A journalism course run by City of Wolverhampton College has been announced as one of the most successful in the country.

The college was awarded the best performing National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Academic Year FE course during a gala dinner at Belfast City Hall.

It was among five top performing NCTJ accredited centres across the country presented with awards for the highest percentage of students achieving C grade passes or better in all seven NCTJ exams, including 100wpm shorthand.

Programme tutor Sue Green, who was presented with the award by Kim Fletcher, chairman of the NCTJ, said: “It’s brilliant.

“We always work to extremely high standards to achieve the excellent results demanded by the professional awarding body and the newspaper industry.”

Highbury College topped the table for FE fast-track courses.

Joanne Butcher, NCTJ chief executive, said: “All accredited course providers should be congratulated on achieving the high standards the industry looks for.”

A new work placement partnership is enabling student to experience their dream job.

The Health and Social Care Department at Filton College offers students work placements as an integral part of the course.

But until now, they have been unable to fulfil the paramedic career path some student’s desire.

This year the Bristol Ambulance Service joined the college’s list of work placements to the delight of one student in particular.

Hollie Ind (17) has wanted to become a paramedic since she can remember. So when leaving school she knew that the first step was to undertake a level 3 course in Health and Social to enable entry to University.

She said: “Having a work placement at Bristol Ambulance has been amazing.

“I really enjoy getting out on the ambulances and learning about the roles within the ambulance services. Going to Bristol Ambulance has made me even more determined to follow a career as a paramedic.”

Geoff Clarke, operations manager at the Bristol Ambulance Service, said: “It has been a pleasure having Hollie with us so far.

“She shows a good attitude and commitment to her course, she has a great rapport with the staff she works with and shows great care and understanding towards the patients.”

Four sporty students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College’s (NULC) Academy of Sport have been selected to represent England.

Ami Pickerill (18), from Alsager, has been selected for the England Under 19 Netball Europe Squad and the British Colleges Sport England Netball Squad.

Sherry McCue (17), from Market Drayton, was chosen for the Ladies Under 19 England Football Squad.

David Meakin (17), from the Westlands, a scrum half or centre, has been selected for the England Rugby Squad.

Josh Brown (17), from Werrington, progressed through four rounds of trials to get selected for the 22-man England College’s Football Squad.

NULC Academy of Sport Manager Trevor Humphreys said: “This selection is a testament to the hard work and dedication Ami, Sherry and Josh have put in whilst at NULC.”

Pupils with learning difficulties were pampered during a visit to see what their local college has to offer.

Pupils from Queen Elizabeth 2 Silver Jubilee School, in Horsham, which caters for youngsters aged 2 to 19 with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties, visited City College Brighton and Hove to get a flavour of their courses.

While there, they also received pampering courtesy of the college’s Hair & Beauty department. The visit, which also included visits to the college’s Carpentry and Visual Arts departments, was part of the school’s transition programme which helps pupils to identify their future educational and career opportunities.

“The QE2 pupils absolutely loved coming to City College”, said deputy head, Carol Willard.

“It gave them a valuable insight into the type of skills they could learn at a further education college while the free hair and beauty treatments they received were a big bonus too.”

The Mayor of Calderdale was given a first-hand look at the construction trades during a college visit.

Councillor Dr Nader Fekri JP visited the North Halifax Skills Centre at Calderdale College last month. The centre delivers high quality vocational training, through the Construction and Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Academies.

The visit follows a college enrichment visit to the Town Hall where the Mayor expressed an interest in looking around the centre.

Whilst at the centre, the first citizen had a tour of the facilities and presented awards to the Student Learner of the Year, Most Improved Learner and Certificates for 100 per cent attendance.

British Gypsum Plastering Student of the Year was awarded to Mark Ettenfield who achieved high marks in theory and practical units along with distinctions at Levels 1 and 2.

He also worked as an apprentice and has achieved the often difficult task of balancing work and college commitments.

Plastering lecturer Lance Lucas said: “We are really pleased to have the Mayor present our learners with their awards.

“All the students have worked incredibly hard over the past year and it is wonderful for others to come to North Halifax Skills Centre to see their achievements.”

More than 100 students put their creations on the catwalk at college’s charity fashion show.

It was the Barton Peveril Sixth Form College’s 20th annual show, with the 115 students, studying AS and A2 level Textiles, raising money for Breast Cancer Care.

The extravaganza was a compilation of two showcases entitled Kaleidoscopic.

Students were encouraged to explore the traditional and be experimental with more unorthodox materials to create innovative, quirky, one-off garments displaying an exciting mix of colour, texture, silhouette and form.

A collection of ‘deconstructed’ garments also featured in the show, all reinvented and recycled from charity garments and everyday objects.

Each A2 student crafted their ‘deconstructed’ ensemble in a challenging single week of lessons

Many students have successfully continued their textile and fashion studies, gaining places on prestigious courses across the country including London College of Fashion, Central Saint Martins, Derby and De Montfort universities.

The deputy principal of Chesterfield College has been in the stocks to help raise money for Sarcoma UK.

Debra Gray, alongside other senior members of staff, was pelted with soaking sponges as part of a fundraising event held by Mark Lievesley, an inspirational brickwork lecturer diagnosed with the rare Sarcoma form of cancer.

“Everyone at the college has been so supportive,” Mr Lievesley said.

“Loads of people have come along to help raise money, and I think just how everybody has come together is something that needs recognising.”

The event, held over the New Year, has helped Mr Lievesley raise more than £10,000 for the charity.

Trevor Clay, acting principal at Chesterfield College, said: “He’s an inspiration to a lot of people through his experiences and his commitment.

“It has been great to see people rallying around him raising money for this wonderful cause.”

Sarcoma UK is a leading charity offering support to patients with sarcoma, as well as funding medical research and awareness campaigns.

A mature student who thanked City of Bath College for giving him ‘a second chance’ at a career has now returned to pass on his skills as a tutor.

Keith Varney (53) enrolled at college six years ago to take a course in stained and kiln-formed glass, before moving on to the Design Crafts National Diploma, where he found a new talent and the start of successful career in ceramics.

He said: “I loved every minute of the course and found that it was something I was good at.”

Keith has exhibited his work at Tent London – one of the largest design trade shows– and at the Joanna Bird Pottery exhibition in London.

He is currently exhibiting his work at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) gallery and at the Quest Gallery, Margaret Buildings, Bath.

“It’s a real honour to be asked to come back to College and share my knowledge with today’s students,” said Keith.

Doncaster College student Ben Cooke has been offered a work placement at two prestigious restaurants.

The offers came after he attended the Cookery Theatre at the Festive Food and Gift Fair at Doncaster Racecourse in November.

Seventeen-year-old Ben has been given the opportunity to work with chefs at the Ruddington Park and Swinton Park restaurants, as well as the chance to train with the owner of the Indian restaurant Prashad, which won Gordon Ramsey’s best Indian restaurant in 2010.

Ben, along with several other College students, got up on stage and helped top chefs prepare different dishes in front of an on looking audience.

Once the dishes were complete, they were taken around the crowd by the students for them to try what the students had prepared.

Ben is currently studying a VRQ Level 2 in Food and Beverage Service at Doncaster College’s Waterfront Campus.

He said “The Ritz was definitely a good experience for kitchen production because it helps with the pressure of getting things out on time.

“Being there and seeing what they do, it gives you a whole new perspective on how they do it in a bigger industry.”