http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk All the latest news from Castle College. en-bg All content is Copyright (c) Castle College webmaster@castlecollege.ac.uk (Stephen Last and Matthew Frost, Web Designer/Developer) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:04:38 GMT http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/rss/_imgs/castlelogo.gif http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/320-college-pledges-to-maintain-priority-provision/ Castle College Nottingham has pledged to continue to offer high priority education and training despite the announcement of consultation on up to 200 potential job losses. The College faces cuts of more than 10% in its funding for 2010/11, as a result of new Government priorities. In particular, the Government is proposing reductions in funding for adult learners affecting all colleges across the country, with an average cut of 16% nationally to adult learner programmes. Malcolm Cowgill, Interim Principal at the College, explained: "A great deal of work has already been completed to ensure that provision is maintained for our current as well as our future students and that we address the priority areas identified by the Government. The College will maintain its current breadth and depth in its curriculum profile particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) together with its strong foundation learning programmes. There are two client groups from which we will withdraw provision as funding is transferred to other priorities. These are permanently excluded 14-16 year-old school pupils and learners in Hostels across the conurbation." "We are also reviewing our accommodation strategy which will allow us to divert resources to support improvements in the quality of our remaining provision. I would like to reassure our current students that they will be able to complete their studies with us. Despite the cuts the College will still be a major provider of further education within the area with a budget of over £30m and we still have a lot to offer the students, employers and communities of the Nottingham conurbation." The College is working closely with its recognised trade unions to support staff affected. It is hoped that natural wastage, voluntary redundancies and contract reductions will account for a significant part of the savings, but there will potentially be compulsory redundancies. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/318-goldie-to-visit-confetti/ The highlight of this year's Confetti Industry Week will be a special guest appearance by Goldie. The legendary music and TV star will be delivering a key note speech and performing an exclusive gig for Confetti students. In addition to being one of the UK's earliest and most important Graffiti writers, Goldie has had great success as a drum and bass DJ, producer and actor. 1994 saw him setting up his own record label, Metalheadz. The label was a huge success, releasing some of the most important tunes of that era, and remains hugely successful and respected to this day. Goldie has also recently starred in a James Bond film, Snatch, Eastenders, Big Brother, BBC Maestro and a social worker TV advert. The five day event which starts on 8 March will take place across a range of venues including Confetti, Broadway Cinema and Stealth nightclub. Industry Week offers Confetti students a real insight into the Music, Media and Gaming Industries. Key guests deliver specialist workshops, seminars and lectures about specific areas of the Creative Industries, enabling the students to learn directly from Industry figures. Guests across the week include Huw Stevens (Radio 1), BBC, Monumental Games and EM Media, to name just a few. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/317-show-off-your-selling-skills/ Young people interested in a career within Business, Administration and Finance will have an opportunity to find out more about the new Specialised Diploma starting in September. Activities will also start to develop selling and team working skills. The taster event will take place at Castle College's Beeston Campus on Tuesday 2 March between 9:00am and 1:00pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information or to book a place contact Patrice Powell on 0115 8842390 or e-mail patrice.powell@castlecollege.ac.uk Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/316-usman-turns-up-the-heat-on-his-opponents/ Castle College apprentice welder Usman Rafiq recently romped home in the Eastern England regional heats of the Skillweld competition in Leeds. Usman, from Derby, competed against four other apprentices and amassed more marks than all of them put together. His 246 marks have gained him second spot on the national leader board. The event is being run at seven other venues and only the first ten apprentices with the highest marks will go through to the finals. The College is building quite a national reputation in the world of welding. Last year, Michael Folberth finished sixth in the BOC National Apprentice Welding Competition and BOC have also selected the College to host this year's national finals on 6 and 7 July. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/315-make-the-most-of-microsoft-2007/ Have you purchased a new PC or software package with Microsoft 2007 on? Would you like to know more about the new features it contains? Castle IT Academy is running a series of workshops designed to guide and support people at the College's Middle Street Business Centre in Beeston. Intro to Word 2007 Monday 15,22 & 29 March 4:00 - 6:00pm £100 Intro to Excel 2007 Tuesday 16,23 & 30 March 4:00 - 6:00pm £100 Intro to PowerPoint 2007 Thursday 18 & 25 March & 1 April 4:00 - 6:00pm £100 For more details or to book a place contact Dudley Cottingham on 0115 884 2305 or e-mail dudley.cottingham@castlecollege.ac.uk Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/314-making-the-most-of-google/ Right when you thought you had it sorted, Google goes and changes it all. You may have noticed a change in the results displayed when you search on Google: in between the usual results you now get video, audio, images, news, maps etc. This means two things for your business: 1. Valuable space is taken away from your traditional search listings 2. Great new opportunities for you to get found But where do you start? How do you optimise search for these new media - and in a corporate way suitable for your business? Susan Hallam, a well established Internet Marketing Consultant, is the guest speaker at the next eBusiness Champions event on Thursday 25 February at CAPE Bar, Victoria Street in Nottingham (7.30pm start). Susan is an excellent speaker and this is definitely an evening not to miss! To book your place phone 0115 925 6666 or e-mail dorte.knights-branch@castlecollege.ac.uk eBusiness Champions is a new, free support programme designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises in the East Midlands make the most of their websites and the potential of the internet. Run by Axis Centre (part of Castle College Nottingham), the programme is part-funded by European Social Fund and includes monthly learning and networking events in Leicester and Nottingham. Register now at www.echampions.co.uk You can find out more about Susan Hallam, see a broad range of knowledge articles and sign up for her newsletter at www.shcl.co.uk Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/313-nick-hancock-to-launch-castles-new-soccer-league/ Comedian and television presenter Nick Hancock will kick off the new 7-a-side football league for children from Nottingham City schools. Nick, a well known Stoke City fan, will join the teams at the official launch of the league at the Forest Recreation Ground on Thursday 25 February. Over 100 year 3 and 4 pupils from 11 schools will compete in the Junior Knights Football League over a four week period. The league has been set up by Castle College in partnership with the Nottingham City Schools Partnership and Djanogly City Academy. The scheme is aimed at inner city schools that have minimal access to recreational facilities and coaching. The sessions will be led by the Castle College Football Development Centre staff and will encourage community cohesion between the schools. Justin Walker, Football Development Manager, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for our footballers to give something back to grassroots football. They will also be able to develop their own personal and coaching skills through managing the teams involved." Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/312-nottinghamshire-loves-learning/ Valentine's weekend means just one thing. Nottinghamshire loves learning! Castle College's Community Development team are supporting Nottinghamshire's Big Learning Weekend through a number of activities. Art Attack at Nottingham Castle kicks off the celebrations on Saturday 13 February with a number of activities between 10:00am and 2:30pm. Also on Saturday you can enjoy digital photography and music at the Pearson Centre in Beeston between 10:00am and 1:00pm. On Sunday 14 February, you can treat yourself to a Valentine Makeover at Nudu Hair on Valley Drive in Newthorpe who are running a number of hair care workshops between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. On Monday 15 February, there is an opportunity to jazz up your old clothes at a Rags to Riches Evening Workshop at Kathleen and Lily's Vintage Clothing on Mansfield Road. You can also have fun with fabrics at the Sherwood Workshop on Mansfield Road during the day. Finally, pop into the Stapleford Health Centre for the Healthy Living Fun Day between 10:30am and 1:00pm. For more information and to book a place contact Katrina Farrand on 0115 884 2674 or the Community Development Team on 0115 884 2749. You can also visit www.nottsloveslearning.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/311-interim-principal-appointed/ South Nottingham College and Castle College have confirmed the appointment of Malcolm Cowgill as the interim Principal and Chief Executive of Castle College. The announcement comes after the retirement of the former Principal, Nick Lewis, shortly before Christmas. Mr Cowgill, who will take up post on 1 February for a six month period, will also continue in his current role as Principal and Chief Executive of South Nottingham College (subject to approval from the Secretary of State). Castle's new Chair of Governors, Clive Rix, who also takes up post at the beginning of February, said: "We are delighted that Malcolm and South Nottingham College have agreed to support the College through a temporary arrangement. He is a very experienced leader with a first-class track record. He has a clear understanding of FE nationally, regionally and within Nottingham. Malcolm will give us the ability to independently review and reposition the College in light of significant changes within the sector and is eminently equipped to ensure that this happens." Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/310-new-course-meets-every-knead/ Ten local youngsters will soon have the opportunity to experience the world of work through a ground breaking project. Castle College, in partnership with Warburtons Bakery, has developed a special course aimed at students who may have not have achieved any qualifications at school. The ten successful candidates (aged between 16 and 19) will be able to gain valuable work experience with Warburtons at their Eastwood Bakery as well as a range of food production, including bread making, and key skills qualifications. On successful completion of the 22 week long course students will be guaranteed an interview for full-time employment at Warburtons. Keith Dennis, Deputy Principal at Castle College, said: "We are delighted that working with our partners has resulted in this great opportunity for young people in Nottingham. The project has not only involved the College and Warburtons, but also unionlearn, Connexions and the National Apprenticeship Service. We have a limited number of places still available for the course that starts shortly." For further details about the course contact Mark Fedulow or Amanda Hickling on 0115 8842435. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/309-all-campuses-open-its-business-as-usual/ Power has been restored to The People's Campus on Maid Marian Way following the sub-station fire on Friday. The campus will be open as usual on Monday morning. Highfields Campus which was closed on Friday due to a gas leak, will also be open for business as usual on Monday. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/308-go-higher-university-level-courses-for-2010-11/ If you would like a copy of the new prospectus for university level courses at Castle College please contact he@castlecollege.ac.uk Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/304-weather-update-business-as-usual-fri-15-jan/ All College campuses are open. Examinations and all other activities will continue as normal. If the weather situation worsens and a decision is taken to close the College a notice will be posted on this web site. We will also inform local radio stations. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/303-information-evening-wednesday-20-january/ If you want to find out more about courses and careers why not come along to our Information Evening. It will take place at The People's Campus (Maid Marian Way) on Wednesday 20 January between 5:30 and 7:30pm. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/302-college-christmas-closing/ Castle College will be closed from 1:00pm on Christmas Eve (24 December) and will re-open on Monday 4 January 2010. We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/301-award-winning-entrepreneur-bucks-the-recession/ Multi award winning Malk Hall, owner of Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, one of the fastest growing online businesses in the UK has signed up to participate in eChampions, the new online eBusiness improvement community led by Axis Centre at Castle College Nottingham. Malk, pictured holding his award, has recently been identified as one of the UK's top 60 start-ups and entrepreneurs, after achieving rapid growth since starting the business in August 2006. Hall-Fast originally supplied components into the automotive industry, however problems were evident in that industry for some time and a major business rethink led to the genesis of a huge online business now numbering over 48,000 product lines and overtaking the range available by major competitor Screwfix. "We first went on the eMarketing and Persuasive Content Development course at the Axis Centre in Nottingham which was a massive eye opener. It was clear that although we were doing OK online by many people's standards and growing rapidly despite the recession, 'OK' is not why I got into business," stated Malk, Managing Director of Hall-Fast, "The course showed us the power of being well informed, but eChampions offers something different, the chance to gain the right insight, and crucially to compare the activity on your website against others to improve it's bottom line performance. Whether you're just promoting your business using the web, or selling hundreds of thousands of products online every year like we do, that has got to be powerful antidote to any recession". Jonny Green, Head of the Axis Centre, added: "It's great to be able to support businesses, such as Hall-Fast, to prosper during these trying times. There are still opportunities for SMEs to take part in the free eChampions programme. Launch events will be taking place in November and December in Nottingham and Leicester." For more details go to www.eChampions.co.uk or call Dorte Knights-Branch at the Axis Centre, Castle College Nottingham 0115 9256666. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/300-travel-and-tourism-create-a-magical-christmas/ Over 60 Castle College Travel & Tourism students created a magical experience for youngsters which Disney would have been proud of. Over 140 young children received VIP treatment from the moment they 'checked in' with Santa's elves. A walk through a forest of brightly decorated Christmas trees, courtesy of local primary schoolchildren, led them to the departure lounge where they enjoyed carols and other festive treats before boarding Santa Flight 2-0-0-9. After a 10 minute virtual flight in the College's Training Cabin the children were able to meet Santa who gave them a little present. One delighted parent commented: "I would like to pass on my thanks for the fantastic 'Santa Flight' that my step-son and two nieces experienced on Saturday. They were so excited and buzzed about it all day! Thank you to all of those who were involved". The real winner of the event, masterminded by the Travel & Tourism staff, was the 'Wish upon a Star' charity which will benefit from the proceeds raised. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/299-college-principal-retires/ Nick Lewis, Principal and Chief Executive of Castle College Nottingham, will retire at the end of December. Mr Lewis has spent 32 years working in the Further Education service with the last 18 years as a College Principal. Mr Lewis commenting on his early retirement said: "I have had the privilege of working in colleges with dedicated staff serving the needs of students, employers and local communities in Leeds, the North East and latterly in Nottingham. It has been an honour to lead in the development of Further Education in Nottingham and in particular the creation in 2006 of Castle College. With a tremendous effort from staff and Governors we have laid the foundations for a successful institution which has already forged a strong identity and won national recognition for the quality of the student experience, but I now feel that it is now time for the College to review its strategy and address the challenging economic environment under new leadership. I will continue to contribute to public life at both a national and local level." "I am confident the College is well placed to make a powerful contribution to local communities and Nottingham's economy to the benefit of generations of students to come," added Mr Lewis. Keith Dennis, Deputy Principal, who has become acting Principal, praised the dedication that Mr Lewis had demonstrated and added: "Nick has spent most of his professional life as a champion of Further Education. He has worked tirelessly both locally and nationally to promote the wonderful, but often forgotten, work carried out by colleges such as Castle. One of Nick's greatest achievements has to be the formation of Castle College in June 2006. I would like to personally thank Nick for establishing the College as a key player in meeting the needs of the people of Nottingham. The staff and governors wish Nick well for the future. His experience and support will be sadly missed." Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/298-in-pole-position-for-global-entrepreneur-week/ Students at Castle College certainly secured pole position for Global Entrepreneurship Week as they transformed a second-hand banger into a racing machine. In a 60 minute workshop, they practiced their motor vehicle and enterprise skills as they converted an ordinary Vauxhall Corsa into a racing machine. The event, 'From Banger to Brawn', was supported by Unleashing Enterprise, the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) funded initiative which encourages young people to be more entrepreneurial. "Global Entrepreneurship Week starts on Monday 16 November and we wanted to demonstrate that many of our students have tremendous skills and enthusiasm," explained Yultan Mellor, Vice Principal - Business Development. "Given the interest and excitement around Jenson Button and Brawn, which is based in the East Midlands, motor racing was an obvious choice. Our budget wouldn't stretch to an F1 car, but this old Corsa is well on its way to being completely performance-enhanced." Global Entrepreneurship Week runs from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November. Over 150 events will be staged across the East Midlands. Chris Shaw, Regional Manager at Unleashing Enterprise, who invited Castle College to be involved in launching Global Entrepreneurship Week, said: "After watching these enterprising young people today, I'm sure next week is going to be a great success! We have lots of activities taking place across the East Midlands. Schools, colleges, universities and both large and small companies are all getting involved and encouraging people to become more entrepreneurial. Given the state of the economy at the moment, Global Entrepreneurship Week is incredibly poignant and important." Details of the wide range of events taking place across the East Midlands during Global Entrepreneurship Week and the initiatives being organised and supported by Unleashing Enterprise can be found at www.gew.org.uk http://www.gew.org.uk Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/297-andrew-proves-to-be-a-big-plus/ Andrew Davies is to receive a top Mathematics award. Andrew, a Learning Support Lecturer in Maths and Numeracy, at Castle College Nottingham has become one of the first Mathematics teachers in the country to be awarded the prestigious Chartered Mathematics Teacher status. The CMathTeach designation was awarded to Andrew by the National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges (NANAMIC) on the behalf of the Chartered Mathematics Teacher Registration Authority. Four NANAMIC members have been granted CMathTeach designation, including Andrew and a former Castle College colleague, David Martin. The pair is amongst the first ten people to receive this designation. They will receive their award at the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) Conference at Nottingham University on Tuesday 1 December 2009. Meanwhile, Andrew continues to share his passion for Maths with students at the College. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/295-college-building-gains-national-awards/ Castle College's Beeston Phase II development has scooped two national awards. The LABC, Local Authority Building Control, which promotes the design of safe, accessible and environmentally efficient buildings voted the project, completed in October 2008, as the Best Educational Building. The development team - Architects CPMG, contractors - Mansell Construction Services and the College were also delighted when it was announced that the project had been voted as the Supreme Winner in the overall category. Nick Gregory, from CPMG, said: "This is fantastic news as we beat off high profile entrants, such as The Curve in Leicester." The winning citation stated: "This project is a genuine exemplar of design and construction at its best, and amply demonstrates what can be achieved when the whole team is focused on delivering the best possible learning environment for students, teachers and the community. The new campus provides an outstanding and very distinctive set of spaces that encourage a sense of ownership in all who use them." The judges felt the project was set apart by a design that manages to be iconic without pretensions, and by the thoroughness with which issues of building performance and sustainability were addressed. Passive heating and cooling has been carefully incorporated into the design without disrupting the aesthetics and in the case of a new learning resource centre at the heart of the project, actively enhancing them. This passively cooled, south-facing, two-storey space benefits from outstanding daylight and passive winter heating, and includes a solar chimney stack ventilation system to ensure a fantastic environment during the summer months too, so there is no need for mechanical cooling at all in this popular, and well-populated, area. The results are impressive - a 38% improvement on energy use on 2002 building standards, and a completed project that far exceeds the client's expectations." The College's Highfields Automotive and Engineering Training Centre also recently gained similar national recognition by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Adrian Bambridge, Head of Marketing and Communications, concluded: "It's wonderful to win awards for our buildings, but it is the students and staff who make the College what it is." Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/294-molehill-ahead/ Castle College has been successful in its bid to secure funding to develop its mobile learning strategy. The exciting project, worth over £100,000, is one of the largest bids in the country to secure backing from MoLeNET, the Mobile Learning Network. MoLeNET, a collaboration between the LSC and LSN, will provide resources worth £80,000. The College's MoLeHiLL, Mobile Learning Help in Lifelong Learning, Project will buy new mobile technologies including Nintendo Wii's, iPod Touch's and Nintendo DSi's as well as extending the College's Wi-Fi capacity (£40k) across its provision. The project will initially target 300 students from traditionally hard to reach areas including NEETs (not in education, employment or training), WASPs (without a school place), post prison and rehabilitation, unemployed and work based learning students. The project is designed to engage and motivate through the use of technology and to boost the self-esteem and confidence of the students. Functional and key skills; such as literacy, numeracy and IT; will be an important part of the learning process. The project team also envisage that students' families and friends will also be inspired through the innovative approach. Students will also be encouraged to develop online materials such as podcasts, blogs and video clips which can be shared with others. The College will also be able to extend the use of mobile learning technologies in formative and summative assessment of students. Lyn Lall, Castle College's ILT Development Manager, said: "Innovative methods and materials will make the learning experience more personalised and fun which will result in increased engagement, retention and achievement levels of students. We will build on the many areas of good practice that already exist within the College." Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/293-still-time-to-sign-up/ There is still an opportunity to enrol on a course to learn a new skill and meet new people. For instance, British Sign Language courses based at the Beeston and Whiteley Mill Centres of Castle College begin in November and January. If Art and Design is your thing what about a Ceramics or Design Crafts evening course? Based in the new facilities in Beeston you will be able to explore your creative side. Call 0845 845 0500 for more details. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/291-students-start-the-term-in-style/ Students at Castle College have started the new term in style, with a series of fun packed freshers events! Freshers Fairs took place at all the College's major campuses in the City, Beeston and Stapleford. It was a perfect chance for students from all courses, including Art & Design, Construction and Public Services to get together before all the hard work begins! At the Arthur Mee Centre in Stapleford, students from Service Sector Occupations had a 'Dress to Impress' theme, so there were plenty of smartly attired gentlemen in suits! They were mesmerised by a hypnotist, put to the test on the climbing wall, and also enjoyed a BBQ. Carlton Road students enjoyed a beach themed event, complete with seaside food and crazy golf! Trent FM's Black Thunder crew popped along to the Beeston Campus fair, where there was plenty of fun and games! As well as entertainment, there was no shortage of information on the College experience and the benefits available to students, with plenty of interactive stands with offers and information from local organisations and businesses, including Aim Higher, Nottinghamshire Police and Fitspace Gym. The events were organised by Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Coaches at the College, all of whom provide a valuable tutorial support role to learners, ensuring their effective progression from initial contact to the final achievement of their qualification. For more information on all the courses available at Castle College please call 0845 845 0500 or go to the courses section of this website. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/290-mechanics-serve-an-ace-at-special-olympics/ Two Motor Vehicle students from Castle College downed tools this summer to pick up their tennis rackets for a national competition, and earned a number of medals in the process! Alex Eustace from Arnold and Joseph Eccles from West Bridgford, both 18, competed in the Special Olympics in Leicester. Special Olympics organises sporting events for people with learning disabilities, and they both earned several medals for their achievements in the tennis tournaments. The students paired up in the doubles competition, where they came away with a gold medal. Alex also won gold in the mixed doubles competition. When it came to the Men's Singles competition however, Alex and Joseph had to play each other for that all important gold medal, which was eventually won by Joseph. The students are no strangers to success; last year the pair travelled to Milan to compete in the Three Nations Tennis Tournament, organised by Special Olympics Italy. Their achievements included gold for Alex in the Men's Singles, against Joseph! Sporty Alex, who trains with West Bridgford Tennis Club, is also a member of Redhill Running Club, and he recently picked up a bronze medal in the Under 20s Summer League competition. Alex's hard work and achievements also earned him an award at Castle College's latest Annual Awards Ceremony; he was delighted to win the Jenny Millington Award for Success against Adversity: 'This can go with all the other medals I have won for tennis!' When they're not achieving national and international success, Alex and Joseph are both very enthusiastic about cars and the Motor Vehicle courses they are completing at Castle College's London Road Construction & Technology Centre. For more information on the Motor Vehicle courses available at Castle College please call 0845 845 0500 or go to the courses section of this website. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/289-do-you-have-a-passion-for-makeup/ Do you have a passion for fashion and makeup? If so, Castle College has the ideal course for you. The Fashion and Photographic Make up Level 2 Certificate is a part-time 19 week course taking place on Wednesdays at Castle College's Whiteley Mill Campus in Stapleford, from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. During the course you will learn how to apply fashion and photographic makeup, from a number of eras and styles, all in a commercial salon. You will also cover Anatomy & Physiology and Health & Safety units. During this exciting course you may also have the opportunity to take part in a period of work experience with a professional photographer. All you need is an interest in design and make up techniques, as well as a creative personality! On completing the course you can progress on to the Level 3 Certificate, a full-time course, and from there onto a Higher Education qualification. People taking the Level 2 course have gone on to set up their own beauty businesses, work for Clarins, and become freelance makeup artists. Call 0845 845 0500 for more information or email the course tutor at josie.clarke@castlecollege.ac.uk Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/288-a-level-pass-rates-still-going-up/ There were plenty of happy faces from those collecting their results at Castle College's Beeston Campus on Thursday; and pass rates are on the rise again! 155 students sat A Levels 94.5% overall pass rate 67.2% achieved A-C grades 22.3% achieved A grades Sonia Rehman, 19 from Eastwood, will be progressing on to Nottingham Trent University to study Criminology after receiving her A2 Level results. Her friend Christina Foster, 18 from Beeston, achieved 2 B's and a C at A2 Level in Sociology, Psychology and English: 'I'm going to Birmingham University to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) so I can become a Primary School teacher.' Iram Ali, 17 from Beeston, also has plans to be a Primary School teacher. She was collecting her AS Level results for Psychology, English and Media Studies with classmate Mary Ellis, 64 from Chilwell, who was delighted with her grade C in AS Level English. James Spenceley-Stevens, 22 was particularly pleased with his AS Level results. Having been out of education for some time he had done incredibly well to achieve 2 B's and a C in Art & Design, Maths and Physics. Amanda Pick, 43 from Long Eaton, was pleasantly surprised with her A grade in AS Level Art & Design. She will be progressing on to the full-time Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at the College. Deborah Alldridge, 19 was delighted with her A in English and B in Physics. Combined with her previous qualifications she now has the grades to be able to progress on to university after taking a year out. Amanda and Deborah were not the only students to achieve an A grade; 24 students achieved A's in the A2 Level Maths Class, seven in the Further Maths class and six in the Chemistry class. Congratulations go to all the students who received their exam results this year. For more information on the courses available to you at Castle College please see the courses section of this website. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/287-a-step-closer-to-your-dream-course/ You can be one step closer to the courses of your dreams this summer with Castle College, and with 100s of courses to choose from there is bound to be something to suit you. In July this year, Castle College was named 'Provider of the Year' at a national awards ceremony, demonstrating the excellent educational experience and representation of the Student Voice which we offer to all our students. If you'd like to be part of this experience there are plenty of ways that you can find your ideal course; this website has all the information you need about the courses on offer this September. Visit the courses section and once you've found the course you want to apply for, simply click on the 'Apply Online' link underneath the course description. If you have any queries about the course, simply click on the 'Enquire about this course' link or use the general Enquiry Form link on the homepage. Still not decided on the course for you? Come along to our Beeston and People's Campuses, Monday to Thursday between 9.00am and 5.00pm, and Fridays 9.00am - 4.30pm, where guidance advisers will be available to help you make your decision. From 1 September there will be even more opportunities to discover the course for you, as we will be open until 7.00pm, Monday to Thursday. For more information on the courses available, please see the courses section of this website or call 0845 845 0500 for your copy of the A-Z course directory. We look forward to seeing you in September! Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/286-international-visitors-at-castle-college/ Castle College has said goodbye to a delegation of international students who joined the College for the summer to develop their qualifications. The International Summer School programme commenced in 2004 with 40 students and has since expanded significantly; this year 223 staff and students took part, all of whom are associated with Nanchang University in China. The group, comprised of lecturers and undergraduate students, were from a variety of subject areas including medicine, nutrition sciences, nursing, architecture, law and engineering. For most of the group this was their first visit to the UK or even abroad, and the month long Summer School is an ideal opportunity for them to improve their English language skills, whilst experiencing British culture. As many of the students are interested in pursuing further studies in the UK after completing their first Degree in Nanchang, they attended classes to prepare for the IELTS exam, which will enable them to apply for UK University programmes. The learning was not just for the students however; the lecturers also attended teacher training classes where they discovered more about teaching methods in the UK. The social element of the summer school is as important as the learning, and to enhance their studies the students took part in excursions to popular attractions in Oxford, Cambridge, London and York. Existing Castle College students also got involved; they took their visitors out for afternoon tea and hosted a ceilidh at the College's People Campus. The Summer School students reciprocated by cooking them a Chinese meal! The Summer School culminated in a visit to Nottingham's Council House, where they had been invited to meet the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Jeannie Packer. Councillor Packer has been invited along with Castle College to make a return visit to Nanchang in the autumn. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services) http://www.castlecollege.ac.uk/about/news/285-michael-melts-the-competition-in-welding-contest/ A Castle College Apprentice has been named as one of the top welders in the country as the result of a national competition. Michael Folberth, 20 from Hucknall, took part in the national final of the British Oxygen Company's (BOC) Apprentice Welding Competition. The intensive three day competition took place at Doosan Babcock in Birmingham on 31 July and Michael's skills were certainly put to the test against nine Apprentices from around the country, all of whom won the regional finals of the competition. The ten finalists worked under pressure to produce and weld four test pieces using various techniques. Michael achieved sixth place overall and it is certainly a considerable achievement to be the sixth best welder in the country! As well as showcasing their existing talents, the BOC competition encourages Apprentices to develop additional skills which will enable them to maintain the UK's traditionally competitive position in the field of engineering. Martyn Fletcher, General Manager of Doosan Babcock, presented the Apprentices with their certificates and during his speech talked about the shortage of welders in the UK, which this group of young people are helping to alleviate. BOC sees the final competition as a good indication that candidates have the potential to represent the UK in future international welding competitions. Indeed, both Michael and his fellow Apprentice, Usman Rafiq, 17, have been invited to take part in the national Skillweld competition, and will represent Castle College at next year's regional finals. The judges of the BOC competition are those who will be present at UKSkills, including Les Ness, the UK Skillweld organiser and judge. Dave Vickers from the Castle College Welding division was certainly very impressed with their efforts: 'Michael's success demonstrates not only the strength of his talents, but also the quality of engineering training taking place at the College. He has gone from strength to strength since coming to Castle College and we are very proud of him. For him and Usman to progress on to the UK Skills competition is also an incredible achievement.' For more information on the courses available at Castle College, please call 0845 845 0500 or go to the courses section of this website. Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT learn@castlecollege.ac.uk (Student support services)