Carshalton College is celebrating after scooping a top award.

The college has won the Website Category at the College Marketing Network’s 2011 FE First Awards following the launch of its new website earlier this year.

They were congratulated on their strategy to engage key markets, relevant and up to date content and achieving the outcome under budget.

Rob Simpson, web and creative manager at the college, said: “It was an exciting project to be involved with.

“The preparation included a week filming at the college to provide a real insight in to college life with students and business partners talking about their experience and a virtual tour is now available

“We wanted to provide an interactive and fresh website to capture visitor’s interest and make information accessible to get all their answers about the college in one place.”

Students put on a dazzling display for their Christmas panto – oh yes they did!

Lewisham College last week played host to six shows of their stage showpiece, The Awe-Ful Tale of Cinderella.

The performance was made all the more impressive with the fact they have only been at the institute since September.

Drama tutor Karla Ptacek said: “The most important thing to remember is that the majority of our actors are first year students and they’ve barely been here 12 weeks.

“They’ve got to sing, act, dance and have the right comic timing amongst 70 other students

“To pull that off is an incredible accomplishment and the audience are really loving it.

“It’s a win-win. We perform these for the community and our local schools, especially in Deptford, come every year and these students get to partake in a Christmas celebration.

“It builds links and we’re really proud of it.”

York College has announced a partnership with a theatrical production company.

Over the coming months, students will be involved in supporting York Mystery Plays, using a variety of skills learned on college courses.

Liz Moon, head of marketing at the college, said: “York College can offer much needed support towards the 2012 production.

“To kick-start the process tutors and students will lead workshops during York Residents’ Festival weekend, highlighting a range of skills needed to bring the Mystery Playsto life.

“For example at the Yorkshire Museum residents can ‘Have a go’ at media make-up techniques, prop making and biblical crafts.

“Also, watch out for the College’s Performing Arts students who will be in the city centre engaging residents in a medieval dance flashmob experience.”

Liam Evans-Ford, community producer of the York Mystery Plays, added: “I am delighted York College has become a leading educational partner.

“The students’ many talents will benefit the production enormously.”

TV star Mathew Horne was on hand to open a college’s new £1.2 million centre.

The Gavin and Stacey actor offered words of wisdom to the students of Lakes College when he joined for the opening of a new 14 – 19 special education centre.

The centre focuses on enhancing the development of the provision and students with learning difficulties or disabilities.

It will be the main base for the college’s vocational arts offer which includes the college’s new performing arts programmes.

Mathew said: “I sincerely hope the work that is going to be here can give people the experience and creative satisfaction I had at a very young age and inspiration to believe it can be done – or, if not that, at very least a sense of friendship and fun.”

Principal Cath Richardson said: “We were delighted to welcome Mathew to join us in our celebrations for the launch of the new centre. His advice has proved to be very inspiring to the students.”

A college is celebrating the fact that a group of its rugby players were selected to join a national training camp.

Nine of Myerscough College’s Rugby Academy gained one of the fourteen places available in the Northern Region, to join the England Colleges’ Rugby Men’s Squad.

The England Colleges Men’s squad is made up of players who have successfully taken part in the regional trials process.

They represent the best further education colleges rugby has to offer and will represent their college and their country in internationals against the Portuguese U18’s, Irish Exiles and the Welsh Colleges.

Myerscough’s Academy course leader Rod Murray said: “Everyone here is so happy for the boys.

“We’re especially proud that nine out of the fourteen Northern Region places have gone to our Academy students.

“It shows the level of talent we have here at Myerscough College and proves that our training methods and techniques are working.

“Hopefully next year we can get a clean sweep with all fourteen places.”

An online portal for the teaching of guitar, bass and drums has been developed at Weston College.

As well as coming in to college for one-to-one lessons, students on Music Practice courses can experience tuition online and via an iPad app called iTutorus, developed by college music technician Richard King.

Music courses curriculum manager Paul Raymond said the online lessons and accompanying app were created in response to the demands of a growing number of students.

He said: “We know that many people, especially younger musicians, learn techniques from websites like YouTube.

“While these can be good they’re not always accurate and so we recognised the need to create something that was just as accessible but of exceptionally high quality.”

Students using the iPad app can watch the tutorial and upload their own efforts for marking.

A college has set up a secret Santa appeal to aid homeless people enrolled on its courses and in the local area.

This Christmas, learners and staff at Grimsby Institute can donate Christmas gifts and food for Christmas Hampers for homeless learners in Grimsby.

Stuart Owen, Communications Officer for the Grimsby Institute Group said: “Many of these homeless young people are from the Grimsby YMCA, the Foyer, the Community House and Door Step and they won’t be celebrating Christmas with family or loved ones.

He added: “We have also identified a need at the Grimsby Women’s Refuge where there are currently 14 women and 27 children, who have no home, no personal possessions and no family.”

The Instititute has asked local businesses to help contribute to this Christmas Appeal by donating stock, or gift vouchers to help increase its impact.

Performing arts students at Warrington Collegiate sang ‘Halleluyah’ when the Christmas Coca-Cola lorry visited their local supermarket.

More than a dozen learners performed an excerpt from the college’s upcoming production, ‘Seussical – The Musical’, in hailstorm conditions as the iconic truck arrived at Tesco.

Sindy Richardson, Curriculum Manager for Performing Arts at Warrington Collegiate, said: “It was a great opportunity to showcase the student’s talents.

“Despite the wintry weather our students rose to the occasion and gave the Coca-Cola truck a warm welcome.”

Warrington Collegiate will be performing ‘Seussical – The Musical’, the hit Broadway show, between the 9th and 22nd of January.

“As far as I can tell a two week run of a musical is a UK first for an FE college,” said James Baker, Course Leader at Warrington Collegiate.

Mr Baker added: “The fact that we’re running Seussical for an impressive sixteen shows allows students to gain essential skills for this tough industry.

“They aspire to be top class professional actors and this is truly a reality experience.”

Students are celebrating after their college was awarded a prestigious accolade by the London 2012 Inspire, presented by Olympic silver medalist Steve Cram.

Havering College of Further and Higher Education has been granted the Inspire Mark for its project to stage a unique performance at the London Palladium, having met the values of the Olympics and Paralympics.

The show, titled Inspiration, promises to be a breathtaking spectacular with college students and pupils from east London schools performing in the West End alongside the characters from Sesame Street’s live touring show, Elmo Makes Music.

It is the brainchild of lecturer in music Peter Dayson whose previous musical productions have won international awards.

Mr Dayson said: “To gain Inspire Mark recognition for our project is a very exciting achievement for the college.

“We are extremely proud to be part of the Cultural Olympiad and believe the production will inspire our young people and leave a legacy of ambition beyond 2012.”

Seb Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Inspiration is encouraging young people to fulfil their potential.

“I am proud that with the help of partners such as Havering College, we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in the cultural arts.”