Portal Press
Issue 3 • 31 Jan 2014
Contents A message from the HCUK Principals
Employability event next week Progression Roadshow hits Harrogate Making Students Employable With the FA HSAD VLS – Simon Foxall (Painter)
Harrogate Ice Skating Trip Staff Kids’ Christmas Party Looking good in aid of charity Vote HSAD students to success New health and Safety newsletter Open day next week Donate your unwanted items to charity Student is Sochi-bound for Winter Olympics
To submit Port
Press stories contac
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Hannah Savage
Extension 2948 hsavage@hull-college.ac.uk
Student Achievement at HCUK – are your students achieving the best they possibly can? A message from the HCUK Principals
E-ILP champions will support colleagues to ensure that they are full equipped to provide this stretch and challenge.
As we move forward into the Spring Term we need to ensure we are focussed on supporting our students achieving the best they possibly can. In the Autumn Term, all tutors will have agreed clear minimum achievement targets with students through their Individual Learning and Progress Reviews. FE tutors and students will also have been provided with individual REACH Target Grades, the informative reports being available in Pro Monitor.
A Curriculum Leader Network is being established and will focus on Stretch and Challenge, Level 3 Value Added and E-ILP.
Tutors will be supporting students to achieve these targets as an absolute minimum, using Pro Monitor as the key central tool. Individual learning review discussions will confirm how well students are doing in relation to their minimum targets. However, a key objective and measure of our teaching and learning performance is to ensure that every learner experiences stretch and challenge to achieve their maximum performance, which will be higher than the minimum targets. The Group has invested in supporting tutors in a number of ways. Teaching, Learning and Assessment Managers and
Lesley Hawkins will continue to deliver training and development to School Management team colleagues. They will then further cascade this expertise within Schools. Stretch and challenge is a continuing area for improvement across all three colleges in the Group and we really need to dramatically improve our performance for those aged 16-18 on graded level 3 programmes and particularly for the most able students who have been targeted to achieve higher grades already. This approach underpins our ‘Student First’ ethos and demonstrates employability skills as mapped within the Study Programme and within the Progression Passport. Please use this simple rule: Accurate target setting + excellence in teaching, learning and assessment + stretch and challenge + student support = Students Achieving The Best They Can.
Employability event next week This Wednesday (February 5) Hull College will host an employability event involving up to 400 young unemployed people and a host of key local businesses and organisations. Organised in partnership with Job Centre Plus (JCP) and with the support of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the day will provide attendees with an opportunity to explore the local area’s employment and training opportunities. All 400 young people have been referred by JCP – in addition to meeting key providers, they will have the chance to participate in workshops geared toward four key employment areas: renewables, care, business and IT, and hospitality. Hull College staff will be on-hand to help the group discover an appropriate learning pathway – although as it is a partnership event, other training providers will also be present. The fundamental aim is to get as many attendees as possible either enrolled in training or engaged in the process of job application by the end of the day. The event will be attended by Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP. It will be held inside the Horncastle building, in the theatre, 10am-3pm. Staff are thanked in advance for their support throughout the day.
Progression Roadshow hits Harrogate
The progression week road show arrived in Harrogate last Thursday (Jan 13 – 17) with a host of workshops and activities for the students to explore their options for life after college. Students had the opportunity to test their readiness for employment with CV clinics and mock interviews which provided essential feedback. The Enrichment team ran ‘Information Burst Sessions’ which followed a speed dating format and gave the students five minutes with experts on several potential pathways like apprenticeships and starting up their own business. Students across all schools attended the event and found it ‘opened their eyes to what was available to them after college, and the fact help is available in college that students didn’t know about’. Other events included ‘Dressing for Success’ video screenings, which informed students of the importance of personal presentation and a fun career and skills workshop with IAG Staff. The week engaged around 130 students at Harrogate, which is fantastic seeing it’s the first week of this kind. Director of Student Services Teresa Chalmers praised the enthusiasm shown across all three sites and looks forward to this becoming a regular event on the calendar.
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Making Students Employable With the FA A current Hull College HE Sports student and a former Hull College HE student have gained part-time employment within the College to deliver an exciting new football initiative to the Sports Students. Ryder Smith and Dan Walker have both been employed to assist with the delivery of the football programme to Sports Academy students at the KC Stadium. ‘Football Mashup’ is a new and exciting initiative aimed at reintroducing young people aged 14-17 to football. It is to target players who have maybe given up playing football or who like playing the game but never got involved in a team or training structure. Ryder and Dan are working alongside the East Riding FA to deliver the programme to 35+ students, both male and female. They have already secured free training equipment for the players to use and are working on a bid to secure £500 of funding to help with the quality of experience for the students. Ryder, who came to the College at 16 and completed the Level 3 extended Diploma, is also employed at the Hull College Girls’ Player Development Centre (PDC), as a coach to the under 11’s girls team. “During my time at Hull College I have tried to make myself as employable as possible in the career that I want. I am now studying a Sports Degree and being paid to be coach football, The College has played a large part in getting me to this position” Ryder Smith Football coach and HE Sports Student. “The Football Mashup sessions are great, Ryder and Dan make the session’s fun but we are also learning. I have really enjoyed getting back into football.” Jamie Tomlin Level 2 Sport.
HSAD VLS – Simon Foxall (Painter) A Graduate from University of Brighton and The Royal College of Art is to present a lecture at Hull College on Wednesday February 5. Simon Foxall started as a painter but has gone on to working across a variety of disciplines including painting, installation, photography and sound recordings for radio, his work draws heavily on montage and appropriation to explore cliché and stereotype, desire and sexuality, repression and concealment and the ways in which we constitute our relationship to culture. “Examining the populist and the personal, creating a subjective critical landscape out of my interaction with culture and its social mechanics, I am interested in re-framing it within a queer theoretical position that explores the powerful drive of desire to define and validate.” He has been a visiting lecturer at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, University of Brighton and Teeside University, and has recently completed a residency in Brazil. The Lecture will be in AT120, HSAD Building, Wilberforce Drive. Hull, HU1 3DG. Starting at 12.30pm and finishing 2.30pm. All welcome, up to 70 seats available.
Harrogate Ice Skating Trip Students from Harrogate enjoyed a fun day out in Leeds seeing the sights, ice skating and tackling a giant ice slide. The Enrichment Team organised the annual trip to the Ice Cube, situated in Millennium Square. The students demonstrated impeccable behaviour and it’s safe to say, a mixture of talent on the ice! The falls were spectacular, but in true grit everyone got up and carried on. Student Antony Fulford commented: “it was a great day out and so funny seeing everyone attempting to stay on their feet.” The Enrichment Team praised the students’ behaviour and look forward to the next trip next term, which is Paintballing.
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Staff Kids’ Christmas Party Saturday 21 December was an eagerly awaited date many family’s diaries as once again, the HCUK Social Committee helped to start everyone’s Christmas festivities with fun, laughter and a little bit of fancy dress! Gary Hughes, Rachel Clayton and Dave Perry entertained young and old alike with their pantomime themed afternoon. There was also a special appearance from Santa to help make the event that little bit more special for the 24 children and their families. Many thanks to all those who supported us either in helping to plan the event or on the day, and of course, huge thanks to all the children and their families for making this year’s party such a success! Every year, the Social Committee organise a family Christmas party with the aim of providing excellent value-for-money entertainment which will encourage staff and their families to come back year on year. Feedback from this year’s party included comments such as: • We’ve been saying here how fab it was, thought it was done brilliantly, kids loved it and the presents were really good. It was our second year and I’m really glad we came…I’ll definitely be coming next year… Really enjoyed it and think you all put in loads of effort, so thanks, it’s really appreciated! • The general atmosphere was great; everyone wanted to have a good time. Throughout the year, the Social Committee try to organise at least one event per term. Please watch out for further details in the Portal Press! If you would like to join the Social Committee or would like further information, please contact Rachel Clayton on ext. 2067.
Looking good in aid of charity Group 6 NVQ L2 Beauty therapy students arranged a pamper day to raise money for the Hull Food Bank. Students arranged a selection of treatments for clients to receive for £6. The students arranged a raffle with a prize of a basket of flowers containing chocolates was made by Natalija Anpilogova and four cinema tickets donated by Cineworld, arranged by Jade harbon from the group. Local wholesalers donated products towards the good cause. The pamper day was held in December, and was a huge success; the students raised £106 for the food bank and £40 for the student fund. The students performed treatments to a very high standard and left very satisfied customers with lots of further new bookings.
Vote HSAD students to success Vote HSAD students to success HSAD received good news this week – two Textile students have been shortlisted for the prestigious sofa.com design competition. Jodie Biglin (B.A.) and Paige Cavill (FdA) created their own fabric designs, before digitally uploading them so they could be envisioned as finished pieces of furniture. The winner will be chosen on the basis of the number of votes per design received – please show your support by following the link and voting for the girls. Only 15 finalists selected nationally so fingers crossed we are in with a good chance of a prize winner. They are currently accruing a high number of votes. To vote, click on the ‘vote for me’ button beneath the entrant’s work or in their profile. http://www.sofa.com/emerging-designers-shortlist-2014 Thanks for your support and please spread the word – feel free to share the link with friends and family and on your own social media pages.
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New health and Safety newsletter The Spring Health, Safety & Welfare Newsletter is now available by clicking on the following link: http://intranet.hull-college.ac.uk/SecureOpenFile.php?PTH=./ DOCS/17/83/542/&FLE=... Please note we will not be printing this addition but will be tracking who reads it to ascertain whether we will continue with this format. A big thank you to Marketing Department who have helped us to put together the Newsletter in what we hope you will agree is easier on the eye! If you have any comments or articles you would like to appear in the next addition please forward to emmamarshall@hull-college.ac.uk for consideration.
Open day next week The College’s first open day of the new year will be held on Saturday February 8, from 10am to 2pm. The event will involve staff across a wide range of departments, is an ideal opportunity for potential students to discover our courses, speak to staff and see our facilities. Current Year 9 pupils and their parents or guardians will also be able to talk to us about the HCUK 14-16 College. All College sites will be open throughout the day, including Park Street, Canon Street and Queen’s Gardens. A free minibus between the locations will be operating all day. Staff are thanked in advance for their participation and support.
Donate your unwanted items to charity Level 1 Enterprise students are engaged in a project which is covering aspects from several areas. They will be raising money for charity but the tasks they will be performing will also be part of their Study Programme and Student Passport requirements and will evidence one of their Diploma units. They have asked tutor Diane Bainbridge to request any unwanted items from staff, including unwanted Christmas Gifts, items from ‘downsizing’ etc. They will then be arranging a sale, auction or car boot sale and all proceeds will go to Help for Heroes. Equally importantly, they will be learning skills which are required for those other two aspects, Student Passport and The Study Programme. The collection point will be AG51 or A151 collection can be arranged for larger items. Please contact Diane Bainbridge on ext. 8292.
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Student is Sochi-bound for Winter Olympics Media student Aleksejs Dormidontovs is celebrating after securing an extremely ‘cool’ volunteering opportunity at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The Level 3 Media student is in his second year with the College, studying Creative Media Production. He applied to become an Olympic volunteer in 2012, motivated by a love of sport and enthusiasm for broadcasting but believing his application to be a ‘long shot’. However, in November that year Aleksejs received a letter explaining that he had been shortlisted for an interview. As a diligent and responsible learner, he was worried about his studies, but he had the full support of his Personal Tutor, who worked out a way for him to undertake the work experience without damaging his studies. His interview took place in May last year, via a Skype connection between Hull and Sochi. “The questions as at the beginning were very simple and generic: they asked about my hobbies, interests and education. And whilst I was explaining which units I have been studying on my course, after I mentioned the units Working With Clients and Interview Techniques, the interviewer stopped me and for more information. I elaborated about these units and how the course trained me for working in the industry, and the interviewer thanked me emphatically! “I thought he withheld emotion-wise, so I did not know whether I had got the job or not. In August last year, I received a letter from the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee saying that I have been officially accepted as a ‘journalist / quote / flash reporter’ working for the Olympic News Service!” When Aleksejs returned to college for his second year of study, he shared his exciting news and worked with tutors to set out a programme of study that would allow him to combine earning his qualifications with undertaking his Olympic placement. “I was always worried about whether I would be able to do both, but my Personal Tutor explained that this will be no problem. I
was really pleased, as I heard a lot of other volunteers saying that their Universities and Colleges did not support them, making participation impossible. “I sat down with my Personal Tutor and we developed contingency planning, which means I will cover units relevant to the work that I will be doing during the Olympics, helping me achieve the best grade possible. Essentially, it has been tailored specifically for me. “Even my mum was surprised – she was amazed I’d have a personal unit instead of doing the same work as everyone else on my course. I have had previous experience in journalism and sports in the FIBA Euro-Basket tournament when I was 17, but this is huge, I mean, really huge, it’s Olympics! “I’m really glad that the Media course here at Hull College has helped me develop skills, such as time management, team work, ethical and professional standards within the media, and time keeping. It has also helped me a lot throughout my preparations and training for the Olympics. Because of that, most of the learning materials provided by the Volunteer Training Centre were already familiar to me, giving me a greater opportunity to focus on practical aspects of the job. A lot of people don’t even realise how many rules, regulations and restrictions there are, if you become a part of the Games. One of the most important ones is your social media posts. Starting from Facebook and ending with your personal blog page. “You are allowed to post only personal experience, but you cannot discuss work and performance of other people. And I believe that is the right thing to do, because we all are trying to make the best Games that the world has seen. “I am excited and at the same time worried, but as my tutor keeps telling us – it’s stressful, but it is the creative stress, the one that made people go to the moon. Follow Aleksejs’ journey on twitter: @lexuslatvia or via his blog:
lexuslatvia.wordpress.com.