NCHS Fun Day

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.

Creative minds come together at NULC

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.

Students Light Up with Raspberry Pi

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.

Thistley Hough enjoy Floristry demonstrations

Schools Liaison Officer Tara and Floristry Lecturer Louise have been at Thistley Hough High School this lunchtime giving floristry demonstrations to students.

If you'd like us to come along to your school then get in touch with Tara 01782 254146 or tara.wallbanks@nulc.ac.uk.

Inspiring the next generation of engineers .... KMF's Young Engineer of the Year competition

 

Check out this film of the KMF Build Day.

 



Pupils in the Race for KMF’s Young Engineer of the Year 2014!

Year 10 Sir Thomas Boughey pupils made great progress on their Greenpower kit car competition on Wednesday 27th November at engineering company KMF’s premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme. 

KMF is running its ‘Young Engineer of the Year’ competition for Year 10 pupils in 18 local high schools and Newcastle-under-Lyme College is proud to be sponsoring Sir Thomas Boughey’s team this year.

The Year 10 pupils, who are meeting at an after school club every week, will be building, designing and constructing the outer shell and finally racing the Greenpower car this July. Newcastle-under-Lyme College staff and students will be supporting Sir Thomas Boughey throughout the project.

Engineering Lecturer Michele Robinson and Newcastle-under-Lyme College engineering students Mitchell Lockett and Mathew Humphrey, were on hand on the day, and used their electrical expertise to assist the build.

The ‘Build Day’ event brought all 18 schools teams together at KMF and pupils were able to check out the competition! The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the day and were very impressed with progress that they have achieved so far!
Lucy Hancock, Schools Relationship Manager and sponsor contact, said ‘The Sir Thomas Boughey pupils have a fantastic team and this is a such a great opportunity for the school pupils to gain an insight into engineering and design with an outstanding local company’

Check back for updates !! Go Team STB/NULC !!

School Liaison Activities 2013/14

The School Liaison Team deliver a wide range of activities for pupils in Years 9, 10, 11 and are available for the following sessions:
• College talks to Years 9,10,11 pupils
• Parents Evenings
• Careers Events
• Mock Interviews/Results sessions
• Subject specific tasters
• Work Experience placements
• One to one visits to the college

If you would like to request any of the above or have a specific request in mind then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Course Advice is available to all students with any course enquiries via the School Liaison e-mail address schools@nulc.ac.uk

We can deliver taster sessions at the College and we are pleased to announce that we can also organise taster sessions in school by request.