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Issue 20 – Winter 2015
Welcome to the
This is the students’ magazine and your voice…
In our first edition of this year we will introduce you to some essential services. You can also read some articles submitted by our students. Have you got an article you would like to share?
Don’t delay, send it us today!
Here are a few topic areas to get you thinking... Short stories, poetry, film/dvd reviews, interviews with tutors, favourite recipes, photography, local community projects, sports reviews, politics, world news, economy, health, science, art work/designs, entertainment and news.
Will you be finishing your HE course this year? If so, now is the time to start thinking about your next steps.
Let your imagination run wild! Still Interested? Email nicola.thomson@bournville.ac.uk or pop into the Activities office Urban Chill
Calling all HE Students! If you will be looking for a job or graduate scheme after your course, then the Careers Team Job Alert Service can help you. We can help you to find vacancies and graduate schemes that are specific to your industry and notify you of the vacancies via email. We can also support you with application forms and mock interviews.
If you would like to register your details for job alerts, please email Beckie Byrne at bhired@bournville.ac.uk with your name, course and details of the jobs you are looking for
Look forward to hearing from you.
Students supporting the community This is the second year supported learning students have worked with Dean Paul, a Birmingham City Council ranger and Jasmine Fields Friends Group in Kings Heath. Last year the students completed the first stage of the project. This year the students have moved onto Level 1 unit, in Path Construction and are completing phase 2 of a 4 phase project. The path enables site users to walk around safely without fear of slips, trips or falls as it is a muddy site with over grown verges. It has been down to the use of the College mini bus which has given Land Based students the opportunities to work on the project. Work-right students will be helping to plant 1000 trees at Lickey Hills as part of a green space project and further 2000 trees over the next 2 months so watch this space‌
Wendy Harris | Lecturer, Land Based Industries
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Student Services Team
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How long have you worked at Bournville College? Part time - nearly six years. What was your previous job? Primary school teacher. What do you like to do in your spare time? Spend time with my family - try to keep fit. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? My role in college gives me the opportunity to work with students from a vast number of different curriculum areas. My wonderful colleagues keep me going!
How long have you worked at Bournville College? I started working at Bournville College in January 2007, so I have just had my 8 year anniversary. What was your previous job? Leaving school I went to catering college and became a chef. I worked as a chef until 2006 when I left work to complete my BA (Hons) Degree at University. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I like decorating, shopping, socialising and spending time with my family. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? It’s a nice place to work. I enjoy working with students and organising activities. I also like working alongside my team.
5 How long have you worked at Bournville College? I have worked here at the College for 19 years. What was your previous job? I worked as a youth worker at Sutton College. What do you like to do in your spare time? I have run a Judo club for 35 years and I am graded as a Rokudan. I enjoy watching films and TV. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? There is always a good atmosphere. I like my colleagues and most students!
How long have you worked at Bournville College? I have been in the Student Liaison Officer role for a year and a half but before this role I worked at Bournville College as a Teaching Assistant so altogether I have been here for just over three years. What was your previous job? Before working at Bournville College I worked for an organisation called St Basils working with young people between the age of 16-25 who were homeless. Before St Basils I worked with a range of different youth offending institutes supporting young offenders. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I like to take my children to various activities i.e. football, dance and swimming. I am also a Birmingham City FC supporter and try to go to as many games as possible with my son. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? What I like most about working at Bournville College is the interaction I have with the students. I like the fact that no day is ever the same and I can help and support students as well as joining in with activities.
6 How long have you worked at Bournville College? I have worked at Bournville College for six years. What was your previous job? My previous job was Prince’s Trust Assistant Team Leader and before that believe it or not I was librarian which didn’t last that long as apparently I talk a lot and can be quite loud! What do you like to do in your spare time? Like most ladies I love to shop, and have plenty of fun. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? I enjoy working with young people and my colleagues. Every day is never the same, you just never know what challenges you may face. It’s so diverse.
How long have you worked at Bournville College? I have been at Bournville College altogether for 7 years this coming March. It seems so long, but time has gone so fast. What was your previous job? Prior to becoming a Student Liaison Officer, I worked in Pre-Vocational as a Teaching Assistant, and thereafter, successfully got appointed as a Prince’s Trust Assistant Team Leader. What do you like to do in your spare time? I work in a Christian Ministry across the UK and India. My work is mainly helping and supporting young people. My topics range from youth culture, drug misuse and living a crime free life. What do you like most about working at Bournville College? I enjoy working with all different types of students, at times it can be difficult but my work ethos is to be non-judgemental. I have seen students excel and move on to university and to work in the industry. I have personally worked with many students and have always tailored the best support for them and watch them grow as a person and strive at what they do best.
The new Construction Centre has opened!
Bournville College celebrated the launch of its brand new £6 million Construction and Building Services Centre in Longbridge. Over hundred delegates, including project partners, employers, staff, students and local residents attended the event. The Centre was declared officially open by Councillor Brett O’Reilly.
The two-storey, 30,000 square feet purpose built facility comprises of workshops for plumbing, brickwork, gas and new technologies, electrical, painting and decorating as well as ACS Gas Test Centre, dedicated computer suite and six theory rooms. Michele Sutton, Interim Principal and Chief Executive, commented: “As the economy recovers from recession, we are excited to be offering our young people the skills necessary to find a job in the
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thriving construction industry. We already have strong provision in this sector – last year Ofsted judged courses in construction as ‘Good’.” The Centre was designed in consultation with Construction Training Industry Board and local employers to be able to accommodate future curriculum expansion driven by continuous industry changes and technological advances. In addition, the facility has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Brett O’Reilly, Labour Councillor for Northfield Ward, said: “I very much welcomed the opening of Bournville College’s Construction Centre. There is a huge demand for skills in the South of Birmingham, and it is great to see further investment from Bournville College in this area.”
New goal for Bournville College Ladies A new coaching scheme is being offered to girls to help promote and improve women’s football at Bournville College. This year has seen the successful launch of the Female Football Development programme (FFD) that has been running every Friday afternoon in the Sports Hall since September. Working with TEAM 19, who organise regular female events
and competitions, FFD sessions aim to provide a relaxed and welcoming football environment, with a key focus on fun, fitness and friendship. The girls have already taken part in one competition, winning the fair play award, as well as travelling to Wembley to watch the England Ladies v Germany Ladies.
Kev Redmond, UEFA B Coach and Sports Lecturer, who heads up the sessions added: I’m really excited to be a part of this inspiring programme and look forward to Bournville College being among the colleges at the forefront of the future female game. The popularity of women’s football in the College continues to grow and I’m delighted that we can run fun sessions that allows us to service the demand that we know is out there to get more females into the game. Sessions start at 1-2pm in the College Sports Hall then 2-3pm in the gym
All abilities welcome
For more information, contact: kevin.redmond@bournville.ac.uk
My year in Student Services My name’s Symion Renford, I have been an apprentice here at Bournville College for the last 18 months for the Student Services and Media Department. I have accomplished many things whilst being an apprentice here such as interviewing the Prime Minister himself David Cameron, meeting and working with Joanne Malin the BBC presenter, meeting Pete Morgan the BBC WM radio presenter, having the privilege to escort OFSTED to the principal’s office and last of all winning the Apprentice of The Year award. I wouldn’t have accomplished all of these things if it wasn’t for the great support that the Student Service Team has given me throughout my time here. They have provided me with great support since the first day I started working here and pointed me towards the right direction to success. I couldn’t thank the Student Services Team enough for being very supportive and providing me with great opportunities for me to execute.
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Birmingham solicitors help Bournville College students ‘BE SAFE’ Solicitors from the Birmingham office of national law firm Clarke Willmott handed out free front and rear bike lights and road safety advice to students at Bournville College as part of its ‘Be Safe’ week. Philip Edwards and Rayner Grice attended the event to urge cycling students to keep safe by lighting up their bikes on dark winter nights. They were joined by Jenny Coombs, Sustainable Promotions Officer at Birmingham City Council. Latest Department of Transport Statistics show that 109 cyclists were killed and 19,329 were injured in 2013. Cycling is a popular means of transport for students yet many risk their lives by cycling without the appropriate lighting due to financial limitations. Philip Edwards, a Partner of Clarke Willmott Birmingham and leader of the Serious Injury team said: It is vital that cyclists, who are particularly vulnerable on the roads, have the best chance to be seen and stay safe and I am delighted to be able to help the students to do so. I see the consequences of serious injury and fatal crashes regularly, and if this initiative helps prevent even one such incident – it will have been worthwhile.
11 Leon Lewis, Bournville College’s cycling champion, said: Not only is it illegal to cycle on a public road after dark without lights and reflectors, but people are putting themselves and others at risk by doing so. Our student safety is at the heart of everything we do and thanks to Clarke Willmott we’re able to help our cycling students stay safe on roads this winter. Other safety and wellbeing groups visiting Bournville College during Be Safe week organised by the Student Activities Team included RoSPA, West Midlands Police and Aquarius and A Team alcohol support services. In December 2014 Clarke Willmott also lent its support to Starbank Primary School in Yardley by organising a road safety banner competition. The winning banner – which urged drivers to slow down – was unveiled to coincide with national road safety charity Brake’s Road Safety Week. Clarke Willmott has also announced that the Child Brain Injury Trust and the Penny Brohn Cancer Charity will be their official charities for 2015.
Bournville College Careers Service
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The Careers Team are available to deliver a wide range of group workshops and sessions to support staff and students with CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance). These sessions can be delivered during tutorials or lessons, and include:
� Introduction to the Careers Service � Options on completion of your course
EXPLORING CAREERS
UNIVERSITY & HIGHER EDUCATION
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Completing computer programmes to gain career ideas, e.g. Career Coach/Careerscape Setting career goals and action planning Researching careers and employment opportunities Researching the labour market Finding out about job opportunities/Apprenticeships
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS � � � � � �
Identifying qualities, skills & transferable skills, strengths and weaknesses CV preparation Completing job application forms Preparation for interviews Mock Interviews Interview techniques, difficult and popular questions
Introduction to UCAS and HE Applying to University – Researching courses - the UCAS process Completing the UCAS application/ online form (Apply) UCAS Refresher Writing successful personal statements University Interview Preparation How to reply to offers and UCAS Extra
EVENTS � �
Annual HE Fair Themed employability events i.e Employability and Progression, Industry talks, Mock Interviews
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BHIRED – ‘EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT’ Employment Service for Bournville College Students. For further information contact: Beckie Byrne Talk. 0121 477 1953 Write. bhired@bournville.ac.uk See. www.bhired.co.uk MOODLE The Careers area on Moodle is available for students and staff and includes information and resources on Higher Education/Universities, CVs, application forms, interview techniques, job search, apprenticeships, employability skills, Labour Market information, volunteering, BHired and much more. Resources are in various formats, e.g. interactive exercises, videos, PowerPoint presentations etc, together with Word documents for your use. Information and resources are continually reviewed and regularly updated.
Click here!
Please click the BHired logo to login to the Careers Section
14 Other workshops relating to careers and employability can be prepared and delivered upon request. To discuss your requirements and arrange a workshop/session, please contact a member of the Careers Team: email careers@bournville.ac.uk or telephone: Andy Collins Mark Pickering Sandra Walters Theresa Mead
Careers Advisor Careers Advisor IAG Advisor (Careers) CEIAG Manager
0121 477 1304 0121 477 1309 0121 477 1316 0121 477 1312
Looking for a Job?
You can register to Job Alerts and receive regular emails about jobs near you! Email bhired@bournville.ac.uk with your name and what type of job you are looking for. You can also check out the Job Vacancy Board in the Careers Centre, which is updated weekly.
Look out for the following events coming up: City Year UK – A transforming year of volunteering in Schools Seminar Easter Eggstravaganza – apply for a job and get a free Easer Egg! Mondelez Internations College Leaver Scheme Seminar Progression/Employability Fair
Art students paint sports mural The Foundation Diploma Art & Design students were given a commission to paint a mural in the College gym as part of their induction and to encourage teamwork. The students were split into four teams. Each team had to come up with a design to inspire the Spinning Class, to spur them on, as they only had a blank wall to look at when they were peddling hard. The designs were posted on gym’s Facebook page and the gym members balloted for their favorite design. Every student got the chance to paint elements of the design and the project was a truly joint effort. The winning team was offered a six-month free membership to the gym by Urban Fitness Manager, David Dyson.
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An Illuminating Evening We’re looking back while going forward A fitting slogan for the Longbridge Light Festival which took place in October 2014, celebrating the history and future of Longbridge through various displays of light and art. An array of dazzling visuals brought more than 5,000 people into the centre of Longbridge for this fantastic event, which involved numerous workshops, lighting installations and intriguing artworks. Luminous displays lit up the town centre with Bournville College acting as its centrepiece.
The first ever light festival was a tremendous success and the Back to The Future theme created a buzz for the future of Longbridge while paying homage to its past. Residents of Longbridge are staunchly proud of its history and the festival offered residents an opportunity to revel in the engineering achievements of generations of workers at the MG Rover factory. Retro and classic cars were parked around the town centre as living testaments to the craftsmanship of a bygone age. The closing of the plant left a socioeconomic void in the heart of Longbridge that the recent regeneration is helping to fill. Longbridge is undergoing a cultural renaissance; it is a shifting landscape moving from engineering and manufacturing sectors towards the creative industries. This is the exciting future that the light festival and exhibits like ‘Birmiwoco’, a fictitious transport network designed in collaboration with Turves Green Girls School, predict.
Lauren Keogh | A2 Level English Language and Literature Student
17 Another interesting feature of the festival was the Light Up Cycle workshop, where festival attenders were able to create their own bicycle wheels before riding through an illuminated cycle route. Alongside face painting and silhouette drawing, these activities made the festival perfect for all the family. The most fascinating exhibit at the Light Festival had to be the mirror exhibit in front of Costa Coffee, where one person stands one side of the mirror, a light flashes and suddenly, as if by magic, another person appears in the mirror in front of you. A truly magical and heart-stopping exhibit that leaves viewers mesmerized by the tricks that light can play. Another inspirational installation, hosted by WERK, transformed barren concrete walls into elaborate and winding lattices that gave the impression of being inside a complex network of caves – all this achieved by the careful placement of projectors placed around the room. This spectacular event was not only a great success and fun family day out but a powerful expression of the evolving identity of Longbridge itself.
Lauren Keogh | A2 Level English Language and Literature Student
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Natural Intent Over looked for now, under your plough, Sitting on your window sill or slaughtered in your saw mill, You rely on me more than you see. I don’t need you or what you do. Left alone I’d reclaim my home, my natural throne, my ozone. I’m through with you, the smog you spew, your demolition crew. You drain, you sup, Life you chew up. Humans are crazy, organically lazy. I say no more, this land is not poor.
Seraphim Bryant | Foundation Art and Design Level 4 Diploma Student
Student Liaison Officers
Hello and welcome to Bournville College. We are the Student Liaison officers. Our names are Ishia McKillop, Raja Jagirdar and Des Hamilton we are based in the Urban Chill. What we do: We are upholding and implementing The Positive Behaviour Strategy within the College by challenging inappropriate behaviour, defusing conflicts and promoting harmony amongst all learners. We also offer one to one sessions for students who may need a little extra help with course work or just a chat.
What’s next? We will be running various sessions and workshops throughout the year engaging with students and staff promoting our strategies and furthermore building relations for an improved learner experience.
Why? We want our students to have great experience of Bournville College, whilst working towards their qualifications. Similarly ensuring the College is a friendly environment for all students to accomplish their goals and achieve their aspirations. Please come and speak to us, we are friendly and approachable. What can you do to help us? If you see anything going on that you think is not right, or have a cause for concern that may be affecting you or another learner then please do come and speak to us, and we will do our best to sort and resolve the problem for you. Contact us Talk. Ishia 07510 476 952 Des 07729 896 580 Raja 07927 817 030 Write. slo@bournville.ac.uk
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Interview with Axel Scheffler Sera Bryant interviews Axel Scheffler, who offers some advice to budding illustrators. An open day at a university leads to an opportunity I never would have expected and one of the most awesome moments in my life. A tutor from Worcester University chatted with me and we had shared a wry laugh at my eagerness but lack of portfolio. He later called me to see if I wanted to join his class in meeting Axel Scheffler at the Hive later on in the week. At first I did that classic, but very common, “You don’t mean the Gruffalo guy, right?” Yes, that is just one of his famous illustrations but by no means is it all he has done.
Alex spoke about sending images off in the post and hearing nothing back for ages… if at all. Then he got his first commission. Faber commissioned him to illustrate The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell. In 1989, Walker Books from London asked Axel to illustrate a text by Jon Blake You’re a Hero, Daley B. The critically acclaimed collaboration of Alex Scheffler and Julia Donaldson happened in 1991. “Julia had been writing songs for the BBC when a friend told her they would make great children’s books.” Alex told us, “When Macmillan Children’s books took her up they introduced us to each other.”
Axel Scheffler started by fondly telling us about his move to England in 1982 to study Visual Communication at the Bath Academy of Art and about how meeting others with creative and open minds can really get you going. Axel had a level tone of honest reality as he relayed the accounts of taking his portfolio around to different publishers and magazines. He recommended always taking your current sketch book with you. “Often people like the more free and flowing look of a sketch book.”
Seraphim Bryant | Foundation Art and Design Level 4 Diploma Student
Sera: When did you know the Gruffalo was going to look like he does?
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Axel: Lots of sketching based on Julia’s description in her text was the basic starting point. I had done him with clothes; in fact I had done all the animals with clothes. But Julia looked them over and just did not like it. Sera: How does the text come to you?
Axel: Sometimes it is just emailed and you decide the layout and what to draw creating a kind of dummy book which you send back. Publishers then look at that and make changes. They always make changes. Other times they send me the dummy book with the layout and text and I then know what to illustrate and how much of the page to illustrate on. But that’s never the end, because publishers sell to other countries this is called co-addition sales. They too can ask for anything to be changed. Sera: What sort of things have you been asked to change?
Axel: Lots of things, anything. An example is with the book A Squash and A Squeeze, in the Macmillan book the goat had udders but when it was sold to the American publisher they wanted the udders removed as they didn’t find it appropriate. Just lots of things like that and practical things like moving the layout because the amount of text or even direction of text is different. Sera: Have you ever written a children’s book?
Axel: Only one as I’m not a writer. Pixi Publishing, who make little books, were doing their 1000th print and they asked me if I would give them a picture book. The story was about a squirrel that got blown out of a tree. But it was not amazing, like I said I’m not a writer. Sera: What one piece of advice would you give to those illustrators who are now leaving university?
Axel: Never say no to work; you just never know where that will lead. Illustration is an applied art. So listen to what they (publishers and editors) say to you - it is in both your interests to make the work sellable. Compromise is good, yet you should always keep your own style. (He smiles) That’s all my advice. Seraphim Bryant | Foundation Art and Design Level 4 Diploma Student
Learner Voice You said, we did! Waiting time for Student Finance queries is too long.
A drop-in service is now in place from 10am-2pm each day in the Advice Zone.
Students were unclear about funding payment dates.
A clear payment schedule has been put in place and circulated to students.
Students felt that absence through sickness should be considered for bursary payments.
Funding rules were revised to enable authorised payments when a self-certification or doctor’s note is provided.
Students reported that late running of some bus services made them late for college.
Each report of bus lateness is now reported immediately to the Bus Operation Manager for relevant action.
Breakfast club - students felt the times were too early. They didn’t fit around bus times.
Breakfast club times have been extended and free breakfasts are now available from 8am until 9am.
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Menus and options have been improved, including the introduction of a ÂŁ2.40 meal deal.
Some students requested extra support with revision and how to revise.
Tutors have been notified and exam stress workshops will be taking place.
Students commented they would like further workshops and tutorials.
New workshops were created to adress money budgetting, anti-bullying, mental health. To date fifty workshops were delivered by Student Services.
We would like different times for free gym sessions.
A new January 2015 timetable has been produced with sessions on different days and times; Monday: 12pm - 1pm Tuesday: 1pm - 2pm Wednesday: Female Only Session: 1pm - 2pm Open to all: 2pm - 4pm Thursdays: 3pm - 4pm Students were not fully aware of certain services and initiatives.
Weekly tutorial bulletin was launched this term, together with a veriety of other promotions, including video, plasma messages, e-bulletins, social media, Information Point & student magazine.
Students represent Bournville College in AoC National Finals Every year students from across the country compete against other colleges to represent their region in a range of sports. Students from Bournville College sports academies have battled off competition to earn places in the Association of Colleges (AoC) National Finals, representing the West Midlands. Oliver Kenward entered the regional men’s singles tennis tournament. At 16 years old Oliver was competing against players up to 3 years senior to him. He competed against 16 of the region’s top players and won, dropping only a few games all day. Poppy Finlay entered the regional qualifier at Worfield Golf Club on 22nd October. She played the first 9 holes with 2 over par.
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Despite dropping a few shots she finished the course with a score of 80 and coming second overall and joining the West Midlands team who will compete in Bath on 28th March 2015. The final two Bournville College representatives who clenched their national final place were in table tennis. Ashley Reynolds and Roxanne Gumpic competed in the mixed doubles category at Lilleshall Sports Centre. Competition was tough in all events and the students will now continue with training sessions ready for the next round in the spring. To find out more about Sports Academies in football, rugby, basketball, golf, leadership and solo sports, click the button!
Click here!
Team Nineteen Football League A 5-a-side football league was run over the 6 weeks between October half term and Christmas for students at Bournville College on Tuesday afternoons 4-5pm, in conjunction with the Birmingham County FA. The Team Nineteen brand was introduced into colleges by The FA to get more students playing football on a regular basis in a competitive environment. There were 4 teams involved in the competition from the IT and Engineering departments at the college. The league was supported by HND Sport students who organised fixtures, refereed the games and updated the league table on a weekly basis.
It was a great success as it motivated students who had never previously been involved in the football provision at the College to be involved and all the teams enjoyed the experience, indicating that they will continue in the next league that will run from January 2015. Each week the games were competitive and well-managed by the student activators who were supporting the project. A similar league will run in the New Year at The Factory Youth Centre on Tuesday’s 4-5pm with spaces limited to a maximum of 5 teams.
The winning team of the Bournville College Team Nineteen league
Student Services updates
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Funding A reminder that bursary payments are subject to students achieving 95% attendance each month. Please refrain from referring to Pro-monitor to check your attendance as this only provides an overall percentage, and is not accurate for predicting payment eligibility. The next round of bursary payments’ are scheduled to hit your accounts on Friday 13th March 2015. Payments will be based on February’s attendance. Register changes If you have had your bursary payments withheld due to poor attendance, you must discuss the issue with your tutor in the first instance. It is then up to your tutor to decide whether the reasons provided for absence were valid and warrant being authorised or indeed whether the registers were marked incorrectly. Where absences are authorised, it remains your tutor’s responsibility to amend the register before then informing the funding team who make arrangements to reinstate the payment. However, please note that payments are not automatic and there is a 10-day turnaround (best case scenario). Higher Education - Student Finance Talks The team will be providing information, guidance and support with your HE student finance applications courtesy of The Student Funding & Welfare Team. Emails have recently gone out to all tutor groups who have students registered through UCAS for university courses starting in 2015/16, inviting them to book a Student Finance talk. Past feedback suggests that these talks have been well received by students and are very useful for getting your finance arrangements prior to the start of you university course, allowing you to make a smooth transition and improve your chances of succeeding. Please be aware that the deadline for Student Finance is 31st May. Get your applications in as early as possible.
27 Free College Meals 440 students have been approved for Free Meals but take up is still low (39%). For those who have received your Notice of Entitlement but have yet to claim your entitlement, remember that free meals are available to you every day you are required to attend college or placement. The value of your free meal is capped at £2.40 and they can be redeemed by swiping your College ID card at the tills located in Urban Zest. If you are experiencing any difficulties in accessing your entitlement, or indeed there are any other reasons for not claiming your meals, please feel free to communicate this to the Student Funding Team. 10p Buses Please be reminded that there are 8 bus routes currently being subsidised by the College which offer discounted rates of travel to students and staff. Students – 10p, staff - £1. To use the hail & ride service, you must show your college pass. Full details are available on the College website. Counselling Some people find this time of year stressful and start the New Year feeling resentful, guilty, angry, to name but a few feelings. If you would like to talk through anything that you find is going around in your head and/or any of the feelings emotions that accompany these then you can talk to one of the college counsellors. Sonia Talk. 0121 477 1760 | Write. sonia.herbert@bournville.ac.uk Erica Talk. 0121 477 1913 | Write. erica.pickering@bournville.ac.uk Chris Talk. 0121 477 1726 | Write. c.lewis@bournville.ac.uk You can call or email the counsellors directly; we have a folder on reception where you can leave your initials and telephone number and we will call you directly or ask your tutor to get in touch with us for you.
Film Reviews
Birdman
A triumph on every level
Awards season is here and what better way to celebrate that then with the rekindling of Michael Keaton’s career. Michael Keaton has outdone himself in this new black comedy. Keaton plays a washed up old actor called Riggan Thompson who is attempting to redeem his career as an actor with a play he has created. Riggan’s days of playing cult
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hero Birdman are long gone, however bad reviews of his play mean the character’s previous success constantly hangs over him. Riggan is troubled and it’s up to us the audience to figure out if his superpowers are real, or just figments of his imagination. An epic supporting cast includes a very old looking but still decent Edward Norton and upcoming rising star Emma Stone. This film is both challenging to the mind and hilarious to watch.
Dana Archer | A2 Level Film, Media and English Student
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Foxcatcher
Brick has most definitely left the building
Since McConaughey made an Oscar winning leap from low comedy actor to serious actor. It would seem that many so called comedy actors are trying to win the golden man. No less in this list is Anchorman’s Brick Tamland, Steve Carrell. Steve Carrell gives a career defying performance as John Du Pont in the iconic true story of the Foxcatcher Company. When Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) a washed up Olympian living in his brother David’s (Mark Ruffalo) shadow gets invited to meet Du Pont and eventually train for the official Foxcatcher team. Carrell’s performance is chilling as we see the extent of his need to have a winning team for wrestling to spite his mother (Vanessa Redgrave) who disagrees with the sport. Leading to an intense tragedy that is so brutal and shocking that it makes the true story almost unbearable to know, Foxcatcher deserves every award it’s nominated for. It’s beautifully made and demonstrates in extreme detail what wanting something can do to someone. A career defining Classic! Dana Archer | A2 Level Film, Media and English Student
The Learner Voice Conference
84 students attended our annual Learner Voice Conference this year along with Service Area Managers and staff. This included guest speakers, activities and the opportunity to speak to managers and fellow students to look at what works and what could be improved in the College. We actively involve our students in providing a strong learner voice, listen to opinions and involve students in the decision-making process to improve our services. The Deputy Principal introduced the day by re-enforcing the importance of the Learner Voice and student participation in making the College a better place. An ice breaker caused much hilarity with students making chairs from balloons. The opportunity to feed back views to managers was well received.
Two guest speakers were invited to interact with and motivate students. The first, Georgina Moseley, Helping Harry Help Others.The second speaker, Jamie Dunn – Entrepreneur. Both talks really enabled the students to believe that they could achieve anything as long as they didn’t give up trying.
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This was a totally student focussed day whereby they had been involved at the planning stage, provided the food and played music during the lunch time break. They received a variety of vouchers from local restaurants and shops; even receiving a goody bag to take home. Following on from this event and at the request of students there will be a schedule of student focus groups to measure, yet further, the impact of the learner voice. Overall it was a highly interactive and fun day. Students thought it was fantastic and loved the opportunity to give their views and know they would be heard with 97% of students rating the event positively.
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84 students attended 64 evaluation forms returned Did you enjoy the conference? 97% positive Ice breaker session 95% positive Guest speaker Georgina Moseley 97% agreed Guest speaker Jamie Dunn 89% agreed Service Area Manager Activity 89% agreed What would you like to see in the future conference?
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More student activities More speakers like the ones today Speakers from Universities Would like subject specific conference e.g. Health and Social Care
Any other comments? “I found out about college managers and business support areas, really helpful” “I liked the conference atmosphere, really enjoyed it” “More of these events” “Great session, really motivational” “Loved the networking session” “Inspirational speakers”
Latest QDP says that : 92% of students would recommend the College to a friend There are very high levels of satisfaction with:
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The college giving the students good chances to learn Students achieving what they set out to do Course information Students feel that they are treated fairly and equally Learners from different backgrounds work well together Enrichment
Student Trips
Talk. 0121 477 1675 | Write. student.activities@bournville.ac.uk See. bournville.ac.uk