E-Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2016

College Staff Briefing Autumn/Winter 2016

Hartlepool College of Further Education

Welcome Welcome to another issue of Staff Briefing, continuing to share and celebrate the many achievements of staff and students around all areas of the College.

It’s been a while since the last issue, due to Gary being on adoption leave and then returning to a number of projects that needed prioritising - but doesn’t mean things have been quiet round here! Quite the opposite in fact, as this bumper issue testifies. As always, thank you so much for all your hard work!

If you have a story, or anything planned, please contact Briefing directly by getting in touch with Gary Kester (Ed Honcho) in Room 2.42 or gkester@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk or via Darren Hankey (Head Honcho), dhankey@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk HCFE Snapshot | A Stormtrooper styling hair while chatting about recent changes on the Bake-Off? It can only be the College’s new promo film The Course Awakens! See page 3.

Happy Holidays, y’all!

We would say Merry Christmas, but apparently as part of the UK’s efforts to play nice with President-Elect Donald Trump we all have to say everything like Americans now... this has already significantly impacted Engineering whenever students need to ask for aluminium parts.

But all silliness aside (and by that we mean our aluminium joke and not the US electing Trump, which is kind of beyond parody), it has been a bit of a rollercoaster 2016 both within and outside of the College. There has been lots of uncertainty and some big surprises, such as Brexit, the US Election and Ed Balls and Honey G getting so far in Strictly and The X Factor. However, for those things that aren’t within our control College staff have responded positively and flexibly, putting us in the best possible position for the future and allowing 2016 to end with some positive news, as relayed by Darren at his last Principal’s briefing, as we head into a well-earned break (see page 15 for more festive cheer).

Speaking of whom, there will of course be the annual Staff Awards on the last day of term too, so we hope to all see you there. This will also naturally include Darren’s now traditional “Quiz of Many Obscurities”. The questions are a closely guarded secret, but to get you in the mood here’s the sort of thing you can possibly expect on December 16th: “Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843... but what colour was his shed?”

HCFE Snapshot is a part of the Monthly Staff Briefing that captures day-to-day life around the College on camera.

If you take an image you think we should feature, email it to the above with some details (but please make sure you have the permission of those in it), or if you want to arrange photography contact Gary Kester on extension 4020 or email gkester@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk. Please give as much notice as possible though, as schedules are often busy.

To save resources we create and distribute this document electronically. Please don’t print it out unless absolutely necessary.

For up-to-date information, you can also log into Blackboard and follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

@hartlepoolfe #BeTheNext

Celebration of Achievement 2016 was a gold-standard event The annual Celebration of Achievement awards night, our 23rd, took place at the College on Thursday November 24th with a total of 16 honours handed out to learners who have excelled over the last academic year.

The theme this year reflected the success of TeamGB’s Olympians and Paralympians in Rio De Janeiro over the summer, with the brand for the evening and the videos produced featuring elements of both the record medal haul, but also the growth mindset needed to reach the highest levels of sport, or indeed any other ambition.

In addition, the Foundation sponsored the Jaap Kroese and Aerospace Cadetship awards, which were won by Shaun Westmoreland, Liam Elliott/ Matthew Cunnington (joint winners), while Sapphire Heselton was named the winner of the Michael Bretherick Engineering Award, titled for our former principal who started as an engineering lecturer.

The main award of the evening, Student of the Year, went to Charlotte Bell, who was earlier named as the Apprentice of the Year in recognition of the work she has done for her employer, engineering firm Gestamp Tallent. The award was presented by Michael Bretherick on behalf of the Gus Robinson Foundation, which sponsored the category.

Hartlepool boxer Savannah Marshall, who represented Team GB in both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, landed the Sporting Achievement honour in recognition of her efforts.

Bryan Whitelock was the main award winner in the Academic & Professional Studies section, sponsored by One Awards, while Robyn Hart

won the Design, Media & IT category, which was sponsored by Kingfield Developments.

Andrew Smailes picked up the Building Services category, sponsored by Seymour Civil Engineering, while the Engineering Project of the Year trophy went to Luke Reeves in a category also sponsored by the Gus Robinson Foundation. The Fabrication and Welding category, sponsored by Heerema, was won

by Jessica Hough, with Amy Pattison landing the Hospitality Catering, Hair & Beauty award which was backed by Russums.

Jodey Chapman was the top performer in the Health & Care sector, winning a trophy sponsored

by Teesside University, while the Sport & Public Services category, sponsored by Publicity Seekers, was won by Alex Byron.

Amy Thompson won the Ray Waller Scholarship, the Russell Hart Award went to Faye Bradley and the Student Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by United Carlton, was won by Jake Kinnell.

Darren Hankey said “It has been another fantastic year at the College, with some excellent performances from students across all our different facilities. We are proud of the work we do and the brilliant relationships we have with the companies we work alongside. Everyone who has received an award is a very worthy winner, and their families should be extremely proud of the standards they have reached. My congratulations go to them, and the students who were shortlisted alongside them, as well as all of the companies who kindly sponsored the categories and support our students all throughout the year.”

Above: Student of the Year Charlotte Bell, who also won Apprentice of the Year.

Above: It was great to see so many employers and partners supporting the event, like our close friends from Babcock Group.

Above: As always the Hospitality & Catering students, guided by Kevin Dove and Nick Lewis, created some wonderful food, all served with a smile!

Above: It was a very memorable night and enjoyed great social media engagement, aided by some innovative work by Brian Barnes in the form of a Twitter wall.

Above: Andy Steel did his usual fabulous job of hosting the event, though some people are still reporting they feel a bit traumatised by his Whoopi Goldberg/Peter Cushing joke...

Above: Michael Bretherick represented the evening’s main sponsor, the Gus Robinson Foundation, in his capacity as its Chief Executive.

Above: It was truly wonderful to see Russell Hart attend in person to hand out the Health award that carries his name.

You can view the full photo gallery at bit.ly/COA2016Pics

New College video goes down a storm Hartlepool College shows it’s a force to be reckoned with in a comical new mini-movie that features some iconic characters from the Star Wars universe. Entitled “The Course Awakens”, the short parody tells the story of an Imperial Stormtrooper who feels he’s stuck in a rut in the Empire and turns to Hartlepool College to try out a variety of different skills.

The film was written, directed and filmed by the College’s Creative Director, Gary Kester, and the project gave him a chance to mix his job with one of his biggest passions. Gary explained: “I saw Star Wars: A New Hope as a 10-year old when it first came out, and I’ve loved the original trilogy ever since. In fact, they’re the reason I went into art and design. So, like every other fan, I had a total nostalgia trip when I saw the trailers for the upcoming prequel film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

The new movie is set just before the original film, and shows how the Rebel Alliance came to possess the Death Star plans that are a major plot point in George Lucas’ ground-breaking 1977 blockbuster. However, Gary also noticed something else familiar. “The Rogue One trailers show that Imperial Stormtroopers still exist mostly to get beaten or blown up, or just walk around a lot in their armour. So I had this thought that they must get a bit cheesed off about that, and started to think about what jokey things they could find themselves doing if they tried out the various courses the College offers. From that came the script for The Course Awakens”.

Gary pitched the idea to Head of Student Recruitment Shaun Hope, who gave him the green light to bring in members of the 99th Garrison, a nationwide charitable group of Star Wars fans with a large north east contingent. The Garrison makes appearances in authentic movie-grade costumes at a variety of events and raises large amounts of money for good causes like Children in Need, the MS Society, Dreamflight and Bradley Lowery’s Appeal.

Above: Gary Kester, centre, with the 99th Garrison’s Simon Porteus (standing in for Mark Taylor, who couldn’t make the publicity shoot), Phillipa Stephenson as a Jawa, Nigel Jukes as Emperor Palpatine and our own IAG Yoda, Mark Lee, who plays himself in the movie advising TK421 on his course options.

fan and don’t get all the references it’s still funny to see a Stormtrooper doing all this crazy stuff in our world.”

Garrison member Nigel Jukes, of Hartlepool, said: “When Gary showed us the script and a storyboard he’d drawn up, we knew we wanted to be involved.

Despite it being a parody there was total love and respect for the movies, with nearly every line being a quote or paraphrase from actual film dialogue, and loads of sight gags. But even if you’re not a Star Wars

Instead of taking a fee they asked the College to make a donation to one of their charities, and the seventy shots required were filmed in just one day. Gary said: “It was a long, tough day but Mark was… well, a real trooper! His armour is very hot and uncomfortable, but he wore it for nearly nine hours straight and did everything the script needed without complaint, often over multiple takes – and that included jogging on a treadmill for ten minutes! But the members of the Garrison and our own staff and students involved - too many to name here! - were absolutely brilliant, and everything went like clockwork. I can’t thank them enough for their help and hard work”.

Once the film moved to the editing stage Gary also created some animated special visual effects for the project, as “it wouldn’t look like Star Wars without a lightsabre and the Millennium Falcon in it!” The final job was to add a digitally altered Stormtrooper voice, with Gary recording the part himself, noting: “Overdubbing the Stormtrooper voice is in keeping with Star Wars tradition as, although the first three films were mostly filmed in the UK with British actors playing most of the Imperial parts, the helmets muffled the Stormtroopers’ voices and so they were dubbed later on in Hollywood with US actors. Nobody else felt they could do a decent enough US accent, so I decided to do it myself. The results were surprisingly okay, but if you listen closely you can still pick up the odd twang of Hartlepudlian in it!”

Above: Mark Taylor unmasked, posing with Production Arts students Sophie Bromage and Hayley Barnes, who designed a special make-up for one of the sight gags.

Above: Gary generated a small number of visual effects in PhotoShop and After Effects, which gave the film an authentic Star Wars atmosphere.

Above: Production Arts student Megan Willis recreated the iconic first appearance of Princess Leia from the original 1977 movie.

Above: Emperor Palpatine turns up at a mockgraduation ceremony, along with his infamous lack of patience - as the event photographer finds out!

Above: The other big franchise with “Star” in the title didn’t escape parody, with a brief but perfect cameo by Anthony Knight as a Trek “red shirt”, pictured here with Gary, Andrea Willingham and Mark Lee.

Email from Lyndsay Jordan: “Can the owner of Lambdaclass Imperial shuttle Tyderium please move it out of the 15 bays it’s taking up as staff have paid for them...”

You can view the film here - please remember to like and share:

bit.ly/UseTheCourse

Surely, Bassey has a great future ahead A student who arrived in Middlesbrough from Africa looking to further his education is flying high after landing a job with a global aviation specialist thanks to a great start at Hartlepool College.

Bassey Edet went through primary and secondary education in his native Nigeria, but came to England with his girlfriend when in his early 20s to try to add to his qualifications. More than 10 years on, Bassey has completed an HND in Aeronautical Engineering at Hartlepool College of Further Education and a

Masters degree at Teesside University and is now embarking on a role with the International Bureau of Aviation in Leatherhead, Surrey. Despite his parents trying to encourage him to follow a career in medicine, Bassey said he felt he had to follow his dream by targeting a role in aviation.

He noted: “I have always had a natural talent for the design aspect of engineering, and I heard there was an HND course in aeronautical engineering at Hartlepool College so I enrolled on that for two years. The course was everything I wanted, especially the practical side with all of the facilities within the College, and staff from aerospace backgrounds who were able to pass all their knowledge and experience on.

“My grades were good after the first year, and I was encouraged onto the second year of the Masters programme at Teesside University. The course was split between Hartlepool College and the Uni, with most of the practical work being done in Hartlepool. The support I have had from both places has been fantastic.”

The College has developed a reputation for the quality of its Aerospace facilities, which are dominated by the presence of three full airframes, as well as components from a variety of other aircraft and industry-standard diagnostic equipment. It was this hands-on access to real aircraft which Bassey felt gave him an edge.

“The way the course was set up, you would learn in class and then go into the aviation hangar within the College and do the practical side of the work. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering a career in aviation because it really is top class.”

Aerospace success continues to fly high Bassey’s story, above, is far from the only Aerospace success story. This summer has seen the first ever cohort complete the inaugural Masters degree programme run in the College, with the award of the first 1st class MEng (Hons) degree to an absolutely outstanding student, Becca Armstrong, who hails from Murton. Becca is now proceeding to a PhD.

The Masters programme has also, after an intensive quality assessment, received accreditation from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers that qualifies programme graduates for the academic requirements of the eminent professional engineering qualification of Chartered Engineer - once again, a real coup resulting from much hard work.

Continuing the ‘first’ theme, the initial cohort of our aeronautical engineering apprentices, taken on by the FTSE 100 company Babcock International, have also completed their programme. The company was so impressed by them that all seven of them have subsequently been employed by the company as permanent engineering staff.

One apprentice, Jordan Read, has won an accolade from his employer for inventing a tool used in defueling aeroplanes that has saved considerable time and money in servicing Shorts Tucano aircraft. This tool is now to be deployed across the organisation.

Another apprentice, Ethan Moon, received a company citation for noticing and persistently reporting an aircraft servicing error that could have resulted in a serious incident if it had gone unchecked.

Above: The College’s partnership with Babcock International is showing stunning results.

Above: Becca Armstrong back in her time with the College, now holder of a 1st class MEng (Hons).

Another, Sam Kinnersley, has almost completed licensed engineer status training - after only two years in the industry - which will give him legal accountability for declaring an aircraft fit to fly. This is a huge responsibility for someone still only in their early twenties.

And finally, this summer has seen 100% success for the first graduates from the L3 Aeronautical Engineering programme for the Qatar government, most of whom are now progressing onto our HNC in Aeronautical Engineering with the prospect, on successful completion, of moving on to the BEng Aerospace Engineering degree we co-deliver with Teesside University.

Above: The Qatari Aerospace students have impressed everybody with their good nature and strong work ethic.

Above: A Shorts Tucano at RAF Linton-On-Ouse, of the type Jordan Read developed and innovative tool for.

Some simply stunning achievements, and a massive congratulations and thank you to the Aerospace team for all their hard work!

With all due RESPECT RESPECT continues to go from strength to strength, with several high visibility campaigns in place around the College, such as a direct anti-smoking poster and information about PREVENT and hate crimes. A dedicated noticeboard is also in place in the new Student Lounge, and a document called RESPECT Inspirations is available to all staff (see page 13).

There have also been some major activities going on, and below is a brief summary of some of them.

Chelsea’s Choice was a powerful drama by Alter Ego Creative Solutions that showed how young people, of both genders, are groomed by adults for the purposes of sexual exploitation using various methods. Perpetrators gain trust and use psychological pressure to ensnare their victims, eventually taking complete control of and dominating their whole lives.

Often shockingly blunt and intensely acted, the audience gained a better understanding of the devastating impact that sexual exploitation has on a young person’s life. Playing to a packed Conference 1, this was a very useful and innovative way of raising awareness of the issues, and giving them some skills and knowledge to be able to protect themselves from this form of abuse. You can find out more at www.alteregocreativesolutions.co.uk/ chelseas-choice/ The College was also visited by Tougher Minds (www.tougherminds.co.uk), a programme which helps people understand how to be personally productive and efficient so they can work hard and effectively, every minute of every day by being mentally tough and resilient.

There was also a visit by Show Racism the Red Card (www.theredcard.org), which while linked heavily to football focuses on ending racism in all forms.

The College also held its annual Service of Remembrance on November 10th (so as not to clash with the town’s main one on the 11th, allowing veterans and representatives from the Armed Forces to attend). The service centred around a film about Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved 669 children from certain death in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.

Above: Lecturer Graeme Fallowfield heralded the two minute silence at 11am on the 11th of the 11th, with a poignant rendition of The Last Post from the third floor balcony. Gary Kester recited the exhortation, and Graeme then finished with Rouse. Hundreds of students and staff lined the atrium on all levels to show their respect to the fallen.

Above: Ronnie Bage with Curtis Fleming, former Irish international and Middlesbrough footballer, who recently advised the College on aspects of its anti-racism stance.

Above: Lizz Kendall of Show Racism the Red Card held a very useful and thought-provoking workshop in the College on November 9th.

Above: The College held its annual Service of Remembrance on November 10th, hosted again by Gary Kester, and themed on the civilian cost of war.

Above: Chelsea’s Choice was a powerful drama, performed live in Conference 1.

Above: The intensity of the play could be measured by the reactions of the full-house of students in attendance - always gripped...

Above: ...and often shocked. Some of the scenarios featured in the performance were uncomfortable to watch, more so as they were based on real stories.

You can view the film on Sir Nicholas Winton at bit.ly/HMDNicky

Improving your IT safety - some simple steps Over the past two decades the internet has grown to be a huge a part of our everyday lives. There are even students at the College who have never known a world without it. Thanks to mobile phones, tablets even traditional domestic appliances such as TVs, fridges and baby monitors with online capabilities, there has never been more human connectivity and access to knowledge. But, as with any innovation, there are also hazards - many of them avoidable with proper care.

College IT Manager Ged Nicholson highlights them below, and some tips on how to maximise your safety.

People often overlook what a dangerous place the internet can be - it’s a largely unmoderated public network connecting many of the devices we deem essential for everyday living. We basically have an open window into our lives, especially with social media accounts. Almost every aspect of our lives usually has some kind of connection with the web so it’s important that you consider security.

You may feel you have nothing of interest to any potential “hacker”, so why exactly are they interested in you? The simple answer is Information. While there are malicious attacks that will aim to obtain use of your hardware or resource, the majority of online security threats are targeted at obtaining personal, sensitive or financial information.

As professionals, we also all have the additional responsibly of taking extra precautions to ensure that we protect the data we have access to for work purposes, which is especially sensitive in education. With this in mind, here are some tips to help you protect your devices and information both at work and at home.

Security software: The first and most logical step is to ensure you have some kind of security software on your device(s). Most tend to offer several licences and variations to run on several different devices simultaneously (such as cross-covering laptops, mobiles and tablets).

There are many available, some better than others but generally speaking it’s best to use a reputable brand name. Premium suites tend to offer more and a better level of security and it is important to do some research in what they actually secure - don’t presume one package will do everything.

A tiered approach to security is often a good practice, i.e. having multiple layers of security with specific products providing specific countermeasures, but be cautious with this approach as some packages counteract each other. Our helpdesk team are always happy to advise and assist with security concerns.

Free Antivirus packages from Avast, AVG and Panda are highly recommended at the moment.

Premium Antivirus packages from Kaspersky (free for Barclays Customers), McAfee (Free for HSBC Customers), Norton and Webroot are worth considering, but will cost between £15 to £30 per year.

Mobile phone wiping: A common scenario for many of us these days is to sell, trade or even discard our old mobile phones. What most of us don’t bother doing is removing the data from those phones, meaning it can still be accessed by anyone who obtains it afterwards.

It is important to remove any personal files and cached passwords or websites. Ways of doing this can vary by manufacturer, so if you don’t know how to do this you can again contact our helpdesk team to assist you. As an added service we can also remotely wipe any phones that have been used to connect to our domain (authenticated via our WiFi).

Changing default Passwords: Some devices can provide access to their administration settings, or even just to provide a connection to the internet/WiFi . This is usually done via a general default password or connection setting that is inbuilt into all of these devices upon manufacture. For example home routers, baby monitors, personal security cameras etc. It is good practice to change these default passwords immediately upon configuring your device and to regularly change them throughout the device’s life.

Strong passwords: It’s also good practice to make passwords as difficult as possible to guess or “crack”. Software exists that can decipher the encryption used to protect passwords, so to make this more difficult we advise using a minimum of eight characters in a password, with those characters being made up of a combination of letters, numbers and symbols (e.g. !, &, £, $). You can also use a combination of UPPERCASE and lowercase.

Public Wi-Fi: When using Wi-Fi in public areas, for example at a bar or restaurant, always exercise caution. Such places are common targets for malicious attacks on unsuspecting members of the public who are simply looking to connect to a free service. Unfortunately, the attraction of such conveniences, such as limited or no authentication, means they are becoming a common target for hackers for what is known as “man-in-the-middle” attacks.

Essentially a bogus public Wi-Fi connection is offered via the hackers’ device, which unsuspecting members of the public connect to, falsely believing it to be the legitimate Wi-Fi service. All internet traffic by each of the connections is then streamed through the bogus provider’s machine and collected.

This is a simplified overview of these types of threats and there are many variations and associated threats with such attacks. Some general good practices to safeguard against such threats include • Turning off “share” settings; • Turning off Wi-Fi when not needed; • Using secure connections (enable the “Always Use HTTPS” option on websites that you visit frequently etc.); • Consider using Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections.

Keep updated: Having good security software or the latest Operating System (OS) is all well and good, but security threats are constantly being developed, and new ways of exploiting security weaknesses are constantly being found.

With this in mind it is incredibly important to ensure updates and patches are regularly installed to your devices. If you want to ensure you are less vulnerable to such threats, keeping up to date not just with the latest versions of software, but also their associated support updates, is essential.

HCFE Snapshot | Proud #1: Jeans for Genes

HCFE Snapshot | Proud #2: MacMillan Coffee Morning

HCFE Snapshot | Proud #3: Biker Paula is well Ard

September saw Jeans for Genes day come around again, and there was a denimtastic (take that, spellchecker!) response from staff. Jeans for Genes is a national children’s charity which raises money for the care of children and families who are affected by genetic disorders. One in 25 people born in the UK are affected by conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy, and these are the largest killers of under-14s in the UK.

The College hosted another very successful MacMillan’s Coffee Morning, with staff and students bringing in a cornucopia of cakey goodness to sell and earning £325 for the charity - a superb result!

MacMillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer, as well as social, emotional and practical assistance for sufferers and their families.

August seems a bit back now, but we suspect HCHB Head of School Paula McKenzie might still be feeling it, having placed first in her category in the Ard Rock Enduro August 2016 Sportive - a mountain biking challenge in Alpine-like stages that takes place in the stunning rocky and hilly countryside of Swaledale. Paula’s achievement is made all the more impressive as the event is usually a male-dominated one.

College fundraisers continue to improve lives Last issue we brought you the story of how in April Fiona McCabe’s Cache Level 3 Year 1 Early Years students earned funds for the Meserani Project, a scheme supported by Lecturer Graeme and Administrator Bev Fallowfield which helps to build schools and increase education opportunities in impoverished areas of Africa.

In August of this year they returned, along with Graeme’s brother (and College Governor) Stuart, his wife Debra and 28 volunteers to Kenya and Tanzania again. There they saw how the money from Fiona’s group had helped to pay for a desperately needed 5000 litre water tank, which was purchased in Tanzania, for a new school called Losingira Primary School.

It was initially built because pupils were having to walk several miles and cross an especially dangerous road to get to their previous one, Meserani Juu School.

With it being a new school it required some shelving in the office, and so Graeme and Bev went to a timber yard - one where health and Safety did not exist. PPE and 5S couldn’t have been further from how it operated! Brackets and screws were sourced from an ironmonger (slotheaded as no Pozidrive were available, which would make the work more arduous) and then the job of transporting the timber back to the school was done by one of the Maasai men, who strapped it to the back of a motorbike. Yes, you read that right.

Also mentioned last issue Gail Arnold’s tutor group EL3 NOCN Diploma had also raised some money for the Meserani Project and this helped to buy new books for the school.

It was soon discovered that the school had no electricity, and so a 25 minute walk and 30 minute wait for charging delayed things slightly. Finally though the shelving went up, with the help from Paul Dalkin and Michael Dodgson. Michael had worked at the College 26 years ago as a computer technician, and his dad Keith was a lecturer at the college.

A visit to Arusha Vocational Training allowed the Principal to be presented with a paper weight of Hartlepool College, while good quality pens and note pads also from Hart Biologicals were presented to the top three students in each vocational area (see below photograph). These items are in very short supply and highly valued.

At the end of the presentation a polo shirt was given in return.

On the official open day Graeme was thanked and applauded for all the fund raising efforts.

An Acacia Tree was donated at Crater Lake Sanctuary on behalf of College staff and students, and 30 white shirts and packs of socks for various age groups were distributed, donated to the project by Hart Biological.

other locations were visited, with all travel in a small minibus not designed for the rough terrain, and throwing up huge amounts of brown dust.

Other highlights of the trip were the game drives through the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. The group camped overnight in Tarangire at a ‘bush camp’ within the park, with only the tent canvas between us and the wildlife - which made a LOT of noise at night (though Graeme suggests the group’s snoring managed to overwhelm it!)

Above: In gratitude for the support, the Losingira Primary School water tank is clearly marked with our name.

Above: Not how you’d hopefully ever see timber transported in the UK, but needs must in Africa.

Above: Graeme Fallowfield and Sue Baker with a cross section of the groups from Health, Care and Early Years programmes who have spent the past year raising funds through events such as raffles etc for a variety of causes.

Enough was raised to donate £160 to the Meserani Project in order to sponsor a student to complete her studies.

For more information on the Meserani Project please visit http://meseraniproject.co.uk

Above: Graeme was involved in a prizegiving ceremony, with good quality pens and paper being a rare and highly valued prize.

Gameathon hopes to score highly at youth awards Last issue we featured a story on how Hartlepool College students gave up their half-term to raise money for Changing Futures North East, a charity that supports young people across the town in a variety of ways.

Student ambassadors and staff dug out their games consoles and put on a great games event for all ages, inviting students from HCFE and local schools, as well as their families. The event raised a total of £208.

Now the group have been nominated for a prestigious award - Best Youth Project in the North East at the PoSBOs - the “Positive Social Behaviour Order” awards of YouthFocusNE. The gang are heading up to BALTIC in Gateshead on December 8th, and we’ll bring you pics and the results next issue!

Well done to the team, who are already planning a bigger, better GameCon for 2017!

Artist Sophie comes back from the br-ink to take on HCFE role A STUDENT who underwent life-saving surgery after being rushed to the top of the transplant list for a new liver is looking forward to a career at the College which supported her through her ordeal.

HCFE creates opportunities to step into digital age!

Students and businesses are being encouraged to take a leap into the ever-changing digital world at the College after a £100,000 investment was used to create a new Mac suite, which will give students the chance to develop their skills and ultimately create a smoother transition into the workplace.

At the same time as developing the students, the Exec team are also encouraging the business community to get on board with a view to recruiting apprentices as part of a nationwide drive to increase the number of workers in the digital sector.

Keith Bradley, Head of Art, Design & IT, said: “There is a big push from the Government for digital placements. It is an increasingly important tool for businesses to be able to market digitally, and we are trying to spread the word to the local business community that we have the facilities in place to provide apprentices across the board. A few years ago a lot of the areas covered on these courses wouldn’t have been thought of, but it is important to move with the times and ensure we can provide students who are able to fit straight into the workplace.”

Sophie Thackray was six months into an Art & Design course at Hartlepool College of Further Education when she was struck down by health problems. A scan showed she has a 10cm tumour on the inside of her liver. Thankfully a biopsy confirmed it wasn’t cancerous, but her rare condition left medics baffled and as calls were made to specialists around the globe, the tumour continued to grow.

Now, two years on, Sophie, 25, has returned to the College to do a teaching qualification which will enable her to pass on her expertise to the next generation. She said “It is great to be back at the College, and everyone here knows how grateful I am for the support I was given throughout my illness. After being on life support and getting a transplant, you do tend to look at things differently.

With hospital visits and constant checks taking over her life, Sophie had to put her studies on hold to focus on getting better. But she was left fighting for her life two years ago after complications set in, and she was placed onto a life support machine in an induced coma while a desperate search was launched to find her a new liver.

Studying was probably the last thing on my mind at the time, but the College were in constant contact and I even had lecturers visiting me in hospital up in Newcastle. My course was placed on hold, and I was able to return last year and finish it. I got a merit, and I’m now on a course which allows me to teach other art students. I felt I needed to give something back to the College, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

A match was eventually found from a 74-year-old woman, and after some initial problems in the first few hours after the surgery the transplant has been a success.

Sophie, who specialises in illustration and graphic design, is able to lead a normal lifestyle, and has regular checks with specialists to make sure everything is in order, but is under no illusions that had the transplant not happened her story could have been very different. “I’m constantly telling my friends and family about the importance of being on the organ donor register, and once I get started on the teaching side of things I will be getting that message across as often as I can.”

Keith Bradley, Head of School for Art, Design & IT, said “We could tell straight away that Sophie was a very talented artist, and it was a shock to all of us at the College when she took ill. We supported her in any way we could, and we were delighted when she came back and finished her course last year. She has worked hard to catch up, and we wish her well as she moves into the teaching side. We’re sure she will be a great asset to the team.”

To register as a donor visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

“The courses we run are set up with the business community in mind, and we are making sure the students know how the businesses operate. We look at things like website design, mobile phone apps and spreadsheets, just a really broad base for an apprentice to move forward into the world of marketing. The beauty of this course is that it can be specifically tailored for the business, so the apprentice is going to be able to provide them with exactly what they want. If it was a course which was set in stone, then it may not be suitable for some businesses.

Keith added: “Some courses can be described as off the peg, where the apprentice will be able to fit into any working environment, but this one isn’t like that.”

The College has invested in the Mac suite so students can use the same equipment that they will use in the majority of workplaces, with courses available at all levels and designed for people with very little digital experience up to extended diploma opportunities which cover more advanced areas.

Keith continued: “As well as making businesses aware of what we can offer, we’re also looking to let students know that there are some exciting opportunities in all aspects of design, multimedia and IT. The students who have enrolled on these courses so far have enjoyed the way they have been set up, and there has been some excellent feedback from businesses who have been in touch with us.”

Hartlepool College of Further Education is one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the North East, and its success rates have placed it as the second best provider of its kind in the country.

It has more than 500 students aged between 16-18 who are working with employers across all sectors throughout the region.

Seymour Civil Engineering welcomes three new apprentices to the team A top civil engineering specialist has given three students the opportunity to take their first step on the career ladder by taking them on as apprentices.

Putting our money where our mouth is!

Having established themselves as the number one college academy in the north east for the past three years, Hartlepool College has started to develop links with local universities in order to help with the development of student athletes.

College Sport Maker Dan Farman believes providing challenging matches for the student athletes is hugely important, saying “This is a great opportunity for the students to develop their game by challenging themselves against more experienced golfers. I believe this match will be a fantastic learning experience for our student athletes which will stand them in good stead ahead of the AOC Sport North East championships next week.”

The match itself saw six of Hartlepool College’s Golf Academy students square up against six Team Durham students in a ‘Ryder Cup style’ competition. Each Hartlepool College student played 18 holes of match play golf against their Team Durham counterpart, with six points on offer for each team.

Above: Seymour Civil Engineering Managing Director Kevin Byrne with apprentices, L-R, Lewis Hunt, Klaudia Robinson and Sam Shaw.

Klaudia Robinson, Sam Shaw and Lewis Hunt have all enrolled on the three-year Construction Built Environment course at Hartlepool College, and will spend four days a week at Seymour, with the remaining day based in the classroom to complete the academic part of the programme.

Klaudia, 17, formerly of St Hild’s school, will work with the Quantity Surveying team. She said: “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a great opportunity, and hopefully I will learn enough to gain a job at the end of the three-year course.”

Sam, 16, a former High Tunstall College of Science student, will work in the Estimating department.

He said: “I’m looking forward to getting started, because Seymour is one of the biggest businesses of its kind in the region. It would be a dream for me if there was an opportunity at the end of the course.”

Lewis, 17 from Clavering, is another product of St Hild’s and will specialise in Repair & Maintenance.

He said: “There are a lot of people in senior positions at Seymour who have started as an apprentice, and I see this as a real opportunity to get my foot on the career ladder and hopefully make progress.”

Kevin Byrne, Managing Director at Seymour Civil Engineering, is always keen to provide opportunities for young people and is delighted with the relationship his firm has with Hartlepool College. He said: “I said when Klaudia, Sam and Lewis walked in, that today was the first day of the start of their future.

From my own point of view, at Seymour if we get an apprentice through the door then they learn from their very first day. They know the Seymour way, and pick up the good habits. It’s easier to give someone good habits than to try and take the bad habits they’ve learned away from them.”

“I have a pyramid mentality when it comes to running this business, and I want them to build their way up that pyramid. We’re a local company working with a great local college to provide opportunities, and it gives me a lot of pride both personally and professionally to welcome them on board.”

Seymour is recognised as one of the North East’s leading civil engineering businesses, and employs a workforce in excess of 230 throughout the region. The firm specialises in drainage, urban renewal projects, restoration and development work as well as sea defence and coastal protection work.

Darren Hankey said: “We have built up a great relationship with Seymour over the years, and we are delighted to be able to provide them with three apprentices for their Management Trainee scheme.

There have been some real success stories from Seymour with apprentices going on to greater things within the company, and I wish Klaudia, Sam and Lewis all the best moving forward.”

Hartlepool College’s Team Captain, Cameron Wallace, led the way, gaining the College’s first point by defeating Steve Molenby of Team Durham 4 and 2.

Unfortunately teammate Nathan Wood couldn’t build on a strong start and eventually went down 4 and 3 to the very talented Johan Voss. However, that turned out to be HCFE’s only loss, as the next four matches brought in 3½ points. Kris Ball and Lloyd Thift were both on the right side of very tight 1UP wins while Adam Stokle won match five very convincingly 7 and 6.

Matty Booth completed a brilliant individual comeback, winning holes 17 and 18 to halve the final match.

It was a fantastic result for HCFE against one of the strongest Golf programmes in the county. HCFE Golf Academy Coach Clifford Jackson was very pleased with the level of Golf his players played at, noting “We knew that this was going to be a tough match for our lads against more experienced players but the lads rose to the challenge and can be proud of the golf they have played today. It sets them up nicely for future competitions.”

Malice in Wonderland and other creepy goings-on!

There were spooky goings on around the College in the run up to Halloween, with people reporting strange, terrifying figures lurking in the corridors. Still, enough about the

REDACTED! team, there were students dressed up for Halloween too...

On Monday 17th October students from the Level 3 Diploma in Theatrical, Special Effects, Hair and Media Make-up group started the ball rolling towards the creepy holiday by taking part in an event completing assessments on fantasy hair design and media make-up (top photo, right).

They completed looks which incorporated pinup designs and special effects make-up, with inspirations ranging from zombie movies to the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. The end results, as you can see, were quite spectacular.

The session was also good practice for the group’s next activity, which was to offer Halloween make-up to the public on 31st October in the Luminary salon.

Meanwhile, students from HCFE Creative also got in on the act with a large amount of highly imaginative make-ups and costumes on show, which they proudly paraded around the College (getting more than a few double-takes).

Inspirations here included a dark version of Alice in Wonderland, characters from videogames, Suicide Squad’s Harley Quinn and... well to be honest we really couldn’t fathom some of them, but they did have us worried!

A great effort by all concerned and again bringing some great fun to the atmosphere of the College.

Army visit drills the reality of military life into College students Several branches of the Army visited the College to talk to Sport & Public Services students on 5th October, relating the realities of life on active service. The Coldstream Guards, one of the country’s most famous regiments, held camouflage workshops and explained how soldiers are trained to minimise their visibility. Also present was a detachment from the Royal Army Medical Corps, who used realistic prosthetics to demonstrate some of the injuries a combat medic might face on the battlefield. Students were also able to try on a range of combat kit, including protective gear used when chemical weapons are deployed against them.

National Citizenship Service hold second Takeover Day Following on from a successful first Takeover Day in May, the National Citizen Service (NCS) returned for another fun-filled “takeover day” on 13th October.

Students and staff joined in demonstrations, games and activities around the atrium, while Scream for Pizza was also again on site serving up free food from their vintage camper van - provided you were brave enough to dash across to them through some heavy rain (which most were - hello, free pizza!)

Students also again learned more about the scheme by speaking to NCS staff and graduates. NCS offers teenagers aged 15-17 the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and take part in an adventure packed residential programme and make a positive difference in the local community.

NCS participation represents amazing value for money, costing less than £50 and covering accommodation, transport, food and other expenses.

Children in Need efforts are crystal clear The College once again supported Children in Need, with the main attraction this year being a version of hit TV show The Crystal Maze organised

by Aneta Bradley and Kevin Fincken and their team. Winners of the competition were the Health and Care team, who navigated a series of challenges such as a blindfolded obstacle course.

There were also raffle tickets and quiz sheets, and when combined the total smashed our 2015 tally of £377.50 by reaching an amazing £430!

Thanks to everybody who contributed or took part, and especially those who donated so generously.

Students have a (Land) Rover’s Return telling time CACHE Level 3 Year 2 Childcare and Education students visited Hartlepool Borough Council Library as part of their Supporting Emergent Literacy unit. The group liaised with Library staff who are responsible for running the Book Start Campaign throughout Hartlepool.

The staff discussed the importance of encouraging emergent literacy and the need for multi-agencies to be involved. The group were given the chance to look at the resources used and gained relevant and topical data to use within their academic studies.

As part of the visit they participated in a “Time for Rhyme” session which was running. This allowed the students to see learning taking place using the resources discussed. The staff were very accommodating and even allowed the students to use “The Special Reading Chair”. Comfy!

Former Hartlepool College Automotive student Rhys Armstrong called by recently to thank the his former tutors for helping him gain an Apprenticeship with Stratstone Landrover Jaguar in Houghton-Le-Spring.

Rhys completed the Automotive Level 2 Diploma in Vehicle Fitting last year and was successful in gaining the Jaguar Landrover apprenticeship in the summer. Working with some of the motor industry’s most famous, respected and prestigious vehicles is a considerable feather in any mechanic’s cap, and Rhys was excited to tell us about the training he has been doing, as well as the exciting developments that he will be involved in such as Hybrid and Electric vehicles.

Rhys also spoke to current students about his experiences and achievements, which was not only highly motivational but also allowed them to gain a first-person perspective of what a typical working week is like at industry level.

Former student proves the sky’s no limit A former student and current Virgin Atlantic cabin crew, Kay Hall, returned to Hartlepool College recently to deliver a guest lecture on her profession and working in the airline industry.

Kay started at Hartlepool College of Further Education 17 years ago on a GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism. She recollects “I have really fond memories of my time at the college and I can certainly say it was the foundation for the career I have now”. That foundation at Level 2 and level 3 gave Kay the knowledge and experience to progress to a HND in European Travel Management and then to top up to a BA (Hons) Business Management Degree in Travel & Tourism.

After working for two years with the BMI Baby airline Kay gained employment with Virgin Atlantic, and wears her striking red uniform (designed by Vivienne Westwood) with immense pride. The last ten years have seen Kay regularly travel all across the world with the airline, Kay enthusing “I love my job. I regularly commute to New York, St Lucia, Hong Kong and Johannesburg, spending several days at each”. During the guest lecture Kay gave an insight in to a typical week for her, including regular commuting to London, her roles on the ground and in the air and the experiences she has in the many destinations she visits.

“It’s great to come back and see the students that are hoping to follow in the career path that I have. If they work hard, set their standards high and embrace all of the opportunities that the College provides.”

Above: Kay Hall (in red uniform) with, L-R Sara Paterson, Nicola Bird and Katherine Allen.

Starters & Leavers As it’s been a while since the last Briefing we have quite an extensive pair of lists here, including some who started AND finished in the intervening time since the previous issue.

As always, our warmest welcome to those joining the HCFE team, and for those leaving us our best wishes for your future careers or retirement.

Starters Neil Crabtree; Work Based Assessor - Casual Paul Staiss; Lecturer - Building Services Engineering Charles Thomas; Lecturer - Construction and Built Environment Sophie Bates; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Shanice Broom; Kitchen Porter - Casual Emma Dickinson; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Imogen Oliphant; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Rochelle Oliphant; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Sherilyn Oliphant; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] John Cartwright; Head of School - CAT Luke Gate; Lecturer - Electrical Installation Tristran Thomas; Part Time Lecturer - Engineering Arthur Sigsworth; Instructor - Engineering Alfred Dumain; Part Time Lecturer - F&W Linda Leighton; Cleaner David Young; Caretaker David Burns; Superintendent - Workshop Safety Jake Cox; Apprentice - IT Terrance Dixon; Apprentice - IT Stephen Trotter; Security Officer Leanna Cotson; Salon Assessor - Casual Anne Austin; Apprentice - Business Administration (SEND) Leonie Bell; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Robyn Cairney; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Kirstie Cooper; Apprentice - Customer Services Paul Donnelly; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Nichola Harrington; Learner Support Assistant Casual Cally Iddon; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Rachel McLean; Learner Support Assistant Casual Jack Willey; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Judith Woolley; Learner Support Assistant - Casual Leavers Patricia Tillston; Lecturer - Biological Sciences Paul Skipper; Lecturer - Plumbing Martin Cain; Part Time Lecturer - BSET / Internal Verifier John Dineen; Part Time Lecturer - BSET Amelia Henry; Bar/Waiting Staff - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Collette Larkin; Bar/Waiting Person - Flagship Restaurant [Casual] Ian Pollitt; Invigilator Jonathon Stuart; Apprentice - Employer Services Andrew Smith; Lecturer - Aeronautical Engineering Eric Davison; Part Time Lecturer - F&W Deborah Harker McIntyre; Cleaner Timothy Davey; Technician - IT Susan Gooding; Work Based Assessor HC [Casual] Kirstie Cooper; Apprentice - Customer Services James Murphy; Part Time Fitness Instructor Ayleigh Robinson; Apprentice - Fitness Instructor

RESPECT Inspirations Now available on the College’s website is a guide to the work of the College’s RESPECT team which also features an extensive list of annual activities and special days throughout the year, which, as the name suggests, we hope will inspire you all for tutorials. To further inspire you there is a gallery of previous activities and a feature on the Big Picture, one of RESPECT’s main resources.

There are four main suggestions for each month of the academic year, plus additional dates highlighted at the end of the document.

The guide also contains links to a variety of College-produced short films, made for a variety of events such as Remembrance Day, Holocaust Memorial Day and Workers’ Memorial Day.

@hartlepoolfe #HCF ERespect

Hartlepool College of Further Education

RESPECT

IDEAS FOR THE SHAR ING

“INSPIRATIONS”

OF EQUALITY, DIVERSITY

& SOCIAL RESPONSI BILITY

The document is here http://bit.ly/ResInsp HISTORY CURRENT AFFAIRS SOCIETY CULTURE HUMANITY MORALITY RIGHTS BELIEFS

Prevent & Safeguarding A reminder that the College has produced a brochure aimed at making sure employers who receive our students on work experience placements or apprenticeships are aware of our commitment to Safeguarding, and what measures are in place. The brochure also features information on Prevent, and this information is also available as a separate flyer if needed.

The brochures can be accessed online in PDF format at: Safeguarding for Employers http://bit.ly/SafeEmp PREVENT http://bit.ly/21qTNdk

Adult Course Guide Also available is the College’s Adult Course Guide, which features Part-Time programmes, Higher Education and Professional Training opportunities.

Spread throughout are a number of inspiring “Be The Next” stories, which serve as a good reminder of why it is we all do what we do. This year saw the earliest the Adult Guide was ever produced, and it has been distributed widely via a direct mail campaign.

However, we want to keep awareness raised, so if you know anyone who may be interested in this guide, or have any contacts, be them businesses, organisations etc., that would be willing to take copies and put them out, please see Student Services who can give you a supply.

Student Wellbeing Special This regular section of the staff Briefing aims to provide a platform for staff to share resources, tips and good practice which will complement the face-to-face CPD offer, as well as important information which may have an influence on learning. The ideas forwarded won’t necessarily suit all lessons, but, as mentioned above, the aim is to provide a platform for professional development and an enhanced learning, social and progression experience for our students. Feel free to send your good practice tips, suggestions and ideas to the Briefing team.

Foodbank incident highlights a number of issues The rise of food banks since 2010 (40,000 annual users then growing to over 1,000,000 now) is one of the biggest social crises in generations, and forms a pivotal scene in the recent Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake that highlights the stigma and desperation of those who need to use them. In opposition to this viewpoint, some politicians and media commentators on the right wing have dismissed the film as “fiction”, and claim that food bank users are “scroungers” out for free food. Opinion is sharply divided on their necessity.

As many if not all of you will hopefully have noticed, the College does acknowledge their need and is collecting a variety of items for the Hartlepool Food Bank to help vulnerable people who need such support. Tins, nonperishable foods and sundry hygiene products are being collected in the Student Services area, please give what you can.

However, the original location of the collection table was the atrium, and a number of items donated to the Foodbank appeal were taken by person(s) unknown. The table was in one of the few CCTV blindspots in the College, and the products were snack-style foods. The collection is now under a camera and close to staff who can monitor it.

It may be they were taken by someone with a genuine need, or it could have been an opportunist seeing a free snack. However, it does highlight a problem that we all need to be aware of - that some students may actually be attending without proper nutrition, which will affect their academic performance. Below is a bit more detail. If you suspect this may be the case for one of your students, or want more detailed information on what to look out for and the potential impact on mind and body, please contact Ronnie Bage.

Ronnie will also be able to discretely assist any students who are in this situation in a non-judgemental, non-stigmatic way in complete confidence. You can call Ronnie on 4135 or mobile 07931 360836.

Nutrition and learning physical and mental impact

Malnutrition signs and symptoms

Several studies have shown that nutritional status can directly affect mental capacity among schoolaged children and young adults. For example, iron deficiency, even in early stages, can decrease dopamine transmission, thus negatively impacting cognition. Deficiencies in other vitamins and minerals, specifically thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin B, iodine, and zinc, are shown to inhibit cognitive abilities and mental concentration.

The most obvious symptom of malnourishment is sudden weight loss, but this isn’t always the case and can be a sign of many other things. However, being overweight can also be a sign of malnutrition as those unable to access a balanced diet will compensate by eating junk and snack food that is cheap, plentiful and may give immediate energy boosts, but has “empty calories” that provide few or none of the vitamins and minerals a body requires.

Good nutrition helps students show up at college prepared to learn. Students on a limited diet will often miss the full balance of nutrients needed to function at physical and mental peak capacity, and those eating a proper diet are likely to have fewer absences and attend classes more frequently.

Studies also clearly show that malnutrition leads to behavioural problems, and that excess sugar has a negative impact - something of concern given that it is a major component of many of the drinks and snack foods students find popular as “boosters”.

Sufferers of malnutrition can especially feel and look tired and tangibly lack energy (though again, this could be other things), and a weakened immune system means that they frequently contract infections such as colds, which then take a longer than usual time to recover from. Mentally, they may be withdrawn or argumentative from fatigue.

Minor cuts and scrapes may also take longer than average to heal. Other signs are poor levels of concentration, and a difficulty in keeping warm which may lead to students wanting to keep outdoor clothes such Above: Cuts to healthcare and other

public services have seen a rise in poverty as coats on in class. and the return of some conditions and situations once thought all-but eradicated.

Sleepwalking towards a health crisis?

A recent study proposed that a lack of sleep among UK workers is costing the economy up to £40 billion a year, which is 1.86% of the country’s GDP. Researchers at not-for-profit research organisation RAND Europe say that lower productivity levels and the higher risk of mortality resulting from sleep deprivation have a significant effect on a nation’s success.

From a health perspective sleep deprivation increases the risk of mortality by 13% and leads to the UK losing around 200,000 working days a year, while economically increasing nightly sleep from under six hours to between six and seven hours could add £24 billion to the UK economy.

Tired workers are also likely to make errors, which can have an impact on safety.

The study, Why Sleep Matters: The Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep, is the first of its kind to quantify the economic losses due to lack of sleep among workers in five different countries - the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan.

Information supplied by Ronnie Bage, the College’s Education Welfare Officer, based on 233 responses, recently distributed some statistics regarding the sleep patterns of our students.

29.2% of students who took part said they get an average of 8-10 hours of sleep per night, those falling within the accepted “healthy daily sleep range”. 40% of students do believe they get enough sleep. 70.9% use an alarm clock to get up in the morning.

54.7% of students described themselves as grumpy when they wake up. 71.2% said the sometimes wake up groggy.

27.5% constantly suffer from colds, while 21.1% of students are caffeine dependant - both things that are linked to lack of sleep and the effect it has on our immune systems and mental alertness.

There are a number of factors involved in why so many students fail to get enough sleep, and the consequences it has on their wellbeing.

A major one is the advent of smartphones and tablets, and social media offering a constant stream of stimuli. FOMO (“Fear of Missing Out”) is a factor, as young people especially constantly monitor their feeds for worry of missing something their friends (real and online) are reacting to. It is common in the College to have to dodge students moving between classes glued to their screens while walking. This again may make a good topic for tutorials.

Xmas Trivia - the perfect stocking (and page) filler As, thanks to Darren’s end of year quiz, many HCFE staff members now associate Christmas as much with obscure trivia as they do Santa, chestnuts and opportunistic BBC repeats branded “another chance to see the classic...”

So, to see you off into your well-earned holidays here are some things about the festive season you may not have known (or wanted to): In 350AD Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25th as the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ. The real date is believed to be sometime around September.

The traditional three colours of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolises the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.

Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.

Norwegian scientists once made a serious study of why Rudolph’s nose was red, and concluded it was probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system.

All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts. This is coincidentally also roughly the same percentage as the interest you’d pay if you got them from a payday lender.

Although they do do a lot of harking and heralding, there is no reference to angels singing in the Bible.

In Poland, spiders or spider webs are common Christmas tree decorations because according to legend it was a spider that wove the blanket for Baby Jesus. In fact, Polish people consider spiders to be symbols of good spirit and prosperity at Christmas.

Mistletoe is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads itself though bird droppings.

Puritan Oliver Cromwell (below left) outlawed Christmas celebrations and carols in England from 1647 to 1660. The only celebrations allowed were sermons and prayers.

Above: Student Services always does a great job of being cheery for visitors during the festive season, and this year the team has raised the bar with an array of inventive decorations, including a HD virtual roaring fire and this fabulous illuminated plastic-cup snowman made by Tina Preston, which has drawn much admiration from everyone (except possibly those standing at the water cooler wondering where all the cups have gone - only kidding!)

Empire magazine once held a poll to find out what its readers regarded as the most Christmassy movies. The top two results were Die Hard and Gremlins, both set at Christmas but hardly about it!

The highest ever grossing Christmas movie is 2000’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas (above right), which has raked in £175m to date.

THE word Noel derives from the French expression “les bonnes nouvelles” or “the good news”.

US scientists once calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at an average of 650 miles a second.

Although now a sweet filled pastry, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with spiced beef.

A Christmas tradition in some parts of Peru is to settle any outstanding grudges with fist fights, and live in peace the rest of the year.

To ensure that Santa Claus IS real, one town in Indiana, USA named itself after him. Many letters addressed to Santa actually go there, and are processed by local volunteers.

The abbreviation Xmas isn’t irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.

Since 1947 Oslo has sent an Xmas tree to London to thank us for our help in the Second World War. Retail experts estimate that 6.8 million new iOS and Android devices will be activated on Christmas Day. Amazon claim a further 1.2 million Kindles will add to the strain on our broadband!

The engineers that designed the Voyager Space Mission planned its trajectory so it would avoid any planetary encounters during Thanksgiving and Christmas to allow the scientists monitoring to enjoy the holidays.

You WILL have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, by order of the Empire!

And remember, this is the time for sharing, so please share our video The Course Awakens! bit.ly/UseTheCourse #UseTheCourse

Meanwhile, back in Briefing Towers....

“Aw man, Reindeer clean-up duty all holiday!? Maybe I shouldn’t have put in those gags about Darren’s quiz after all...”

And with that, we’ll see you all in 2017!