From the Lab to the workshop

On Thursday 21 March 2013, 150 Year 10 students from Sir Thomas Boughey High School participated in a taster day at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

 
The aim of the visit was to give the students an idea of what college is all about and were given the choice of up to 10 different subject tasters to choose from.

Taster sessions in Sport, Psychology & Sociology, Science & Forensics, Child Development, Animation, Graphic Design, Photography, Carpentry, Painting & Decorating and Bricklaying.

The tasters ran by NULC lecturers give an insight into that particular subject and encouraged the students to look at possible careers in that area.

The skilled trades were well represented with pupils learning how to dip different coloured paint to create their own piece of work in the Painting & Decorating session.

Child Development students experienced ‘Nappy changing with a difference’ which changed some student’s opinions about how to change a nappy. Chocolate and Marmite were used as an appropriate substitute to the real thing!
 
Lara Dale who was lucky enough to participate in the Child Development workshop commented ‘I enjoyed learning how to change your baby and actually doing instead of just learning it’.

Students who chose the Science & Forensics were shown how to create their own ‘Disease’ with the use of bacteria, all safely monitored by NULC lecturer Lucy Chadwick and half a dozen petri dishes!

Megan Johnson who participated in the Science workshop commented ‘I enjoyed learning about different diseases on the Ipad and using finger dust in the forensics activity’.

NULC School Liaison has a new recruit

Newcastle-under-Lyme College has welcomed a new member of staff to its Schools Liaison team.

Tara Wallbanks, who has worked for the college for the last eight years since leaving school, has stepped into the role as Schools Liaison Officer to work alongside Team Coordinator Gareth Hughes.

Tara has a wealth of experience working with young people in both the admissions and exams teams across the college.

Tara said: “I’m looking forward to meeting young people across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and helping them with their careers choices.  It can be daunting trying to decide what to do after school but I’m here to provide and support and guidance.”

The former St Peters Academy student was surprised to find out that on her first day she was asked to attend a Parents Evening, ironically at her old school!

School Liaison is quite different to what she has done previously and is she is very excited to be working directly with prospective students within Stoke on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme schools.

Tara is a lively, friendly and approachable person who understands the importance of liaison work and her enthusiasm for helping young learners with their career choices is something that she has been interested in for a long time.

For an informal chat about how the Newcastle-under-Lyme College Schools Liaison Team can help your school with taster sessions and visits contact Tara on 01782 254381 or email schools@nulc.ac.uk.