The Rocket April 2015
Principal’s Update The work we undertake during the summer term helps to prepare our students to successfully complete their courses and for our plans for next year to emerge. It is more important than ever that we have the best possible success rates which reflect the high quality of teaching and learning at Stephenson College. For individual students success means both completing their course and progressing onto further study or employment. It is extremely important that we take the following actions; 1. Ensure all students on classroom based courses complete their main vocational qualification by 15th June. This is the date when results should be recorded by lecturers in Markbook. This means that final assessments will need to be completed by early June at the latest. We will be reviewing outcomes on our Markbook software on 17th June to assess overall college success rates.
2. Ensure that “Next Steps” meetings take place as part of the completion of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) for all students. These are the meetings where we record students’ intended destinations. Given the importance of this information there will be a review of the extent to which ILPs have been completed on the 17th June. This is a crucial time of year for finishing assignments, completing portfolios and making sure that qualifications are signed off before the end of term. As many as possible of our full time FE students will have completed their main vocational qualification by 15th June. We have time for additional maths and English support, CV building and other work that goes beyond the requirements of the qualification before the end of term in mid-July. Lots of students will be planning to come back to Stephenson College in September, progressing onto higher level courses or studying their existing specialism in more depth. If you do intend to come back to the College in September
it is important that you have your ‘passport to progression’ signed off by your lecturer and that this is recorded in your ILP in our ProMonitor software. This tells us that you have been recommended for progression by your lecturer and it will make your re-enrolment for September straightforward. The week commencing 15th June will be a crucial week for getting “passports” signed off. Students can ask lecturers to complete this “passport” earlier if you are on track to successfully complete your main vocational qualification, have positive reports from your English and maths lecturer where relevant and have good attendance. Once we have confirmation that each student’s “passport to progression” has been signed off our lecturers will support students to complete enrolment forms for next year before the end of this term. There will be a few things students need to do on enrolment day in August but the whole process will be as quick and easy as possible. College staff will be engaged with
Principal’s Update Continued
prospective new students to Stephenson College over the summer term to provide information, advice and guidance, including information about Study Programmes which will emphasise the importance of English and Maths. Advice will be provided regarding employability skills required for career progression and how students can be supported at College. Prospective students will have the opportunity to view our College environment and the resources we can offer. Staff will also be available during the summer holidays to answer queries and give advice. In the meantime there is specific information I would like to communicate regarding arrangements for the GCSE English Exam day on 5th May 2015. Students taking the GCSE English exam will attend college all day. Students from Nottingham will travel to Coalville by minibus. There will be morning exam preparation followed by the exam after lunch.
At the Coalville campus full time FE students who are not taking the GCSE English exam will be assigned home study for 5th May. Attendance at college for these students on 5th May is not required. Lecturers who have full time sessions scheduled for the 5th May will need to make sure that suitable home study is prepared for the students prior to the 5th May and that this is reviewed on the student’s next session with the lecturer. For students who are unable to study at home and wish to attend college, a cluster will be assigned where they can have access to PCs and study areas. Lecturers will be available for these students should they have any queries or need help with their studies. At the Nottingham campuses normal attendance is required for all students except those who need to take the GCSE exam who will travel to Coalville by minibus from Nottingham. At all campuses Apprentices (block and day release) and commercial course students will attend college as normal. GCSE
exams will take place in cluster 6, cluster 7, cluster 8, 9.3 to 9.6 and the Early Years Practical room at Coalville so it may be necessary to move some of the unaffected classes to alternative locations within the College. Finally, we will hold our Staff Development Event on Friday 1st May, to which a group of our students and some of our Governors will attend. This is a key way in which all members of our college community can discuss our plans and recent activities and I look forward to seeing those attending. I appreciate that there is a lot of information in this update and if you require any clarification in relation to any elements please do not hesitate to contact a lecturer, or for college staff requiring support, your line manager. We are all working hard at the moment and I would ask that this is maintained to secure our successes. Thank you. Best wishes
From softwaves to big hair, students put on the style at College fashion show From the soft and glamorous hairstyles of the 1940s through to the backcombed ‘big hair’ of the 1980s, hair and beauty students at Stephenson College certainly know how to recreate a look. And the students were able to show off their considerable design talents – plus their imaginative interpretation of the theme ‘time traveller’ – on the catwalk at the college’s fashion show. Working to a brief which looked at the business aspects of putting on the event as well as all the hair, beauty and fashion elements, each student picked a specific style era.
Beth said: “My mum went to a fancy dress party as Marilyn and she looked great. I love the way Marilyn’s hair is in her pictures. It’s my idea of style and by changing a few bits I managed to make the look my own.” While Beth worked on creating Marilyn’s soft waves for her model and fellow course member Courtney Laund, level 3 student Olivia Brookes was getting busy with the hair gel.
Nineteen-year-old Olivia from Ibstock chose the 1980s as her era, with friend and model Amanda Adams agreeing to a BananaramaIn less than a fortnight, they helped style big hair do with purple streaks running through it. to plan and cost the show, put together a mood board, made Olivia said: “I wanted to go a bit slide shows, organised a photo crazy and I really love big hair. My shoot and sourced outfits as well model wore leg warmers and a tutu as practised their models’ hair and which we managed to find in a make-up. fancy dress shop.” Beth Tagg, a 19-year-old level 3 hair and beauty student from Ashby, opted for movie star glamour by taking style inspiration from screen icon Marilyn Monroe.
“My mum was a hair stylist and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do too. I used to help sweep up in the salon when I was little and I wouldn't mind working in a salon or being a mobile hairdresser.”
Beth and Olivia were among 50 students all at different stages of their hair and beauty training who took part in the show. Hair and beauty tutor Claire Stocker said: “All the hair and beauty tutors are so proud of what the students have achieved. They put on a brilliant show which was fun and upbeat. “Some of our students have been to events such as The Clothes Show at the NEC but staging and taking part in your own show is really special. “Quite a few of our clients came along to watch and were able to book 10 per cent off hair and beauty treatments while they were here. We are also very grateful to Josh Bowman, one of our painting and decorating students who put on a disco for us for free.”
Renault Trucks UK chooses Stephenson College to deliver national apprentice programme Renault Trucks UK has chosen Stephenson College in Coalville to deliver its national apprentice programme. The commercial truck company, one of the leading brands in the Volvo Group, has selected the college because of its state of the art facilities and excellent track record in working with employers to provide bespoke training. Under the new arrangement, Stephenson College in North West Leicestershire will be responsible for training up to 100 apprentices employed by Renault Trucks’ distributors and repairers across the UK. This development further strengthens the college’s links with the Volvo Group for whom it already delivers a national apprenticeship training programme on behalf of Volvo Trucks. Gino Costa, managing director of Renault Trucks UK, said: “Over the past three years we have worked hard to improve the apprenticeship programme to its current excellent level. The transition of the programme to Stephenson College is the next
step in driving our Renault Trucks brand forward. “Stephenson College is a very experienced HGV and automotive apprentice programme provider which has put in place a strong, dedicated Renault Trucks’ team to focus on recruitment, retention and learning for our apprentices.
of the college campus, in the coming months. While on block release the apprentices will be placed with local families approved by Stephenson College as part of its duty of care. Apprentices will continue to be assessed in the workplace, with all their qualification and training “We are very excited about the records automatically transferring move. The college provides a to the new training provider. fantastic and modern learning Access to higher level environment which we believe will apprenticeships will also be be highly beneficial to the available to those apprentices apprentices and to our looking to further develop their dealerships’ businesses.” careers. Renault Trucks’ competence Simon Kibble, director of quality development team will be working and development at Stephenson with existing apprentices to ensure College, said he was delighted their learning paths are not Renault Trucks had joined the disrupted. growing list of UK employers to For new recruits, apprentice whom the college delivers vacancies will be handled by bespoke apprenticeship training. Stephenson College, with college He said: “It’s great news and we’re staff liaising with Renault Trucks looking forward to working with dealers and the competence Renault Trucks UK and welcoming development team to ensure the company’s apprentices to vacancies are filled with high Stephenson College this calibre candidates. September.” Apprentices, their parents and dealers will be invited to a welcome session, including a tour
Stephenson College welcomes MP Andrew Bridgen to apprenticeship event North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen was able to see for himself the value of apprenticeships during an “Apprenticeship Challenge” event at Stephenson College in Coalville. At the event to mark National Apprenticeship Week, he met employers and talked with engineering, construction and motor vehicle apprentices who were taking part in practical team-building events. During a tour of the campus, Andrew spoke with representatives from several major national companies including Volvo Trucks, BAM Nuttall and Aggregate Industries – all employers who have chosen Stephenson College to deliver their tailored training programmes to their apprentices nationally. Andrew added: “We need employers like these to provide apprenticeship training if we are to avoid skills gaps in the future.” “Research indicates that it has been easier to promote apprenticeships in business administration, retail and care than it has in engineering, construction and IT, yet it is these areas which deliver the best returns on investment.” “Colleges like Stephenson College are doing a great job in publicising apprentice vacancies to young people and employers but schools too must
do more to promote apprenticeships as a viable alternative to A levels and university.” Among the employers taking part in the college’s apprenticeship event for the first time this year was multinational construction group Laing O’Rourke. The company is looking for water distribution apprentices for its Midlands’ utilities business and plans to start its recruitment drive by taking on an initial 18 trainees over the coming months. Craig Moorhouse, construction manager with Laing O’Rourke, said: “We have a lot of older heads in our industry but the sector is becoming more and more technical and we need to train young, technically minded people.” “We chose to come to Stephenson College as it’s in the Midlands where much of our utilities work is based and it has a good reputation for national apprenticeship training.” One company which already has a well-established relationship with Stephenson College is M-EC Consulting Development Engineers in Ibstock. Currently employing four apprentices in the area of civil engineering and geomatics, the firm is now looking to take on six more during 2015.
And, taking up an apprenticeship offers great potential for a rewarding career, explained civil engineering apprentices Taylor Worringham and Cameron Green, who were looking after the M-EC stand. Taylor, who is 18 and from Hinckley, joined M-EC over a year ago, while Cameron, who is 17 and from Moira, started with the business last September. Taylor said: “We’d definitely encourage people to think about apprenticeships. We are really enjoying ours. It’s great training and I’ve started to go out on site now. I particularly like working on the road design and highways aspects of the job.” And Taylor’s sentiments were echoed by Aggregate Industries which is looking to fill 28 engineering vacancies – 10 at BTEC apprenticeship level and a further 18 at higher apprenticeship foundation degree level. Hefin Jones, learning and development manager at Aggregate Industries said: “We’ve worked with Stephenson College for about five years a now and there is a lot to be said for having bespoke training delivered by one college. Our apprentices are scattered across the country but they all receive a consistent standard of training which is delivered by a college with a clear understanding of our training needs.”
Nottingham City Homes nominates Stephenson College plumbing apprentice for Apprentice of the Year Nottingham City Homes has nominated Stephenson College apprentice James Garrett as its Apprentice of the Year.
James Garret Picture above and below
James, who is 21 and from Bulwell, joined the housing organisation nearly three years ago and is due to complete his NVQ level three in Plumbing and Gas this summer. His role involves assisting plumbing maintenance teams with jobs such as repairing leaks and replacing boilers at council homes across Nottinghamshire. James, who attends Stephenson College’s Coalville campus on day release, has impressed his employer with his commitment to learning and aptitude for plumbing. But it is not only his day to day work which has prompted the nomination; he is also involved in a community project via Nottingham City Homes (NCH) to support national children’s and young people’s charity Brathay Trust. James is part of a team renovating a scout hut near
NCH’s premises and has also helped to raise more than £300 towards the project through cake sales and raffles.
local scouts to continue to run their unit after a run of bad luck which has included leadership changes due to ill health and theft of new garden equipment following a break-in.
Using skills learned on their college courses, he and his fellow team members have organised “We are sure that all the hard and completed much of the work work that James and the rest of to the hut themselves. the team are doing will bring back a smile to the scouts’ faces.” Additionally, the NCH team has also been busy promoting apprenticeships at school assemblies, youth groups and jobs fairs and is continuing to do so throughout National Apprenticeship Week.
James, who is looking forward to working as a qualified plumber and central heating engineer, is so pleased the apprenticeship opportunity came along. He added; “My brother is an electrician and when I left school I Lisa Porter, learning and knew what I wanted most was to development officer with Nottingham City Homes, said: “So learn a trade. far the scout hut project has “I really like my job and college is included installing new windows going well. We have regular tests and doors, fire safety and and we’ve all managed to pass security, lighting, new kitchen after just a couple of weeks’ units and toilet facilities as well as revision. clearing the garden. “I’m also enjoying the renovation “Our volunteers negotiated the sourcing of all materials from NCH contractors – including getting paint to give the place a face lift. This project will allow
project. We normally finish work at 1pm on Fridays but we’ve been putting in some extra hours to get the job done.”
Stephenson College competitors win Electrical & Plumbing Apprentice of the Year 2015
Adam Crook-Rumsey (above) and Jack Reynolds (below) receiving their awards
A pair of talented Stephenson College students were recently crowned the regional winners of two top national plumbing and electrical competitions held on home soil in what was a huge day for the College.
Final that takes place in Birmingham.”
Apprentices and their lecturers from across the United Kingdom, along with industry representatives were invited to the college’s Coalville Campus last month to judge and take part in a day of fiercely contested competitions organised by apprenticeship publications SPARKS and HIP magazines.
Jack’s tutor says “
Jack Reynolds was named Copper Initiative National Apprentice Plumber of the Year for the Midlands. The duo fought off strong competition from 16 other colleges with Adam coming up top against a host of apprentices from institutions such as Leicester College, City College Coventry and Warwickshire College while Jack beat apprentices from Sheffield College, Burton & South Derbyshire College and the College of West Anglia.
the 19th and 20th of May at Birmingham Electrical Training in Hockley. Mick Hinds, Faculty head of Construction said, “It was an absolute pleasure to host such a prestigious event, being part of it was an honour in it itself, but to actually win was the icing on the cake.
“I’d like to thank the organisers and sponsors for their input into what was a great competition.” Simon Kibble, Director of Quality and Development, pictured left handing out the awards to both Adam and Jack, said ‘Competition activity has an important role to Stephenson College’s Adam play in sharpening the vocational Crook Rumsey was named skills of apprentices. Stephenson Megger National Apprentice Electrician of the Year for the Both students have now advanced College is proud to have been Midlands. to the finals where they’re both in chosen to host the SPARKS with a chance of winning a prize to competitions and even prouder Matt Gray his College tutor says the value of £1000 and the title of that apprentices trained at the “This the second running that I have had a student of Stephenson National Apprentice Electrician or College were winners in both categories’. College successfully winning the Plumber of the Year. Midlands Regional event, it is a The plumbing competition final will credit to both Adam and the take place on the 29th & 30th of College that we are training our April at ADEY Professional student to competitive standards. I wish Adam all the success in his Heating Solutions in Cheltenham Apprenticeship and in the National and the electrical competition final is set to be held a month later on