  She said she wanted to base her design around a bird whose “vibrant colours” she had always loved.

Other entries included designs inspired by Salvador Dali, an African warrior, a parrot and Alice in Wonderland.

Students in Hampshire said ‘hola’ to GCSE learners from a nearby school with a joint trip to Spain.

Alton College youngsters were joined by pupils from Amery Hill School as they visited Cadiz to experience local culture and develop their language skills.

AS-level student Fin Loh, 16, said: “This experience brought our Spanish lessons to life. It will be hard to forget such an enjoyable insight into Spanish culture.”

The students stayed with families in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, studied at a language school and enjoyed the local sights including a much-loved local carnival.

Olga Culebras, head of Spanish at both Alton College and Amery Hill School, said: “Once again our students were great ambassadors for both the school and college.

“People in the south of Spain have a great sense of humour and our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

A young North Somerset ceramic artist will be helping schoolchildren’s ideas take root.

Hazel Jackson, 25, a Weston College third year degree student, will work with lecturer Simon Taylor to create a ceramic ‘tree of life’ for the spiritual garden.

It will take pride of place at Worlebury St Paul’s CofE Primary School.

The ‘tree’, measuring 6ft x 5ft, will consist of seven ceramic friezes each based on Bible-inspired pictures drawn by pupils at the school.

Hazel said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the children and creating a wonderful work of art.”

The children’s designs will be voted on by parents, governors and church members.

Simon said: “The tree of life project is so exciting. It provides an opportunity for pupils to showcase their creative talents that will be combined with Hazel’s designs and made into a ceramic sculpture to enhance the school’s spiritual garden.”

Head teacher Gillian Quick said the project would commemorate the school’s expansion this year.

She added: “The theme of the Creation was chosen because of our Church school ethos, and will involve all of our children and school community.”

Staff and students from Doncaster have kicked off a training regime to tackle a charity five-a-side football match against former pro stars.

The Doncaster College learners and lecturers are taking part in the Team of Steel tournament organised by Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity as part of their Do Your Bit Campaign.

The competition will see them compete against former Sheffield United FC players at the club’s ground.

Tina Harrison, acting deputy director of the charity, said: “Weston Park Hospital is Doncaster’s local specialist cancer hospital so it is fantastic the college is supporting the work of the charity in this way.”

Team organiser and Doncaster College course leader Paul Kellaway said his previous work for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals had made him aware of the ground-breaking research done at Weston Park Hospital.

He added: “Having this prior knowledge further motivated me to become the driving force behind putting a team together for the tournament.

“My mum, Dorothy, who is now in remission, has had both surgery and chemotherapy for non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma at Weston Park Hospital.

“It is time we defeated this devastating disease and its sometimes tragic consequences for patients, families and friends.”