College News - Summer 2011

college

SUMMER 2011

YOUR COLLEGE. YOUR MAGAZINE.

news

Lust in Translation

Page 7

Cooking Up Success Page 3

Disabled

Were You There?

Activity Day

Page 4

Page 12

take a look inside!

YOURS. FREE.

Hello!

Contents

Welcome to the summer holiday issue of College News, City College Plymouth’s free magazine for students.

Students’ Union President’s Welcome 1

The theme for this issue is ‘change’, and there’s plenty of exciting changes happening at the College right now. For example, we introduce a new Students’ Union President, Stephen Hockley, as he outlines his plans for the year on page 1. In September we launch a new employability centre at Kings Road called theworkspace, which will mean a big change to the front of the Kings Road building. To find out all about it, see page 2. It’s also time for change with you too, with exam results just around the corner our Student Services team is here to help you - whatever your results.

Of course, the College is committed to helping you with your studies, but we’re also on hand to make sure you have a fun time outside of the classroom. Ryan and James from the Student Centre talk about the different activities that the College offers on page 10.

There is so much more to be found in the pages of this issue, so take a look and see what you can discover.

I really hope that you enjoy reading this issue of College News and if you would like to contribute to the next issue, e-mail marketing@cityplym.ac.uk or phone 01752 305393.

Sam Starkey Frances Allan Editor Editor

HELLO

theworkspace

2

Cooking Up Success

3

Eastenders Star Joins Disabled Activity Day

4

City College Plymouth Gets a Make-over

5

Love in the Park

6

Lust in Translation

7

Exam Results - Here to Help

8

One Stop Shop

9

Outside the Classroom - Develop Yourself!

10

Student Benefits and Financial Support

11

Design for the Future

11

Were you there?

12

If you would find it easier to read this magazine in a larger type or different format, please call 01752 305300 or e-mail info@cityplym.ac.uk.

Students’ Union

President’s Welcome such a well supported Students’ Union and we will be more active in supporting the students throughout their time here.

THIS IS ME, COME AND SAY HI!

Hi, my name is Stephen Hockley and I am the new Students’ Union President. I’m now entering my second year of A levels studying chemistry, maths and physics. I’m hoping to make sure that the voices of the students are heard loud and clear, as well as better representation for the student body across the College.

This year I’ll continue to fight against EMA cuts and further develop the bond between the staff and the Students’ Union. I’m keen to get my new executive committee elected in October so we can work together in our aims for the year. One of our priorities will be to build up the reputation of our Students’ Union throughout the student body. City College Plymouth students are lucky to have

I’ll soon be starting fundraising for a gap year in Japan with a charity called Project Trust. I need to raise a fair bit of money, but hopefully it can be done! Fundraising is something that I’m keen to get involved with and would love to get lots of other students to participate in. I would like to give students a chance to get more involved in both local and national charity fundraising and as the country is going through hard times, now is the most important time for us all to work together and help people less fortunate than ourselves.

I’m excited about taking on my role as Students’ Union President in September, and looking forward to meeting the staff and students of City College Plymouth to listen to ideas and views which could help the College move forward.

I’m friendly and approachable so if you see me around please stop me and have a chat.

If you need to contact me, please do not hesitate to drop me an e-mail on Shockley@ccpsu.org.uk.

See you around!

Stephen

STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT’S WELCOME 1

Coming Soon ...

Supporting Employability Skills As part of the College’s summer refurbishment programme we are launching a brand new facility for students. Aimed at supporting YOU in gaining the skills to help you into employment, theworkspace is a drop-in centre offering a variety of workshops and information including:

Look forward to seeing you in September!

s lectures and workshops delivered by a range of industry professionals

s s s s s

work experience placements employment opportunities CV writing skills interview techniques presentation skills.

City College Plymouth works closely with local, regional and national employers to bring you the opportunity to gain real-life work experience and industry knowledge.

Students working with local employer, Balfour Beatty, on the Plymouth Life Centre project

The College’s focus on embedding the skills so desired by employers into their courses and training is a real business benefit to us - it ensures that students leave the College work ready and with the skills we need to achieve business success in an increasingly competitive market.

Aston Mills, Regional Director, Morgan Sindall Tourism students visit St Mellion International Resort

2 THEWORKSPACE

Cooking Up a Success

By Sarah Chapman When I started at City College Plymouth I had no idea about how much I would go on to achieve. I began my Apprenticeship NVQ Level 2 course in Professional Cookery and chose the College with the help of my employer, Peter Gorton, who owned the Horn of Plenty near Tavistock at the time, and is the Vice President of the Master Chefs of Great Britain.

I settled into the course and found the lecturers very easy to get on with as they let me have fun but expected me to progress with my studies and cooking skills.

The facilities in the training kitchens are great and I’m looking forward to seeing the revamped kitchens when I return in September.

One of the things that I like is that the lecturers are always there to help with any problems; they keep you calm and relaxed - which means you can really enjoy the course. I have also made new friends who work in several different restaurants and hotels.

My achievements in all the competitions more than exceeded my own expectations, and I would not have achieved this without doing an Apprenticeship through City College Plymouth.

into the Apprentice of the Year 2011 and I was fortunate enough to win the South West region. I then went on to the national finals in London and finished sixth out of nine. This has really boosted my confidence and my achievements in all the competitions more than excelled my own expectations. I would not have achieved this without doing an Apprenticeship through City College Plymouth. When I completed my NVQ level 2, Peter promoted me to demi-chef-de-partie.

City College Plymouth and the Apprenticeship course have prepared me so well for my chosen career. I have been able to work in an adult environment and gain the practical skills that I need to succeed. I enjoyed the first course so much that I have decided to progress onto the NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Pastry in September.

The course is broken down into different sections, which makes it easy to learn and develop. Since I began my course I have competed in four competitions, one was an in-house competition at the College and another was at the Wessex Salon Culinaire in Bournemouth, and I won gold at each one! I also came third in the Workbased Learning Awards in 2011. My lecturer entered me

COOKING UP A SUCCESS 3

Eastenders Star

Joins Disabled Activity Day

Students and staff from the College took part in the first ever Disabled Activity Day (DAD), which was held on Plymouth Hoe earlier this summer. Students from across the College attended with the College’s Disability team.

The students were joined by Eastenders actor David Proud, who played Adam Best in the soap.

David said: “I really enjoyed the activity day in Plymouth and it was lovely to see so many people involved in the day. As everyone knows times are hard financially, and it is touching to see so many people giving time to help support the lives of disabled people. All the hard work of the day will really make a big difference to a lot of people”.

Wayne Buck, studying the BTEC Diploma in IT, said the day was “a laugh, especially the climbing wall”.

The students and staff where able to watch lots of different activities including wheelchair dancing, football and basketball as well as taking part in wheelchair sports races.

John Wickenden, also studying the BTEC Diploma in IT, said: “It was a really good day and I enjoyed being involved, I really liked all the different activities.”

Students and staff with David Proud at the Disabled Activity Day

4 EASTENDERS STAR JOINS DISABLED ACTIVITY DAY

City College Plymouth

Gets a Makeover When term begins in September City College Plymouth is going to look very different. When you enter the Kings Road site you will be greeted by an improved Costa Coffee area which will include plenty of seating, and a success wall celebrating students’ hard work and achievements. The main corridor will also be home to the new employability centre, theworkspace (see page 2). Kings Road is also getting new windows and eco-friendly cladding on the outside of the building which will make it look much more appealing as well as more sustainable.

The construction block at Kings Road is also undergoing a major refurbishment, with new teaching areas being fitted out for gas assessments, painting and decorating, plumbing, and wood trades.

These state-of-the-art, industry-standard facilities will put students in an excellent position when they make the move to employment as they will already have a realistic knowledge of the work place.

At Goschen, the reception is being moved to the centre of the ground floor and will be much more inviting. There will be new seating and the walls through the ground floor will be receiving a lick of paint.

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH GETS A MAKEOVER 5

Love in the Park Students from the Plymouth Institute of Production and Performing Arts (PIPPA ) spent months rehearsing for outdoor performances of Shakespeare, titled ‘Love in the Park at Mount Edgcumbe’. One student tells us about his experience of acting in the great outdoors!

By Dan McNeill, BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts The Shakespeare project was the culmination of all I have learnt over the two years on this course.

My group rehearsed tirelessly on analysing the text, blocking the scenes, and learning the lines in the studio.

However, as this was an outdoor performance, I was aware that we had to tailor our work to make it effective in an outdoor space.

We were spoilt for choice when looking for sites to perform in the beautiful setting of Mount Edgcumbe.

We purposely performed where audiences would be prominent. Outside theatre work is far more variable and therefore potentially dangerous. As an actor I have to be completely in the moment, ready to react to any situation that arises - irresponsive audiences, bad weather, random children joining in with the ‘game’, a horse being attacked by a dog - all of which happened in our two week run!

Students in action at Mount Edgcumbe

6 LOVE IN THE PARK

Performing in the space for the first time felt extremely liberating and I soon learnt that the nature of the work means that you are not restricted to a specific performance site. At the end of two hours performing scenes and monologues, I felt very tired and also remarkably satisfied that I had ‘put a good shift in’.

The project has developed not only my understanding of Shakespeare, but also my level of quality as a performer.

By the second week I naturally understood the meaning of the text; it was almost as if I had learnt a different language. My spatial awareness and ability to truly be ‘in the moment’ also improved greatly over the two weeks.

In all aspects of my performance skills, the Shakespeare project has been extremely beneficial. It is also a genuinely wonderful way to complete my final year of actor training at the College. Incorporating everything I had learnt in two years of training, the Shakespeare scenes project has been a genuine learning experience.

Lust in Translation Students from the College recently had the opportunity to get involved in an unusual community outreach project to create short films about sex and relationships. Lust in Translation brought local people of all ages together to discuss their views on sex and history.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) student Agata Wodecka, tells us about her experience of the project.

Lust in Translation was a project that made two generations meet, to have a cup of tea and discuss a topic that many people have enjoyed - sex.

35 young people aged between 16 and 25 (including eight from City College Plymouth’s ESOL programme) formed groups with 25 older people aged from 50 to 87, with the help of volunteers, youth workers and professionals from Plymouth City Museum.

Each group devised a concept for a film, taking inspiration from objects from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth and West Devon Record Office and the Wellcome Trust’s collection of erotica.

We spent four weeks creating, rehearsing and filming. Each of us learnt new skills in acting, set design, film and production. With the premiere being shown in the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, it was a great finale.

This extraordinary project connected people and developed their confidence, and everyone involved learnt something from others. How to find a husband, the importance of kissing, cars as symbols of virility, loneliness, being madly in love, being forced to have sex, and how to ‘pull’ on Plymouth Hoe, were just a few of the many topics that we discussed.

During this project we got a chance to meet amazing people and look at things around us from a different perspective and in a more creative way.

We learnt that making a movie is not just fun, but it also takes a lot of work. The pride you feel when watching the final results of your own work is priceless. Like everyone said, we wished this project would never end.

You can see the films and find out more at:

www.lustintranslation.org Copyright Effervescent Social Alchemy 2011

LUST IN TRANSLATION 7

Exam Results Here to Help

Some of you will have a big circle around Thursday 18 or Thursday 25 August on your calendar; the dates when your exam results arrive!

Whatever happens when you open that envelope, the Student Services team is here to help. The team will be available on both days, and for the rest of the summer, to support you as you finalise your next steps.

If you’re opening A level results and you did better than expected, we can help you find out if you’re eligible for UCAS Adjustment. If you didn’t do as well as you hoped and were intending to go to university, we can help you navigate university Clearing.

For those opening GCSE results, you may be eligible to continue on to the next level of your course. Or if you need to have a re-think, we can help you with looking at the level 2 courses on offer at the College. The Student Services team and Careers Advisors are here to give you impartial advice and can also help you with other options - for example if you think an Apprenticeship or employment might be best for you.

It’s an important and often stressful time and we are here to guide and help you through it.

Information, Advice and Guidance Mornings (Kings Road) Friday 19 August, 10.00am - 1.00pm and Friday 26 August, 10.00am - 1.00pm Advice and guidance on ALL the options available to you after receiving your exam results - even if they weren’t what you expected!

8 EXAM RESULTS - HERE TO HELP

One Stop Shop Last year you told us that you wanted better and more timely information across the College.

Well, you got it!

This September will see the launch of the new Student Intranet, an information portal designed to keep you updated on what’s happening at the College, and get to your Moodle pages, electronic learning plan (e-ILP) and e-mail all from one place. You’ll be able to access it from outside the College too, from your mobile or from your home PC. The intranet has been designed using feedback from students from across the College, and has drawn inspiration from popular websites such as Facebook and igoogle. The key was to make it as user-friendly as possible, so it has a homepage that can be personalised to display the information important to you.

The key features are an ‘updates’ newsfeed that will help keep you informed of College events and announcements, and a calendar that you can add your own appointments to.

Throughout the autumn term we’ll be gathering feedback to see how useful you’re finding the new intranet, so if you have any thoughts, please let us know by e-mailing marketing@cityplym.ac.uk.

A sample design of the intranet homepage, with moveable ‘widgets’ that allow you to show or hide content

ONE STOP SHOP 9

Outside the classroom -

develop yourself!

By Ryan Beasley, Student Liaison Activity Instructor and James Rimmer, Student Liaison Assistant Coming to City College Plymouth isn’t all about coursework and lectures; we want you to have a fun time too! We have a dedicated team who organise events and activities specifically for students, giving you the chance to try new things whilst at College.

All of the activities that we run on and off campus are chosen by listening to the voice of the students and creating things to do that fit around your schedules.

Activities run all through the week and after College hours to make sure that you will always have time to take part. Not only do we deliver the activities that you want, nearly all the activities are free! Take part in Zumba classes, kickboxing, creative writing classes or 5-a-side football, and group trips to the beach, Devonport Park and other local venues. We also run trips to South West War Games and Goals Soccer Centre.

Not only that, the new gym will be opening in September! With new equipment and an even bigger space to exercise, the College gym will be the perfect place to keep fit and release endorphins!

There are Student Centres at Kings Road and Goschen and each have pool tables, table tennis, games consoles and quiet areas for study or relaxing. Student Liaison staff are always happy to help or have a chat, and there is generally some sort of competition or campaign where students can get involved with College life. One of the events that took place last year was the Students’ Summer Ball, held at the New Continental Hotel - the perfect night to celebrate all your achievements and the end of the academic year. This year’s ball even featured an impromptu dance-off between the Goschen and Kings Road campuses!

The College also has a bike shelter which is a safe and secure place to keep your bike, plus it’s free! Cycling to College is a great way to keep fit and it is environmentally friendly too! The shelter is covered so your bike will stay dry no matter what the weather does. The College also has a number of showers so if you work up a sweat on your way in you can freshen up before the day starts.

Taking part in activities and enrichment at the College is a crucial part of your personal development.

Activities help to bring the student community together, build new relationships between students, and it gives you a break from your courses which in turn helps you to achieve at City College Plymouth.

10 OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM - DEVELOP YOURSELF!

UPDATE: Student Benefits and Financial Support As a student at City College Plymouth you can enjoy a range of benefits and may be eligible for financial support to help with the costs of coming to the College: s s s s s s s s s

free onsite social and sporting activities subsidised membership of the College gym subsidised trips and events discounted treatments at Pure Hair and Day Spa and Creative Solutions free College bus between Plymouth city centre, train station, Kings Road and Goschen subsidised travel passes (subject to eligibility criteria and conditions) free student car parking, although spaces are limited free bicycle storage discounted meals in the Cité Brasserie and Crow’s Nest Café

s financial support schemes (subject to eligibility

criteria and conditions): - guaranteed bursary for 16 to 18 year olds in care, care leavers and those on income support or receiving both Disability Living Allowance and Employment Support Allowance - discretionary support for high course costs, transport (if within Plymouth city boundary or Saltash) and hardship - continuation support for students who were in receipt of £20 and £10 EMA award in 2010/11 and no longer eligible for the scheme - a termly payment to help with course costs - EMA continuation support for students who previously received £30 per week EMA - childcare support - Residential Support Scheme.

Full details will be sent out to all returning and new students before the start of the new term, and can also be found on the College website (www.cityplym.ac.uk).

Design for the Future

sea

s

o

u

t

h

w

e

s

t

By Rob Chadwick, Media Lecturer

In May students on the media course took part in an innovative design project in collaboration with the College’s Employer Endorsement Scheme, local businesses and community groups. The 13 second year students were each assigned a business to work with, designing a new logo and associated products for that business. The products ranged from t-shirts for Tamarside Netball Team through to menus for local restaurants.

The students had to arrange and attend meetings with the clients throughout the process, developing their professional attitude and employability skills. During the initial meetings, the clients gave the student an idea of the type of products they would like and the image the company would like to portray. In further meetings, the student would pitch three creative ideas to the client, which were then whittled down to a final design.

The project was a complete success and the students gained a lot from working in such a professional environment and with real life businesses and groups, and the businesses and community groups were really pleased with the results, with many taking the students’ ideas into commercial realisation.

DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE 11

Were YOU there?

Every summer, faculties at City College Plymouth open their doors early to everyone that has applied for a course to give new starters a chance to get to meet fellow students and staff before they arrive. Events and fun activities have been taking place over the past few weeks - were you there?!

12 WERE YOU THERE?

WERE YOU THERE? 13

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH.

got a story?

Want to contribute to the next issue of College News?

E-mail the Marketing team at marketing@cityplym.ac.uk

Activity Schedule:

Goschen

Kings Road

Off Site

Mondays Table Tennis 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, Student Centre Pool Club 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Student Centre Debate Club 2.00pm - 3.00pm, GC233

Handball 4.30pm - 5.30pm, Sports Hall Body Conditioning 5.15pm - 6.15pm, Dance Studio

Tuesdays Table Tennis 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, Student Centre Pool Club 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Student Centre

Kayaking 2.00pm - 4.00pm and 4.00pm - 6.00pm, Wave Centre, Mayflower Steps Ask at the Student Centre for directions or call 01752 305281 Zumba 4.30pm - 5.30pm, Sports Hall

Wednesdays Table Tennis 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, Student Centre Driving Theory/IT Skills 1.15pm - 3.15pm, GA105 Orienteering (off site) 2.00pm - 5.00pm, main reception pick up Thursdays Table Tennis 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, Student Centre Games Club 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Student Centre Fridays Table Tennis 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, Student Centre Revision Club 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, GC233

Dance Class 2.30pm - 3.30pm, Brickfields Running Club 2.30pm - 3.30pm, Sports Hall Five-a-Side 2.30pm - 3.30pm and 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Sports Hall Netball 5.00pm - 6.00pm, Sports Hall Badminton 4.00pm - 6.00pm, Sports Hall

Creative Writing 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Student Centre Football 4.00pm - 5.00pm, Brickfields

Discount vouchers available from the Kings Road Cash Office for bowling sessions, Reel Cinema tickets, ice skating and swimming at Plymouth Pavilions. Contact the Student Centre on 01752 305281 for details.

Term Dates 2011 / 12 Autumn term starts Monday 5 September

Spring term starts Tuesday 3 January

Summer term starts Monday 16 April

Study review week Monday 24 October

Study review week Monday 13 February

Study review week

Autumn term ends

Spring term ends

Summer term ends Friday 20 July

Friday 16 December

Friday 30 March

YOUR COLLEGE. YOUR MAGAZINE. : www.cityplym.ac.uk ✆: 01752 305300

Monday 4 June