Darlington College
Newsletter
Issue 4 May 2009
Sporting success at the college THIS year the college has seen a huge rise in student participation in sport and exercise activities. With figures almost double those from previous years, more and more students are taking advantage of the excellent enrichment opportunities here at the college. As well as the hugely popular free swimming and fitness suite sessions at the Dolphin Centre, regular activities in the college sports hall have also increased to include; badminton, basketball, 5-a-side football, volleyball and netball. There have also been successful courses in archery and street dance, not to mention the regular trips to the snow-covered slopes of Xscape for snowboarding and skiing. In addition to this the college has been entering more sports competitions and meeting with great success! College teams have entered and won intercollege competitions for both male and female 5-a-side football; they have
continued to dominate the Tees Colleges’ basketball league, achieved second place in the first badminton Tees Valley Cup, as well as handing East Durham and Houghall College’s rugby academy a crushing defeat in a recent rugby 10’s match. With all of this success the college is keen to increase the opportunities for its students and to help all of them be a part of the enrichment and wide variety of sport and exercise activities that take place here at the college. Activities that may run include: kendo (Japanese sword fencing), young woman’s football, and back by popular demand, another course of street dancing. Details of all present activities at the college and links to community clubs outside the college can be found under the College Sport link on the Student Intranet. The Sports Enrichment Team are eager to respond to student requests. So, if you have any ideas of the types of activities you want to see here at the college, then speak to either Dave or Diane in the LRC, or email Dave at: dcheesman@darlington.ac.uk. If there is enough support from the students, then we will make it happen!
Darlington College basketball team
Darlington College female footballers
Darlington College students at Xscape, Leeds
01
Darlington College Issue 4 May 2009
Outstanding in all areas for the college DARLINGTON College is celebrating after Ofsted named it one of the most outstanding further education colleges in the country. The report is all the more remarkable because the review period included the move from the college’s old campus in the town’s Cleveland Avenue to a new £35m purpose-built site on Haughton Road. And despite Darlington being the third smallest unitary authority in the country it now offers some of the best further education courses in the UK with all three further education establishments in Darlington receiving top marks from Ofsted.
In their report the inspectors described Darlington College as “an outstanding organisation” adding: “Learners make good progress; they develop positive attitudes to work and enjoy their time at college. The college provides excellent support to help students learn and for staff to continue to develop their skills.” The report lists key strengths, including: • very high success rates;
• a responsive curriculum which keeps up with the changing requirements of students; • the college’s partnership with the Ministry of Defence, including a campus at Catterick Garrison, Europe’s largest Army base; • its provision for 14 to 16-year-olds; • partnerships with external organisations and • visionary leadership from the principal and governors.
College offers HPV Vaccination HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer.
Vaccination dates are: Tuesday, 12th May Tuesday, 19th May Tuesday, 2nd June Tuesday, 9th June Tuesday, 16th June
Most HPV infections are harmless, however some types can cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical screening (testing) is to detect these changes, which, if picked up early enough, can be treated to prevent cancer happening. If they are left untreated, cancer can develop and may lead to serious illness and death. What the HPV vaccine protects against The HPV vaccine protects against the two strains of HPV (16 and 18) that cause cervical cancer in over 70% of
02
women. It does not protect against any other sexually transmitted infections or against pregnancy. Because the HPV vaccine does not protect against ALL cervical cancers, it is really important for all girls to have cervical screening later in life. Working in partnership The college is working with the PCT and is operating a clinic every Tuesday morning from 9.15 am to 1.15 pm to carry out the series of vaccines which are necessary. All girls aged 14 – 18 are eligible for the vaccine. These clinics are also supported by the Chlamydia screening service and the GUM clinic Health Adviser together with the PCT’s Sexual Health Outreach Workers.
Also every Friday morning the college continues to run its very successful Sexual Health Clinic with Doctor, Nurse and Sexual Health Outreach Workers, who offer advice and treatment for most sexual health related issues. This is a confidential service on a drop-in basis. A smoking cessation specialist is also available on a Friday morning for staff and students who wish to give up smoking. For more details on the HPV vaccine visit: www.immunisation.nhs.uk For more information on the Clinic or any student health issue speak to Julie Davison, Student Support Manager on 01325 503036.
Globetrotting students set sail on new careers COLLEGE beauty students, Jayde Carter and Ashleigh Barker were picked from hundreds of applicants for the highly prized positions with Steiner Cruises, to work on board some of the worlds most luxurious liners.
Alaska, Dubai or The Caribbean.
Steiner Cruises, global leaders in the spa industry, recruit hairdressers, nail technicians and beauty professionals from all over the world to work on board their 116 luxury liners.
“We will be away for nine months on our first cruise which will be chosen for us but after that we will be able to request which liner we would like to work aboard. I’m hoping they send me somewhere hot.”
Beauty tutor Lisa Anderson said: “Beauty professional careers with Steiner are highly sought after positions within the industry and it is very rare for students straight from college to be offered a job. “Both Jayde and Ashleigh have been outstanding in every aspect and have consistently worked to a very high standard. It’s a great achievement and we are all very proud of them.” Both girls will undertake a further three months training at the Steiner headquarters in Middlesex before being allocated a cruise liner which could see them sailing to America,
Jayde, said: “Travelling really appealed to me, meeting new people and seeing new places, so being offered the position with Steiner was like a dream come true.
Ashleigh, added: “Getting this job is a great way to see the world while doing the job I love. “The training we received at college was excellent and has really prepared us for working in the industry. We were both so lucky to have such great tutors.” Ashleigh and Jayde will also be representing the college at the Skills Challenge Competition in May against other colleges in the area. If successful they will go on to represent Darlington at the national finals in London.
New at the college for September 2009 A programme-led apprenticeship is for 16 – 18 year olds who want to start an apprenticeship but are waiting to find an employer. This kind of apprenticeship allows students to start working towards a vocational (work-based) qualification at the college alongside a technical certificate in their chosen area and key skills. Upon completion of the course (which will be full time from September until June) we aim to find students a full time job within a company where they can continue their learning programme, work towards an NVQ and gain a full apprenticeship. A programme-led apprenticeship is ideal if students are keen to follow a work based learning route but are not yet employed. As part of the course it is essential that they attend employability workshops run by the college to give them the best chances of finding a job to complete the full apprenticeship. Darlington College will offer programme-led apprenticeships in the following areas: • Business Administration • Construction - Carpentry and Joinery, Brickwork and Plastering • Hairdressing • Hospitality and Catering Professional Cookery • Vehicle Maintenance and Repair • Children's Care, Learning and Development
Darlington College beauty students, Jayde Carter and Ashleigh Barker
For more information please call the Customer Services Team on 01325 503030.
03
Darlington College Issue 4 May 2009
Diary dates…
Driving at college
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25th May 2009 Until Friday 29th May 2009
Term Finishes: 19 June 2009
Student Achievement Week: 22 June 2009
Term Starts: Monday 7th September 2009 - For full time students Monday 14th September 2009 - For part time students
Half Term Holiday: Monday 26th October 2009 until Friday 31st October 2009
Christmas Break: Monday 21st December 2009 until Friday 1st January 2010
Half Term Holiday: Monday 15th February 2010 until Friday 19th February 2010
Easter Break: Monday 5th April 2010 until Friday 16th April 2010
May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 3rd May 2010
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31st May 2010 Until Friday 4th June 2010
Student Alumni Want to keep in touch with the college? Then join us on our Facebook alumni. For more details visit www.darlington.ac.uk and click on the Facebook link, on the homepage.
04
STUDENTS are to take part in a driving pilot project designed to save lives and cut down on prohibitive insurance costs. For the first time young drivers will be offered the chance to gain an accredited qualification in driving. And the BTEC driving science will help them reduce the spiralling costs of insurance for young people wanting to get behind the wheel. The college has teamed up with Darlington Borough Council’s road safety department and driving consultants a²om to offer the course. They have trained Darlington instructors to deliver the qualification which aims to improve the quality of driving, save lives and cut up to half the size of mammoth insurance premiums. Young drivers aged between 17 and 25 account for the bulk of car accidents. They are seven times more likely to have a crash in the first 250 miles after passing their tests. Nationally in the past four years the death rate has doubled and 9,000 drivers under 25 are killed or seriously injured every year. Poor attitude to driving is blamed for 95 per cent of the incidents. As a result some young people have been quoted annual insurance premiums of £16,000 third party. The accredited course is the equivalent of a GCSE and is the world’s first academic qualification in driving.
The course covers driver training, including one module that is taken after passing the driving test. Students will also tackle an e-learning package and they will have to pass on-line and in-car assessments. a²om Gary Payne said: “The training addresses the importance of having the right attitude with car control skills. “Young drivers have been brought up in an age of computer games and think driving is a right not a responsibility. The aim of the course is to use technology to get through to young people.” Darlington’s road safety officer Norma Sheppard said: “The BTEC is not just teaching them how to pass their driving test. It also opens up a world of hazard perception and defensive driving techniques that should save them from harm. And some insurance companies have agreed to cut premiums by 50 per cent.” The college will provide 30 students for the pilot. The college’s learner involvement manager Diane Evans said: “We were ideally placed to provide the mechanism for e-learning and are thrilled to be involved with a project that will protect the lives of young people. “It also gives students another qualification with which to impress prospective employers as it shows a sense of responsibility and commitment.”