Midlands students had the chance to live life in the fast lane when they qualified at the first round of the MCE British Superbike Championship.

Motorcyclists, twins and Black Country UTC students Matthew and Kurt Wigley represented the UTC and were accompanied by four fellow engineering students, who gained valuable hands-on experience as the pitcrew.

The brothers have been racing motorbikes since the age of six.

Pit crew member Laura Myatt said: “The first race of the season helped us gain a lot of experience and it was exciting to be involved in the preparation to the races.

“It was interesting to learn how the brake lines work and we now have a better understanding of the technology.”

Two students also got to visited the garage of one of the top Superbike teams to get a better idea of the key roles in a larger pit crew.

Featured image caption: Twin brothers Matthew (far left) and Kurt Wigley (far right) and their pit-crew classmates

A college catering assistant honoured in the new year is now looking forward to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. She’s just hoping the sun will shine, writes Rebecca Cooney

A college catering assistant from Romford has received a British Empire Medal and has been invited to tea with the Queen.

Sandra Coats, 57, has worked at Barking and Dagenham College for six years and was mentioned in the Queen’s New Year honours list for her outstanding contribution to the college.

“It was a lovely feeling, I’m just so pleased to be recognised It’s nice to be appreciated sometimes when you work hard,” she said.

Sandra was presented with her medal by Sir David Brewer, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, at a special ceremony held at the Tower of London.

Her husband, daughter and her daughter’s partner went with her.

“It was such a special day. It is something I will never forget,” she added.

But there is still more excitement to come, as Sandra has also received an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.

“I can’t wait to go to the palace — the letter said the Queen and other members of the royal family would be there,” she said. “The weather will be a bit nicer as well.”

A letter arrived last November, telling Sandra she had been nominated for an honour, but that she wouldn’t know for certain until December.

“It said it was confidential and I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone,” she said, admitting she found that a bit of a challenge.

She had been nominated by the college principal, Cathy Walsh.

“When I eventually told Cathy about the medal, she said she was so pleased,” said Sandra. “She told me that she’d nominated me because I deserved it.”

A college spokesperson, Anne Vessey said: “We are so proud of Sandra. The dedication and care she shows to all our students at Barking and Dagenham is very special. Her honour is our honour.”

Sandra serves breakfast and lunch, as well as cater for special events.

“I do really long hours, so I think it is well deserved,” she said. “It’s so nice for Cathy to notice and appreciate me though.”

She might admit to long days but said that she loved her job.

Her colleagues were all “very pleased” for her, she said. She planned to take in her medal to show it to them and to students.

She said she will hold on to and treasure her memories of the year.

“I’ve kept everything, all the letters that have come through right from November from the lieutenant and everything, I’ve got it all in a folder,” said Sandra.

“I feel really special at the moment and don’t want the fairytale to end.”

Featured image caption: Barking & Dagenham College catering assistant Sandra Coats, wears her British Empire Medal, with Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir David Brewer CMG JP, at the Tower of London ceremony

Bracknell & Wokingham College students spent two weeks in Kenya helping to renovate two primary schools.

The 19 learners, who study a range of A-level and vocational subjects including construction, health and social care, travel and tourism, childcare and uniformed public services, built a security fence and painted classrooms at one school, and rebuilt classroom walls and helped local students with their lessons at the other.

Uniformed public services student Esmee Sturges, 18, said: “At the end of the trip the look on all the children’s and teachers’ faces is something that I will never forget, they were so grateful for what we had done in their school. I am so glad I had the chance to take part in this experience.”

But it wasn’t all work: the students also saw Kenya’s beauty up close when they went on safari.

Featured image caption: Access to nursing and health professions student Kirsty Morton, 27, and travel and tourism student Susannah Jones, 17, put the local mud-based building techniques into action at the Jubilee Academy, Kenya

A Warrington Collegiate performing arts student impressed judges at a contemporary arts evening with a piece inspired by Australian dancer Lloyd Newson.

Zac Hancock, 17, from Orford, directed and performed Who? in the  main reception area — including the lift — of the town’s Pyramid centre.

Rachael Nelson, tutor and course leader for dance at Warrington Collegiate, said: “This set of pieces, delivered in unusual settings, rather than a conventional stage, is diverse, challenging and innovative. It demonstrates the creative talents of the students.

“The work was of university level . . .  the students surpassed what can be expected at advanced level.”

The mini-performances were judged by Janey Moran and Derek Dick, representing Warrington Culture, a charitable trust. The judges said they were impressed by Zac’s piece and his “clever use of movement and word”. They said it worked “extremely well” in the chosen setting.

Featured image caption: Performing arts students Joseph Connolly, 19 (back), and Zac Hancock, 17

A Holocaust survivor’s tale of how his family escaped Nazi Germany was at the heart of the build-up to Diversity Week at Canterbury College.

John Izbicki, 82, told about 50 students of his family’s survival through Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass) when Jewish premises throughout Germany, including his parents’ haberdashery shop, were attacked.

His family hid in the ruins of a torched synagogue and had a close call with a Gestapo officer who caught John’s father but decided to let him go. Eventually all the family members made it to the UK.

The former Telegraph journalist said the message he wanted to put across was “don’t let it happen again”.

A-level student Nikki Welch, 17, said: “It was really moving to hear stories about the war from somebody who was there.”

Classmate Tasha Sleeman, 18, said: “He encouraged us to think about the horrors of yesterday in order to make tomorrow better.”

Featured image caption: John Izbicki (centre) with Canterbury College students, from left: Steph Bailes, 17, Tasha Sleeman, 18, Ben Gardiner, 16, and Nikki Welch, 17

Yorkshire painting and decorating students brushed up their skills to give a hotel ballroom a makeover.

The level one, two and three learners from Doncaster College had four weeks to transform the Danum Hotel’s “old lady” to meet the deadline for prebooked wedding receptions.

Lecturer Neil Preskey said students got site experience and practised specialist skills. “Plus, we want to build relationships with the community and help local businesses so it was an excellent project to do,” he said.

The learners carried out all the work, from risk assessments, health and safety, through basic preparation to high level skills such as gold leafing.

They chose a ‘classic modern’ colour scheme of browns and off-whites.

Danum general manager Dawn McCabe said: “It looks wonderful and it’s given the ‘old lady’ extra life… so a massive thank you.”

Featured image caption: The Danum Hotel ballroom after its month-long makeover

Souks, snow and the Sahara were all part of a six-day Moroccan adventure for geography students from Hampshire.

The 23 A-level students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College went camel trekking, slept in a nomad’s tent, ate a traditional feast under the stars, and visited the snow-capped Atlas mountains and  movie-location town of Ouarzazate.

Student Alex Ross, 17, said: “You’re in the desert on Tuesday and by Thursday you’re high in the Atlas mountains with snow around you.  The variety in the landscape is incredible and getting to see so much of it was awesome.”

The trip started and ended in Marrakesh, allowing students to explore the city.

Natalie Horsfall, 16, said:  “It was unbelievable to experience a new culture and country the way that we did. Not many people can say they rode a camel in the Sahara Desert and slept there. It was mind-blowing.”

Featured image caption: Barton Peveril A-level geography students in Marrakesh

Young designers in Cheshire raised eyebrows and money for charity when their work was shown at their college’s annual catwalk show.

Volunteer models wore creations by A-level textile and BTec art and design students at Priestley College, with all entry fees donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust and the college’s education fund.

Tutor Emma Lingard said: “All the pieces were experimental, but we encourage that at this stage because it is a good time for the students to be learning about materials and different techniques.”

Inspired by themes such as memories, organic structures, the urban environment, architecture and recycling, students used traditional methods and materials alongside some more unusual ones such as plastic, wood, wire and paper.

At the end of the show, Sian Day of the Teenage Cancer Trust talked about its work to build specialist hospital units for young people with cancer.

Featured image caption: Volunteer models, back row, from left: Hannah Broadbent, 16, Gemma Irvine, 18, Natalie Hassall, Lauren Muir, both 17 and Alicia Blackwell Edwards, 19. Front row: Alan Dodd, Lloyd Jones, both 17 , Dominic Saulte, Joe Thomas, both 18