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The Wigan & Leigh Experience
THE WIGAN & LEIGH BEYOND THE
Life beyond the classroom is rich, varied and rewarding. You have every opportunity to enhance your learning with wider activities, which are not only loads of fun, but also provide a boost to applications for university and employment.
Enrichment activities develop new interests, increase knowledge and skills, improve your self-confidence and provide a welcome respite from the pressure of passing exams.
TRIPS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Expand your horizons and learn more about how your skills may be used outside the UK.
COMPETITIONS
Become a contender in College-wide, regional or national competitions.
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF HISTORIC FEMALE AUTHORS
A Level English, History and Sociology students took a trip to the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth to visit the home of the literary sisters, authors of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. They learned more about the lives of the Brontes, took a tour around the Parsonage, visited the church and explored the West Yorkshire village. On their return journey they visited the grave of poet Sylvia Plath to pay their respects.
WORLDSKILLS UK GOLD AWARD FOR APPRENTICE PLASTERER
Apprentice plasterer Sam Dean scooped the Gold Award at the national finals of the WorldSkills UK plastering competition. The apprentice at IB Plastering impressed the judges with his technical ability. Sam said: “It was a good experience, especially seeing all the other trades and their work. We had to showcase a bit of everything from running moulds, floating and skimming to beading up, and using casting plaster moulds and coving.” Sam was one of just six competitors to reach the final.
EXPERIENCE CLASSROOM
The Centre of Excellence in Health & Social Care took the team award at the Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG) Skills Competition. They impressed judges with their knowledge, attention to detail and quick thinking in critical incident and first-aid scenarios.
ITALIAN SKIING TRIP
Health & Social Care students took their first post-lockdown trip abroad with work experience in Folgarida, Italy. Alongside practising their people skills working in hotels at the ski resort, they found time to hit the snow slopes learning how to ski. The trip was part of the Erasmus+ Programme, which funds education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
EXPLORING THE ARTS OF BARCELONA
School for the Arts students took two weeks out of the academic year to gain an insight into life as an international freelancer in Barcelona, working in multi-disciplinary teams for a Spanish client. The project brief was to create a cross-platform digital guide for visitors. They also managed to fit in workshops and explored the capital and largest city in Catalonia. Students visited Park Guell, designed by Antoni Gaudi, the architect and innovator of Catalan Modernism, whose works include the world famous Sagrada Familia.
Sports students and staff were delighted to see the return of the annual fortnight’s training camps with Benfica, Portugal and Catalans Dragons in France. The trips saw rugby teams coaching more than 60 junior Catalans players. Alongside altitude training, wrestling, weights and ice baths, the rugby team cycled the coastal path to the beautiful town of Collioure.
Meanwhile, those on the Football Development programme took a tour of the Estadio de Luz, home to the Benfica team. Between training sessions and friendly games they managed to fit in a sightseeing trip of Lisbon.
PASSION FOR PROSTHETICS
Students with shapeshifter skills visited the Prosthetics Event - the annual educational conference for media makeup artists. Level 3 Media Makeup students were wowed by the stunning transformations carried out by industry greats such as Nick Dudman, Bill Corso and Jake Garner, whose careers include work on Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman and many more blockbuster movies. Students rounded off the day witnessing Neill Gorton transforming makeup and drag artist Alexis Stone into Mrs Doubtfire.
GM SKILLS COMPETITION SUCCESS
Students secured a range of awards at the Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG) Skills Competitions. Graphic designers took top spot at Stockport College with a website brief set by mental health charity Mind. The College hosted the performing arts competition, at The Edge venue, where students Blake Lockley and Elisha Westbrook won the Level 2 Dance and Level 2 Music competitions. They performed in front of a packed auditorium for a judging committee, including former Hollyoaks actress Helen Noble. Meanwhile, construction students scooped first place in Level 1 Brickwork and Level 2 Plumbing at Bolton College.
A WIDE CHOICE OF GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES
CHARITY EVENTS, PROJECTS AND CELEBRATIONS
• Basketball • Care Leavers’ Group • College Choir • Debating Society • Digital Literacy Support • Equality & Diversity Group • Film Club • Flower Club • 5-a-side Football • Go Karting • High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) • Motivational Day (Haigh Hall) • March with Pride - LGBTQ group • NCS (National Citizenship Scheme) • Gaming Club • Student Conference • Student Council • Sustainability Group • Vehicle Maintenance • Young Carers’ Group
• Anti-bullying Week • Art: The Big Draw Festival • Black History Month • British Heart Foundation Week • Brick Project Christmas Collection • Brick Project Food Bank • Cancer Research Race for Life • Chaplaincy - Valentine events • Children in Need • Chinese New Year • Comic Relief • Diwali • Floristry Christmas Pop-up Shop • Fundraising and awareness events for groups such as: - Wigan and Leigh Hospice - The Brick - Food Bank - Ukraine/Syria • Homeless Project • International Women’s Day • LGBT History Month • Macmillan Coffee morning • National Vegetarian Week • National Careers and
Apprenticeship weeks • One World • Remembrance Day • Science - National Science Week • Sport Relief • Wigan Hate Crime Awareness Week • World Aids Day • World Mental Health Day • World Peace Day
