"FE Life" Magazine

BETTER CHOICES. BETTER CHANCES. YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

life

The Hartlepool College Magazine Spring 2015 @hartlepoolfe

College

Hartlepool College of Further Education

All All work work and and no no play... play...

Hartlepool College isn’t just about getting great skills and qualifications - it’s about having a great social life too!

See page 6

In this issue:

Officially rated

GOOD by

Success Stories

Thousands of people change their lives and prospects every year at Hartlepool College - so can you!

Quick and easy travel

With a central location and excellent road and rail access, HCFE is just a short hop away and you might be eligible for help with costs!

Treat yourself

With a restaurant, coffee shop, fitness centre and hair and beauty salons, you don’t need to be a student to enjoy HCFE’s facilities!

Plus: whatever you want to be, at Hartlepool College you can...

STOP PRESS! We’re officially the

7th best performing pro of APPRENTICESvider HIP in the country! S

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Welcome to HCFE: what will you be?

Six years and £53 million pounds in the making, the current Hartlepool College opened its doors to the public in 2011, replacing our old building which dated back to 1962! Standing on Stockton Street in the very centre of Hartlepool, in easy reach of all major amenities, public transport and the shopping centre, the College is more spacious, brighter, greener and much more advanced than our previous building both inside and out. It was designed with a huge amount of input from students, employers and our partners in the higher education sector to offer people the skills and opportunities they need to achieve and succeed no matter what they want to do.

I am also fortunate enough to work with excellent teaching and support staff, all of who are dedicated to your success. Our teaching staff are well qualified in terms of their academic and teaching qualifications, but most also possess a wealth of experience gained in practical work settings which adds huge value to their teaching and learning practice.

Our facilities are amongst the best you’ll find - not only in the area, but in the country as a whole. Students get to hone their skills in environments and with equipment that’s on the same level as those used by employers, which gives them a big advantage on the job front. In fact, facilities like our restaurant, gym and salons are open to the public too, as you’ll see later in this magazine.

Most important of all, I am proud to be the Principal of the College where I get to meet and work with truly excellent students on a day-to-day basis. I personally feel that aspiration, allied to hard work and tenacity, are the vital ingredients for your success.

Hartlepool College is here for everyone, whether you’re about to leave school and looking to your future, an employer who needs training or a venue for events, or even someone who wants a great value gym, meal, hair or beauty treatment or a great cup of coffee. We do it all, so please be sure to get in touch or call in.

Find out more about HCFE by searching for

#BeTheNext

Contact us: 01429 295000

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www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk enquiries@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk or search hartlepoolfe on popular social media

Darren Hankey, Principal & Chief Executive

@HCFEprincipal

Courses. Facilities. Social Life... Any good?

You can see for yourself!

Hartlepool College has its own YouTube Channel, with a number of HD movies showing the range of opportunities and facilities we have to offer, as well as the superb atmosphere and social activities to be found. An archive of older films can also be found that shows exactly how much the College has progressed over the years, and the part we’ve played in the life and growth of our local community. You can check it out at:

www.youtube.com/HartlepoolCollege

Spring 2015

DID YOU KNOW

?

...Hartlepool College is officially in the top 20% of English colleges ...We’re the biggest provider of apprenticeships in the local area ...1 in 4 of our 16 to 18 year olds is employed ...We’re officially rated good by Ofsted, the government’s inspector ...Our pass rates in many areas are way above the national average ...Most Higher Education courses have no up front fees ...We can help with travel and costs, depending on circumstances

We don’t big our stats up. We back our stats up.

20% 850+ 87% 14 Our classroom-based provision is in the top 20% of all English colleges.

We’re officially the largest provider of apprenticeships in the area, with nearly 900.

87% of our 16-18 apprentices passed their qualification against a national rate of 72%.

Our average class size, smaller than most private schools, to ensure highest safety and training standards.

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Below: the personalised approach of Student Services has been a key feature of Hartlepool College for many years. Innovating and evolving along the way, our approach has influenced many other colleges and even some universities, who have followed our lead.

Student Services: here to help With a quarter century on the front line of College life, Student Services is one of our longest-running sections and has been much emulated by other colleges and even some universities. This completely free service is literally an essential part of EVERY students’ experience here.

Traditionally located close to the main entrance for maximum visibility and convenience to users, Student Services is the College’s flexible support service available to all prospective students and existing learners. Similar resources are now common and fundamental to most educational establishments, so it’s easy to forget that Hartlepool College was one of the first to introduce this type of facility, and we set the template and standard that many others followed.

From just three staff and a rack of prospectuses when it was first set up, Student Services has grown over the years to be a high-tech hub with a team that consists of the College’s reception staff, a course information officer, transitions and enrolment staff, a careers guidance team as well as a bursar team. They are always on hand from opening to closing, helping anyone who needs advice, guidance or help with a problem.

Above: the Reception Team (L-R): Lesley Hardy, Angela Stuart, Jessica Stainsby and Abbie Veitch

Opening Times Opening hours vary between term time and holiday periods, but we do remain open all year round with the exception of the Christmas break. You can contact or call into Student Services every day during normal hours, with extended hours during peak periods.

Contact Details Phone: 01429 295000 Email: enquiries@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk 4

Above: The Student Advisers (L-R) Sue Costello, Mark Lee, Tina Preston, Neil Crabtree and Gillian Brough

“The team is made up of a range of dedicated and approachable people who all genuinely want to help make the most of each student’s experience whilst at Hartlepool College”.

Mark Lee, IAG Team Leader

For example the reception team handles all enquiries - in person, by phone or electronic - while the guidance team works across all curriculum areas to support learner retention and successful progression. With vast experience across multiple sectors and post-graduate accreditation, the guidance team also works extensively with internal and external schools to support positive outcomes such as further/higher education or employment.

The College’s bursar, admissions and enrolment team supports learners with financial grants and equipment requests as well as childcare and meal support.

The transitions and enrolment staff work to support new entrants and progressing students through interviews, administration and more.

You don’t need an appointment to visit Student Services, though one is advisable to ensure you are seen quickly at peak times.

Above: the Finance & Bursary Team (L-R) Sam-Amy Kidson, Anne Bradley and Andrea Willingham

Free meals are food for thought Depending on their household income, many of our students receive free meals at College.

Students who are approved receive credit which they can spend in the College refreshment areas, the Food Court, Skills Cafe and Coffee Rapport, which are open all day and offer a wide variety of hot and cold food options.

Students who wish to apply for free meals and any other funding should complete an application form, which is available from Student Services.

Spring 2015

Shaun’s future is fit for purpose

...FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Luminary Fitness Suite apprentice Shaun Kenney is realising his dream of working in the fitness industry after an impressive start at HCFE.

Childcare students demonstrate gooed practice!

Students on the CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce sometimes make a right mess of their studies - but all on purpose as part of their learning experience.

Former Wellfield School pupil Shaun joined the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Sport, Coaching and Development at the College in September 2014 with a GCSE profile of 11 A* - C grades.

Regarding his motivation, Shaun said “I had been to the open events of every college in the area but the moment I came to Hartlepool College I knew it was the one for me. I’ve always wanted to work in the fitness industry but I knew I’d need to develop my knowledge and get as much experience as possible.”

He quickly got the chance to act on this when an opportunity came along for a position as Fitness Instructor apprentice in the College’s commercial fitness suite, the Luminary. Shaun successfully applied and started in January, commenting “I’m now working full time as a fitness instructor, studying towards my fitness qualifications and learning from all the staff in the Luminary. I couldn’t be happier.”

As a result of Shaun’s success and an increase in applications for fitness based curriculum the College has created a new programme, the NCFE Level 2 Sport &

Fitness programme, which develops a student’s knowledge of the key disciplines needed whilst providing lots of opportunities to develop personal skills.

Shaun Hope, Head of School, describes Shaun as “a determined young man and a real role model to his peers.

Going places: we put travel in easy reach Hartlepool College is literally a few minutes walk from the town’s reliable, very regular train and bus services (to see how close, take a look at this short video: bit.ly/hcfetravel). But did you know that we can also offer a range of help and support with travel, depending on circumstances?

Students* who live more than four miles from the College receive free travel when they enrol here, which extends as far north as Sunderland and as far south as Northallerton.

Students can choose which bus or train company they wish to use, based on where they live. They are then either issued a termly pass, or paid money directly into their bank to allow them to buy a weekly pass.

But you don’t necessarily need to live out of town. Hartlepool students* also receive free travel if they live over two and a half miles from the College and have a household income of less than £25,000 per year. All students can also apply for a Stagecoach VIP discount pass.

Students who wish to access free and discounted travel will need to complete a funding application form which is available from Student Services. We also have information on the wide variety of travel options available to all our students.

Please feel free to contact the Student Support Team for further advice.

As part of a unit entitled Contribute to the Support of Child and Young Person Development they are asked to plan and implement a play session to demonstrate their awareness of suitable activities for young children. As well as a way of keeping children occupied play is a vital part of how they learn about the world around them, and when carefully structured and guided can be of enormous educational value in the development of tactile, cognitive and observational skills.

The students work in small groups to plan the session and then decided between them who would provide which resources, which included hand printing, paper mache, crafts and... well, sticking their hands in goo (actually, a valuable demonstration of materials and textures).

In addition they were allocated a colleague to observe throughout the session to enhance their skills of observation. To staff and students walking past it probably looked like they were having a riot, but as those working in the sectors these students hope to enter one day will tell you, fun is a serious business!

*Students need to be aged between 16 and 18 years old and studying on a part-time or full-time Further Education Programme. Students aged 19 and over or on apprenticeships should contact the Student Support Team (see page opposite) for more information.

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life

RESPECT is the College’s wellestablished campaign to promote equality, fairness and understanding for all individuals, and is a valuable resource across a range of teaching, learning and tutorial activities. It involves and applies to everyone who works or studies in the College.

It’s not all work!

Like fun? Job done.

Social activities form an important part of the Hartlepool College experience, and throughout the year the College organises numerous fun events to help national and local charities.

The Respect campaign is co-ordinated by a working group of specialised staff and students who plan the strategy and raise the profile of the RESPECT campaign around the College. A particular remit of the RESPECT group is to highlight topics that have a specific interest to the student population across the College’s many subject areas. Some will be specific to selected courses, while others will be general to all students.

In recent years we’ve held several fancydress fun runs along the promenade to Seaton Carew, a brilliant raft race competition in Hartlepool Marina, and loads of events in the College itself.

The RESPECT calendar is planned and published at the start of each academic year, to allow students and staff to know what events we have planned and also let us know of any things we may have missed. You can view it online and find out more about RESPECT at:

When we’re not being thoroughly ridiculous, students can still socialise in our comfortable “chill zones”, with soft furnishings, free wi-fi, and sometimes even table games like pool and fussball, not to mention our Rapport coffee bar and great value food court.

These have included giant dance-a-thons (including a hilariously epic “Conga through the College”), our own version of the Great British Bake Off, a dress as your hero day and many others.

bit.ly/hcferespect facebook.com/hartlepoolfe @hartlepoolfe Hashtag: #HCFERespect

A graphic reminder of the need for worker rights and safety Every 28th April is International Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to remember those suffering from or lost to industrial accident and disease. Hartlepool College fully supports the event, hosting a poignant ceremony in partnership with Hartlepool TUC. Earlier this year the TUC asked creative students from both HCFE and Cleveland College of Art and Design to come up with ideas for a graphic device to represent the 2015 event. Over 20 ideas from both colleges were presented, and the winner was Jake Stevens, who studies on our Yr1 Subsidiary Diploma in Art & Design.

Jake’s idea was a largely monochrome candle, the only colour coming from a dying ember on the wick. The smoke forms two hearts, a visual representation of both the act of remembrance and the fact that a lost worker once gone is gone forever. Jake’s solution impressed the judges with its simplicity and elegance, while still encapsulating a huge amount of emotion, context and power.

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...COMEDY LEGEND

Hartlepool College is proud to regularly support, amongst others

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Spring 2015

Enrich your life!

Enrichment forms an important part of each student’s Programme of Study.

All enrolled students are entitled to a wide range of clubs and activities to help develop their inter-personal, social and employability skills, as well as offering fun activities and the opportunity to make new friends.

The College offers a broad range of activities and clubs, with numerous sports on offer for both competitive and casual players. There are also clubs involving film, music, car maintenance, video games and even flying on our state-of-the-art flight simulator. The College also has LGBT and Disability groups, a Social Committee and a Student Council,

while events such as Voice of the Learner allow students to directly shape how the College is run and developed. We also celebrate numerous important dates throughout the year and organise events to support local and national charities, many tied in with our RESPECT campaign (see page opposite).

Students help out in major Emergency Services exercise Exercise “Sandpiper” was designed to test the response of the police, ambulance and fire services in the event of an “active shooter” scenario, where public safety is endangered by a gunman or gunmen.

The biggest exercise of its kind in a decade, the scenario involved a fictional college (played by the disused retail outlet Jackson’s Landing) being overrun by gunmen after a failed armed robbery. Hartlepool College was approached last year with a request from the exercise planners to convert the empty interior into a layout of corridors and classrooms. A team of Construction students worked to exacting specifications and constructed a maze of rooms, and on the day of the exercise College students and staff played a variety of victims, hostages and casualties. Production Arts students provided the grisly, realistic makeups, while Catering students provided hot food throughout the day. Everyone involved had a great day getting an exclusive behind the scenes look at how our Emergency Services respond to a major public safety incident.

Join the “A”Team It’s a proven fact that employers and universities look far more favourably on CVs that show evidence of volunteering - it indicates motivation, team spirit and dedication. Hartlepool College’s Student Ambassador scheme is a great CV-booster, but aside from that it’s a huge amount of fun and a fast-track to the heart of many Hartlepool College events.

Student Ambassadors perform a number of duties, from assisting at College events and working with visitors and members of the public to representing the College externally at numerous venues and activities. Student Ambassadors are also heavily involved in consultations with the College over student issues, and have a real influence in the College’s policies and facilities. In short, the Ambassadors make a real difference to us and themselves, and the more we have the happier we are!

For more information or to sign up please talk to the Student Services team.

7

life Aerospace Engineer Jordan is a high flyer A lot of young boys aspire to be a fighter pilot - for Jordan Garrick though, he wanted to be the person who kept the fighter planes in the air. Now Jordan, 20, of Billingham, has actually made that ambition come true with his current role as an Apprentice aerospace engineer working for Babcock Defence Services at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Engineering: STEMming the tide

Engineers make the world. Hartlepool College makes engineers...

When the Industrial Revolution swept the world 200 years ago, Britain led the way. North East engineers were at the very cutting edge of dedication, innovation and technology and truth be told, we still are!

A huge number of major engineering companies started up in the North East, many going on to be global successes. More than that, many multinational companies established abroad have since chosen to make our region their home, seeking the excellent support and resources available - but also, crucially, the wealth of talent and experience North East engineers have to offer.

The base is home to RAF 100 Squadron, which flies BAE Hawk fast jets in a number of target, exercise and training support roles. The Hawk is a small but high-performance aircraft (it’s the plane the famous Red Arrows use), and keeping them operating on their many sorties is a round the clock job.

From mechanical to aerospace, automotive to nuclear, manufacturing to pharmaceutical, offshore to digital, there’s simply no such thing as a typical engineering company - or a typical engineer. The importance of engineering cannot be overstated; it is no exaggeration to say that almost everything we use in our daily lives is the result of engineering expertise.

But, as older engineers retire and companies expand, it’s anticipated that over the next few decades the region will need tens of thousands more. Hartlepool College has long been known for its commitment to engineering excellence, and places great emphasis on our status as a deliverer of trusted, innovative and highly successful educational provisions. We aim to ensure that this tradition continues through high quality, forward thinking engineering programmes, and an enviable track record for work experience, higher education progression and employment.

The Skills Academy represents around a quarter of the College’s space and has allowed us to take our provision to an entirely new level across a large number of disciplines. You can check them out and find out more by watching a short promo video:

bit.ly/hcfeeng

Jordan came to Hartlepool College after attending Northfield School and then studying A Levels, and enrolled on the NVQ Level 2 Performing Engine Operations course, where he got to work up close not only on the Viper turbojet engines of the College’s ex-RAF Jet Provost trainers, but also the full airframes.

“Having access to complete aircraft in a hangar rather than just components in a classroom was brilliant preparation for what I do at Leeming.” said Jordan. “It gives you practical experience of vital things such as how systems integrate, plus safety and teamwork”.

Jordan now divides his time between working on Hawk engines and marshalling the aircraft on the flightline (below).This latter role involves performing vital safety checks before each flight in conjunction with the flight crews, and is something he has qualified to do unsupervised. It’s a highly responsible job with no margin for error, and one Jordan feels HCFE made a big difference in preparing him for, noting “Even though I was working in the College, the facilities are so good it was actually more like on the job training”.

BE THE NEXT

#

Find out more about Emily via our social media and website, search for #BeTheNext 8

...ENGINEERING SUPERSTAR

“The Staff here are a great help and have a wide range of knowledge to help you through your course.”

EMILY FRENCH Apprentice Mechanical Engineer Formerly Dyke House Sports & Technology College

Spring 2015

Girls allowed: female engineers excel at HCFE Engineering is a job area that some people possibly assume to be very much a man’s world - but they couldn’t be more wrong. Increasingly, women are establishing very successful careers in this highly skilled, highly innovative field, and Hartlepool College is leading the way in encouraging more females to pursue the dynamic opportunities that being an engineer has to offer.

Women into E

ngineer OPEN EV ing ENT 23rd J 9.30am-une 3pm

Above: BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering students Melissa McKenzie (left) and Gemma Ferry (right) with Engineering lecturer Helen Gott (centre).

Women Engineers - always a big plus for the future @hartlepoolfe | @HCFEengineering | #NotJustForBoys

Representing the best and the brightest of this new generation of female engineers are two of the College’s students on the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering, Gemma Ferry and Melissa McKenzie.

Melissa became interested in engineering after initially considering science, but a talk at her school made her realise her passion for physics could find better a much better application in an engineering discipline.

Gemma, 17, from Hartlepool, came to College with an excellent engineering pedigree. Her father works in the central control room of Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station, while her grandfather worked on the nose of one of Britain’s most legendary military aircraft, the TSR-2 - a supersonic bomber from the late 1950s far in advance of any other at the time.

She initially came to the College on an Aerospace programme, but after the first year concluded that she would prefer to be a Mechanical Engineer. She was delighted to find that rather than try to convince her to stick out the wrong course, the College fully supported her choice and helped her make the transfer - a flexibility and understanding she greatly appreciated. Melissa has no shortage of ambition, setting her sights on a position with a top company such as Rolls-Royce once she has completed university.

Not surprisingly, Gemma developed an early interest in all things mechanical and proved to be especially skilled with her hands something she has had ample opportunity to develop on her course, favouring practical elements and excelling on a work experience placement at Epax on Seal Sands, a global leader in omega-3 products.

Keen to get into the world of work, Gemma has decided not to take a university route, unlike fellow student Melissa McKenzie, also 17 and from Billingham, who starts her MEng masters degree programme at Teesside University in September - her first choice of four courses she was accepted on!

One person with no doubts as to whether Melissa or Gemma will reach their career goals is Helen Gott, one of the College’s Engineering lecturing team.

Both students cite Helen as a real inspiration - a woman who has achieved educational excellence, with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham, gained industrial experience at companies like Howden Sirocco, Babcock Energy and Foster Wheeler and balanced a family life, including bringing up her daughter Katy.

Like her students Helen took an interest in engineering from an early age, as her dad and grandad loved tinkering with old cars and vans and allowed her to help and get her hands dirty.

When she was old enough Helen proactively wrote to companies looking to get her foot in the door for experience, gaining a string of placements. She now lends that same tenacity to helping and supporting her students.

For Gemma and Melissa the College has been nothing but a positive experience, and the fact that they are girls hasn’t made the slightest bit of difference to how they have been treated and the standards they are expected to meet.

Melissa says “I haven’t experienced any discrimination; my gender has really made no difference. I felt welcome and supported 100%, and to have Helen as a lecturer is great not just because she has spent time in industry, so we’re confident she knows what she teaches us, but also because she shows how outdated the notion is that a woman can’t have a great career and a family life - there are no limits.”

Helen has organised an ambitious, high profile open event to coincide with Women into Engineering Day on 23rd June. Females interested in Engineering can talk to and visit local companies, meet existing female engineering students, members of the lecturing team and tour the facilities. Contact the College for details or to book a place.

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life Below, top to bottom: Painter & Decorator Sophie Willingham with some of her many accolades; Hannah Leigh Hall with lecturer Mandy Sisson; Hospitality & Catering students at the Craft Guild of Chefs Major Series Competition; The College’s A and B football teams competed for the Cleveland Schools Under-19 Cup. A beat B by seven goals to two, but the Hartlepool College was the overall winner!

Skilled students are onto a winner

...COMPETITION CHAMPION

Hartlepool College students are constantly encouraged to enter competitions at local, regional or even national level, where they have a great track record of success across many areas.

For example Painting and Decorating Apprentice Sophie Willingham, formerly of Manor School, has been and continues to be a regular competitor in numerous competitions, travelling all around the UK to enter tournaments like the National Dulux Decorating Competition and Johnstone’s Paints Young Painter of the Year. Sophie has numerous victories to her name, but even when she doesn’t take the top honours she always places highly. In fact she is the only learner in the country to reach two finals in two major Painting & Decorating competitions and achieve a top three place in each!

Another subject that involves decorating, albeit a very different type, is Hospitality & Catering.

Last year HCFE students took part in the Major Series Competition held by the Craft Guild of Chefs, one of the leading lights in the UK. The judges awarded the HCFE team members six bronze medals, five silvers and three merits across all categories. We also had Hannah Leigh Hall from Level 2 Hairdressing receiving first place in the Denman Blow Drying

Competition, while our A and B football teams made history in the Cleveland Schools Under-19 Cup with a derby final - the first time any college had played two teams right through the rounds to face off each other.

And of course we have our own annual Celebration of Achievement, which has been running nearly a quarter of a century but this year had its first triple winner. Taking overall Student of the Year was Katie Thacker (pictured below with Principal Darren Hankey, left, and Guest of Honour Dan Robinson).

Katie had earlier won the Aerospace Student of the Year prize and also the coveted Gus Robinson Foundation Aerospace Scholarship, an award with such demanding criteria that it is only awarded in those years when a candidate of suitable quality can be found.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Hartlepool College students going out into the world and showing not only that they have the skills and confidence to take on the best - they often beat them too!

A number of Hartlepool College students have been proud entrants in Worldskills, a huge annual international competition often called the “Skills Olympics” due to its scale. Set in venues such as the NEC in Birmingham and the O2 in London and with big league companies such as Honda and Samsung, numerous celebrities and members of the Royal family in attendance, chances to shine don’t come much bigger.

BE THE NEXT

#

Find out more about Rob via our social media and website, search for #BeTheNext 10

“At Hartlepool College I met new friends, went to new places, and was treated like an adult in a great environment.”

ROB HILTON Automation Engineer (Army) Formerly St. Hilds School

Spring 2015

SKILLS UNITED

Apprenticeships: the choice that works #skillsunited

APPRENTICESHIP OPEN EVENT

Hartlepool College promotes its Apprentice provision as #skillsunited because that’s exactly what it is - employers and education coming together in recognition of the role quality Apprenticeships play in future growth and success. HCFE has for over four decades been one of the biggest providers of Apprenticeships in the region - in fact, we’re currently rated seventh best performing in the country, supporting over 850 apprentices in partnership with some of the biggest and best names in business.

Apprenticeships are a programme of structured learning and work experience encompassing almost all vocational areas.

They offer trainees a broad spectrum of work and not just individual skills. Apprentices learn through a combination of on and off the job education and training, gaining experience working alongside other employees in their workplace, while the College delivers additional skills and studies.

Emma Thompson, 18, of Bishop Auckland (pictured below) is one such example; a young woman with a passion for engineering who is proving her worth with a major employer. Currently studying on the L3 Diploma in Engineering, Emma first discovered her passion for all things mechanical while at St. John’s School.

However, instead of continuing along an academic route Emma was keen to work.

She earned an Apprenticeship with Altec, a highly respected company providing CNC precision machining and specialist engineering services to a wide range of industries including the oil, gas, nuclear, renewable, aerospace, space science, medical, automotive and defence sectors.

Altec are also one of Hartlepool College’s highly valued partners, and so as part of her Apprenticeship we were the only choice for the educational components she needed to fulfil.

“There are closer colleges to me,” said Emma, “but I had heard Hartlepool was the best so I’m pleased this is where Altec wanted me to be. Friends have told me about their college having minimal facilities, and even not enough tools so you have to share. The facilities at Hartlepool are superb, and the lecturers come from industry backgrounds - they teach from experience, not from things they’ve just read about.”

However it’s not only apprentices and employers who are impressed with the College’s quality.

Government inspector Ofsted noted in its 2014 Inspection that “the large apprenticeship provision is well managed. The College works very well with a wide range of local and national employers to secure new apprenticeship opportunities”. They also said “Carefully designed courses, close work with employers, good industry standard resources and a carefully planned programme of extra events linked with potential employment all contribute to the improvement of students’ employability skills.”

Taste of Army life turns heads (and some stomachs...)

Students on Hartlepool College’s Public Services course were given a literal taste of Army life when soldiers from the King’s Rifles visited the College.

The riflemen demonstrated a variety of aspects of their daily work, including fitness, nutrition and the challenges of maintaining energy in such a demanding and high-mobility role.

One of the team, Rifleman Edward Morgan, explained what a soldier would typically eat in a day with the aid of a 5000 calorie 24-hour ration pack, which includes a variety of freeze-dried and packet meals as well as snacks that can keep energy topped up throughout a typical day of marching, working or fighting.

Also demonstrated were chlorine tablets that allow water from any source to be made drinkable, the unfortunate side-effect being that it “makes everything taste like a swimming pool”. Students then got to sample some of the food, with a variety of reactions ranging from “not bad” to “I’m going to be sick” (though no-one was!) However, these are students who aim to enter a variety of military and civil uniformed services, and they do so with eyes fully open thanks to visits like this one. Even though some might have been put off their teas, none were put off their career goals.

Hartlepool College is frequently visited by the Army, who sometimes bring assault courses (below), as well as members of the RAF, Navy, Police and Fire Service, plus occasional special speakers such as Corporal Johnson Beharry VC, who won Britain’s highest military honour serving in Iraq.

Thousands of businesses in our region have recognised that Apprenticeships can make organisations more effective, productive and competitive by addressing the skills gaps directly and ensuring that employees get the skills that employers value and need.

BE THE NEXT

#

Find out more about Katie via our Social media and Website, search for #BeTheNext

“I love the team I work with, it’s a pleasure to come to work each day.

I can’t thank the College enough for giving me the knowledge and support.”

KATIE BIRD

Senior Hairstylist @ Poppys Formerly English Martyrs

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life Chef Ryan sends the College Roux’d selfie!

Hospitality and Catering graduate Ryan Healey has been in touch to share with us his post-College activities - and his progress as a professional chef has been stunning.

Firstly Ryan has settled in nicely to a new job at the Royal Kensington Garden in London, and tells us he is finding it amazing.

Ryan has also been touring the capital during his free time, attending events like the Taste of London at Regent’s Park, which is a foodie wonderland comprising five days of summer eating, drinking and entertainment from some of the biggest names in the culinary world. A big fan of macaroons, Ryan had the chance to sample those of the world famous French pastry chef Pierre Herme.

As well as Herme, Ryan has rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous chefs in the world, including Eric Lanlard and Michel Roux Jr, who was happy to have a selfie taken with Ryan (pictured below), now extensively tweeted and retweeted. Roux is famous for his Masterchef and other TV appearances, and the Roux family has dominated the food scene for decades.

SEN-sational support helps Nathan to thrive For most people the transition from school to College can be a worrying time with lots of issues to deal with. For Nathan Morley and his parents though, extra challenges related to his physical disabilities caused concern as to how he would be able to study and cope with life at College.

Nathan, 16, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which causes muscle weakness and mobility difficulties. He came to HCFE from High Tunstall to study Information Technology, with a view to working in the IT sector or the creative industries.

A keen reader, technology fan and talented photographer, Nathan discussed his requirements with the College so that support, equipment and reasonable adjustments could be made to enable him to have the same equality of access to education as other students. With our help and his own hard work and determination, he has been able to participate fully in his timetabled sessions.

In fact, because of his good IT skills and enthusiasm to succeed, he was transferred from the introduction course to a Level One Diploma in IT. His programme of study also embeds literacy and numeracy throughout and focuses on developing essential life skills,

supported by a taught Tutorial programme incorporating a range of topics such as equality and diversity, employability skills, health and safety (including online safety) and personal care and health.

Nathan’s dad Clive and mum Julie have been very proud of his progress. “Despite our fears about Nathan moving away from a school where he had been for five years and away from a group of support staff and teachers to which he had become very accustomed, the transition has been very easy,” they said. “The College has made Nathan welcome and has provided inclusive opportunities for him to both learn and enjoy visits to other facilities in Hartlepool and nearby. Special mention should go to Barry Bratt (Learner Support, pictured below with Nathan) and Christine Deane (Course Tutor) in giving Nathan the encouragement, support and praise that has helped him get used to the College so quickly.”

Lecturer Kevin Dove said “We’re proud of every student, and to see them go on to forge a great career is one of the best things about teaching. Ryan’s talent speaks for itself, as his achievements are clearly showing.”

Ryan returned to the College in November to pick up another accolade - Hospitality and Catering student 2014 at the College’s annual Celebration of Achievement, where current students had a chance to listen to Ryan’s stories and experiences.

Follow the College’s Hospitality & Catering students on Twitter @AmbitionFE - even better, book a table at the Flagship and try their food (see page 15).

“The College has made Nathan welcome and has provided inclusive opportunities for him to both learn and enjoy visits to other facilities in Hartlepool and nearby.”

Clive Morley, Nathan’s dad

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Spring 2015

Higher ambitions? HE is easier than you might think...

...GRADUATE

Higher Education is one of those subjects where the facts you need can sometimes be mixed up with myths and rumours. Tuition fees, expensive loans, inflexible admission routes... these and many other topics can deter people from even investigating the possibility, but look into the options HCFE can offer and getting yourself a higher level qualification is probably quicker, easier and less draining on your pocket than you might ever believe.

Many of our courses are recognised by national universities, and every year we support hundreds of students who aspire to continue their learning journey and progress into Higher Education.

In 2015 alone our dedicated and professional support staff have already worked with over 250 applications from learners aged 16 to 60, looking to study in local institutions such as Teesside, Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle University or further afield in areas like Southampton, London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh.

We have also continued to develop our own higher education provision here at the College, in partnership with Teesside University. This has resulted in many learners being given the opportunity to study higher education courses in their own locality, and at a price point lower than a traditional Degree. With more choice for learners, it is easier than ever to aspire to higher education, whether to re-train, change direction or improve prospects.

In 2015 we have already seen a number of successful applications emerging.

Recent places secured by learners have included Nursing, Social Work, Primary Teaching, Psychology, Aerospace Engineering, Criminology, Sports Therapy, Psychology, Games Animation and Computing - amongst others.

Above: Cathryne Forman, 34, who has progressed from an Access course to study a Social Work degree at Teesside University

Good choices and great support help Andrew make the grade

With varied routes into higher education these days, there are more flexible ways to study to suit your commitments as well as help with finances.

With personalised support on all aspects of the UCAS application process, from personal statement writing masterclasses to professional talks from university staff and Student Finance England, we ensure that students are fully supported in an impartial manner.

If you have any questions contact the Student Services team on 01429 295000 or visit bit.ly/HCFEhigher

Talented welders have burning ambitions

After achieving good grades at GCSE, Andrew Smales realised he had a wide choice of options open to him. He initially went to his local sixth form, but after only a few weeks realised he wasn’t enjoying it, finding it too much like school. Coming to Hartlepool College instead, Andrew’s ambitions and qualifications were carefully considered and his options clearly explained to him by student advisers. He was given an interview with a tutor, working together to determine the right advice and pathway for his plans, before enrolling on Plumbing Level 3 and also AS Level English Literature.

It was this personal level of attention that most impressed Andrew, who said “If you come in to the College they will help by giving an unbiased account on what you can study. They looked at courses with me and even said if they couldn’t provide what I wanted they could refer me to other local providers. If you are finishing your GCSEs and are undecided, or somewhere that’s not working, speak to someone at the College.

They are always happy to help.”

Two former Hartlepool College apprentices have been named the country’s top welding and fabrication technicians in a national competition. Anthony Smith, 21, and Scott Pearson, 22, shared first place in The Welding Institute’s (TWI) prestigious annual awards ceremony at Cambridge University.

The College’s approach to young people was also a big factor, especially after his disappointing experience at the previous college. “HCFE is more of an adult learning environment than you might have heard. Don’t listen to rumours, go there and look around and decide for yourself. If you want to be independent and get on with your work, Hartlepool College will suit you. The lecturers are friendly here too, they treat you like an adult and give you the resources and support to pass. It’s a step up from school. I have learned a lot as a student but also as a person. You grow up here.”

The pair both work at Hartlepool-based offshore fabrication yard Heerema and were formerly apprentices at Hartlepool College of Further Education. Both had scooped regional honours earlier in the year. Anthony and Scott were offered apprenticeships at Heerema after completing their first year of studies at Hartlepool College.

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life You wooden believe what Carpentry & Joinery students did for brave Bradley!

In the 1860s an early type of bicycle appeared, with tyre-free wooden wheels and an unpadded seat. Called the velocipede, the extremely uncomfortable ride it offered quickly earned it another name - the “boneshaker”.

Students from the College’s Carpentry & Joinery section resurrected the idea to raise money for Bradley Lowery, the Hartlepool toddler suffering from Neruoblastoma, a very aggressive form of cancer that requires specialised treatment (find out more and donate at http://bradleylowerysfight.org.uk).

The contraption was cycled from Hartlepool Marina to Seaton Carew, with Liam “buns of steel” Parkinson riding the bike in gallant (if not comfortable) fashion. Liam coaxed the machine the entire distance, and after the ride the students were presented with a cheque for £1000 by the staff of Domino’s Pizza, Hartlepool who kindly sponsored the event, with even more money to follow from individual sponsors. Our sincere admiration goes out to not only their superb skills but also their community spirit.

HCFE is the business Hartlepool College’s commitment to business has, over many years, led to the development of some outstanding commercial resources, training programmes, facilities and services. Informed and evolved by decades of practical experience, keen insight and client feedback, all have been shaped to offer maximum value for money and flexibility to the varied demands of organisations of all sizes, sectors and remits.

Almost since the College first opened we’ve worked with businesses to allow them to access our up-to-date facilities and the wealth of experience our staff and tutors can offer.

In the late 1980s a dedicated Business Services section was created to offer training to companies looking to upskill or reskill their workers, or keep up to date with legislation, technology and good practice.

In 1999 this section was expanded, with a huge investment into a dedicated area of the College called Hartlepool Business Development Centre, complete with meeting rooms, a conference centre and specialised training facilities.

When the College began to plan its new building in 2006, we worked with partners to expand our provision further, this time using their input to shape a business resource that has been described by many as “world class”.

When the College moved into its new building in 2011 businesses found themselves with access to a six-room Conference area, including a 200+ capacity theatre with a 6m HD screen and surround sound (below left), supplemented by an additional large Boardroom on our third floor (below centre).

Highlighting ambience, comfort, flexibility and innovation, the new Conference Area is custom-designed to meet the demands of businesses of all sizes and areas of operation. Every room in the Conference Area has state-of-the-art IT/presentation systems and optional hospitality support to allow clients the freedom to conduct their business or event with complete confidence and comfort.

The College also offers training for businesses under our Flagship Training Solutions banner, offering off-the-peg or completely bespoke programmes in a huge number of areas, from Health & Safety to Fork Lift Operation, PLCs to Gas Safety, IT training to... well, pretty much anything a customer might need.

We have a proven track record of designing and delivering courses to order, so chances are that even if we don’t list it in our portfolio, we can quickly organise a suitable solution.

Much of our custom is repeat business, a testament to our quality, service and value for money.

To discuss hiring our facilities or commercial training courses, call us on 01429 292888 or email business@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk.

Above: the students and their wooden bike - left to right; Dylan Venter, Liam Parkinson, Kieran Proudlock, Thomas Mincher, William Storm, Craig Parry (leaning on the bike), Brad Robinson, Anthony Robins & Liam Kelsey

Find out more about our services for employers and businesses by visiting www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk and selecting the Business and Employers tab.

BE THE NEXT

#

Find out more about Lucy via our Social media and Website, search for #BeTheNext 14

“I have set up my own Beauty business, with the expert help and guidance of the excellent staff here at College.”

LUCY WALSH

Beauty Therapist / Business Owner Formerly English Martyrs

Spring 2015

Customer services at unbelievable prices

...SATISFIED CUSTOMER

At Hartlepool College we firmly believe that the best way to learn a skill is by doing. We have a full restaurant and kitchens called The Flagship, hair and beauty salons and a fully equipped fitness suite to prepare young people who want to work in those areas in the most practical ways possible. Better than that, they’re all open to the public too!

The Flagship Restaurant, for example, offers a superb gourmet dining experience in the centre of Hartlepool at simply amazing prices. Open lunchtimes, evenings and weekends (our famous Sunday Dinners are served every other Sunday) the Flagship is stylishly appointed, fully licenced and allows students to work directly with the public in the preparation and serving of an appetising menu created by our Executive Chef Fergus Robertson. All dishes are prepared using the finest quality fresh ingredients, locally sourced where possible. For the past two years it has been awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for consistently high reviews - visit bit.ly/flagshipreviews to see for yourself.

The Luminary is the name given to a suite of related facilities dedicated to wellbeing and style, located on the first floor of the College’s north wing. The Hair and Beauty Salons offer a wide range of treatments and stylings, using only the best quality products - many of which can also be bought in the salon at greatly discounted prices. Staff are all highly experienced professionals, and closely supervise students as they perform their work. The Hair Salon has been awarded Wella Centre of Excellence status, and special events such as childrens’ treat pamper parties are run regularly.

The Fitness Suite is a state-of-the-art gymnasium facility with a no pressure approach to fitness and exercise, offering a friendly atmosphere to all ages and abilities.

For maximum convenience the Fitness Suite is open early and late, seven days a week, and is a fraction of the cost of other gyms in the area. Personalised training plans are available to, as well as numerous classes.

And last but not least we have Coffee Rapport at the FE, a stylish, bright and relaxed coffee bar in the main atrium open during normal College hours serving superb refreshments plus light meals such as sandwiches, paninis, soup, salads, plus sweet treats like cakes, scones and muffins.

“Amazing to find this on the doorstep. Try this once and you will forget every other “well known” restaurant in Hartlepool. The Flagship gave us one of the nicest meals we have had anywhere at any price. You can spend a lot more with a few tapas dishes, and also get less, a lot less when taking into account flavour and variety.”

Review left on TripAdvisor by stratoszero of Durham, 19th November 2014

Coffee

Rappor t at the FE

For The Flagship restaurant’s opening hours, menu, special events and booking hotline, visit www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk/theflagship For information on the Luminary Fitness Suite facilities and classes, visit www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk/luminaryfitness For information on the Luminary Hair & Beauty salons, visit www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk/theluminarysalons

15

HELP WITH S TRAVEL COST! E AVAILABL that you Did you knowle for help may be eligibg here? with gettin see See page 3 to ! fy li if you qua

Whatever you want to be...

#

BE THE NEXT

at Hartlepool College Art & Design Creative Media Production

Health & Care Early Years | Health & Social Care

Hospitality & Catering Professional Chef | Expert Service

Hair & Beauty Holistic Therapy | Nail Art | Massage | Hairdressing

A better future a click away.

You can apply and pay for College courses online - and you may be eligible for all kinds of financial help*!

Aim for the top.

You might be surprised at the range of courses and qualifications we offer, and our success rate is superb.

Travel & Tourism Performing Arts Sport & Public Services Sport Science | Coaching

Apprenticeships Largest provider in the local area

Engineering Mechanical | Aerospace | Electrical | Automotive

Business & Admin Digital & Tech Information Communication Technology

“Vision” SEN | Entry Courses

your life. nd you and pool College u ro a g in artle Work options oming to H We make c possible, with flexiblements. as easy as to suit your commit and support

DON’T OUR OPEN MISS for Access,EVENING Education a Higher nd A Courses dult Thursday 18 th June drop in from 6-8pm

Advice Evening Tuesdays.

Pop in between 5-8pm on a Tuesday for a no-pressure chat and a free coffee, and see that we can do for you. *Financial support depends on eligibility criteria.

Please enquire for advice.

Construction Brickwork | Joinery | Electrical | Painting & Decorating | Building/Civil Engineering Technician | Plumbing

GCSEs Courses | Resits

And a whole lot more!

From Access courses to Higher Education to commercial training and everything in between, we’re in the top 20% of English colleges. We’re the seventh best performing provider of apprenticeships in the country, with pass rates WAY above the national average.

01429 295000 | enquiries@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk | www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk