A group of bright Year 9 pupils from Madeley High School had the opportunity to experience a typical A Level Psychology and Sociology lesson at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
The students who were about to make their GCSE choices, were given the opportunity by their Humanities teacher Mr Green to come to NULC and meet current students on those courses.
Assistant Head of 6th Form and Psychology lecturer Adele Richards talked about Prison life from a psychological state of mind and explained the effect of the imprisonment on their personalities. Marianna Glazewska commented: “I liked how we compared different prisons”.
Not just content with learning about prison life in Psychology, students were also introduced to the world of Sociology. Assistant Head of 6th Form and Sociology lecturer Jon Stanfield discussed how a society is formed and how our own role within our society affects others around us. The pupils were shown some incredible videos of how our own human society can be linked to packs of wolves and how their ‘pack’ instincts can be similar to ours was fascinating to the pupils.
Jenna French was asked what she enjoyed most about the taster she replied: “Learning about the baby wolves and people wolves”,
The taster day was designed to encourage students to consider choosing Humanities as a GCSE subject and how it can benefit students applying for Psychology and Sociology at A Level. Humanities teacher Mr Green commented about the sessions: “I felt the lessons were pitched perfectly with a good pace”.
If you are a teacher and you would like to bring a group of students to a taster at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, please contact the School Liaison Team; Gareth & Tara on 01782 254347 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk
.
On 16 January 2014 Newcastle-under-Lyme College basketball team the NULC Knights were involved in a taster session for a group of Year 10 pupils from Wolstanton High School. The taster was to give the pupils an idea about what life is like as a player for the NULC Knights in a physically demanding training session at the College.
The newly crowned Division 4 Midlands League Champions were on hand to offer advice to the visiting pupils on their own game and talk about what it was like to play for their famous coach.
NULC Knights Head Coach Shawn Jamison has been involved in basketball on both sides of the Atlantic for over 20 years, both as a coach and as a player. Shawn has experience playing for the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, showcasing his hoop skills when they played at the Wembley Arena and MEN in Manchester. Shawn has an impressive playing career too, representing the Los Angeles Clippers in the famous NBA league in the USA.
It’s clear that the Knights Head Coach is passionate about promoting basketball in this country and his players are very important to him. Speaking after the NULC Knights title win Shawn commented “I am delighted to be coaching such a talented group of students and players here at NULC. This win is a testament to the hard work and long hours the NULC Knights have put into training.”
Basketball is a growing sport in the UK and the pupils from Wolstanton certainly left the college with a greater desire to continue with the sport after they leave school.
If you would like any course advice or you would like the opportunity to experience a college taster before you apply then please ask your teacher to contact Gareth Hughes or Tara Wallbanks at schools@nulc.ac.uk or email 01782 254347.
A group of Computer Science pupils from Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy had a fantastic day using our brand new Lego Robotics Kits.
Leading the taster was Andy Snape, Assistant Head of 6th Form, along with Lesley Kelly, Subject Leader for Computing & ICT and Lucy Nevitt, STEM Community Developer. With their help and following a set of instructions the pupils had to build their own robot and were then challenged to programme the robots.
They were firstly programmed to move backwards and forwards and then moved on to turning the robots. Various challenges were set, including programming the robots to stop on a line and drive around the edge of a square without knocking the LEGO minifigures over.
The most technical challenge came when the pupils added the ultrasonic sensor so that the robots could detect distances and they then programmed the robots to navigate around a tricky maze.
Mrs McCracken and Ms Varley were successful in programming their robot safely around the maze and commented that the “Great college staff motivated the pupils and showed enthusiasm and enjoyment which had a great impact.”
Bethany Cooke said that the taster was: “Fun and challenging at the same time,” and Grace Wass enjoyed the day she explained; “The teachers were funny and the class was fun, I learned a lot.”
Many thanks to Mr Smart who helped to organise the taster; we hope to see you and your pupils again soon.
If you are a teacher and would like a group of pupils from your school to attend a taster at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, please contact the School Liaison Team on 01782 254347 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk.
A group of Year 10 students from Newcastle Community High School (NCHS) visited the NULC for a day, to try out various tasters in; Hair and Beauty, Bench Joinery, Early Years, Sport and Public Services.
Every student enjoyed their time at NULC with 80% saying that the day helped them to make a decision about their future.
In Hair and Beauty the NCHS students got to experience both the commercial Hair and Beauty Salons and see various treatments being done by our Level 3 students. They also received a mini-manicure from NULC’s Beauty students with Jordan Burton (NCHS) commenting that he enjoyed his hand massage.
After a look around our Skills and Technology Centre and meeting students in the workshops, the Bench Joinery students made their own coat pegs. By following a set of instructions and with the guidance of NULC’s well experienced staff, the students carefully cut the wood and hammered the pegs in, ready to take home with them.
After a big dinner in the College Food Hall, the students split into different groups ready for the afternoon sessions.
The Early Years pupils showed off their craft skills to try out quilling and other various activities that can be done with children, as part of the Early Years course.
The Public Services students learnt how to work in teams and use everyone’s individual skills to build the highest tower. Tyler Micklewright said: “We did a lot of teamwork- it was an awesome lesson.” The same group then enjoyed a theory Sport session, learning about Anatomy with the help of class skeletons and iPads.
Kieron Knapper enjoyed his day: “Staff were very polite, I learnt a lot of interesting facts and we were kept informed of what grades we need.”
NCHS Teacher Lucy Szepietowska commented: “It was great that all of the sessions were so hands on and I know the pupils had a great day.”
If you are a teacher and you would like a group of students from your school to attend a taster at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, please contact the School Liaison Team; Gareth and Tara, on 01782 254347 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk.
Earlier this year Newcastle-under-Lyme College hosted a fantastic Art Taster Day where students from Discovery Academy, Sandon Business, Enterprise and Arts College and Wolstanton High School were invited to try out various Art sessions.
Year 11 pupils from Discovery Academy took part in a Digital Photography session where they were put into groups and given a high-tech camera to use their imagination- with the help of the College's top-of-the-range facilities.
Simone Newton enjoyed learning how to use the cameras like professionals and the pupils were also given tips on how to use various surfaces and lighting to create different photographs. The pupils were then able to edit the photos using Adobe Photoshop in the College's Digital Photography Suite.
In the afternoon the Discovery Academy pupils got to experience a Fashion lesson and learnt how to make Suffolk Puffs. The students were taught different techniques and styles that they would then take with them to help towards their GCSE Art projects. Jasmin Holiday commented: “I really enjoyed the Fashion taster and I hope to do this in September.”
Pupils from Sandon Business, Enterprise and Arts College also enjoyed a Photography session using the Dark Room to produce black and white images. This was a new experience for the Year 11 pupils and so they were given instructions on how to use the equipment and use different objects and materials to create interesting photograms.
Chloe Tallent loved how interactive and creative the session was and all of the students commented, what they had learnt would be beneficial towards their Art GCSE. The students also created wire models, during their 3D Design session, that they would be able to use in their school projects. The pupils were firstly shown the best techniques to enable them to use their imagination and be creative in their designs. They were then left to create their own 3D Designs using wire and different materials. All of the pupils commented that it was something they haven’t had the chance to try before and they would love to have a go again.
A group of Year 10 Wolstanton High School pupils had a great morning in the Ceramics Workshop learning how to make different objects with the clay provided. Chloe Welsh said: “The session was ace, the teacher (NULC Art Lecturer Laura Beech) was very kind and helpful.”
The students were given tips on different techniques but were left to create their own designs to be later glazed and fired by NULC’s Art Technicians and given to the School, where they are proudly presented in their Reception area.
After dinner, the Wolstanton High pupils got stuck into their Textiles session where they used lots of different materials and created various designs for a taster in Print making using the Heat Press. Mrs Henshall commented that the tasters were excellent and the students had an outstanding day.
If you are a teacher and you would like to bring a group of students to a taster session at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, please contact the School Liaison Team: Gareth and Tara on 01782 254347 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk.
Year 10 bright sparks from Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy (OSSMA) had a great day learning how to connect up a Raspberry Pi computer and write code in Python to control physical objects. The students were challenged to write the code in order to simulate a traffic light sequence and then develop this into a pelican crossing.
The group were also taken on a tour of the College’s state of the art facilities and enjoyed lunch in the College’s Food Hall. Mr Smart, Head of Curriculum and Timetabling at OSSMA, said ‘It was great having a ’hands on’ day. The taster was well delivered in terms of content and the level pitched at!’
Callum Lawton, OSSMA Year 10, said ‘I never knew about Raspberry Pi but it was great fun setting it up.’ The pupils all rated the session ‘good’ or ‘very good’ on their feedback forms!
If you are a pupil or teacher and would like a group from your school to attend a taster at Newcastle-under-Lyme College please contact School Liaison on 01782 245347 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk.
If you would like to learn more about Raspberry Pi NULC is hosting its third event at the College on Monday 12th May. To find out more visit http://northstaffsrjam1.eventbrite.co.uk.
