Students visit meditation centre

A Level Religious Studies students enjoyed a fun day at the tara meditation centre near Etwall in Derbyshire. During the day they were able to ask key questions relating to their course such as: Why does evil exist? What is a Religious experience? And do you watch X Factor here?

Students become entrepreneurs of the future

Students celebrated the third Global Entrepreneurship Week (15 – 21 November) last week by getting involved in a range of ‘Apprentice-style’ challenges.

More than 250 first year students from various subject areas took part in a series of workshops, encouraging them to create new, dynamic ideas for the College to potentially use.

Activities will include researching innovative gap year ideas and destinations, planning a marketing recruitment campaign to attract new students to the college and building community relationships. The winners of each topic will receive a monetary reward and certificate to recognise their achievement.
 

Children in Need 2010

Staff and students at NULC dressed up in outrageous costumes and took part in a range of activities to raise money for Children in Need.

Fun activities included ‘Pudsey’s Fundraising Grotto’, whilst some students raised cash to have their legs waxed – Ouch!

The College has so far raised over £900 and all proceeds will go to Children in Need.

College attends Army exhibition

NULC students were invited by the Army to attend a free career advice exhibition to help them to decide whether they wish to pursue one of the Army's available career pathways.

Young soldiers within varying career roles such as petroleum operators, mechanical engineers, metalmiths and storage and warehousing suppliers within the Army, explained and demonstrated their roles, use of equipment and what they have done and do in their

employment.

 

The Oxford Experience – raising students’ expectations

On 14 October 25 AS students spent a day finding out what it is like to be a student at Oxford.  After an initial fast-moving and thought-provoking presentation our students were introduced to two enthusiastic undergraduates, who talked about their experience of life and study at Oxford. 

We then split into groups and were taken on a tour of University College, the oldest of all the colleges, which boasts Stephen Hawking amongst its former students. After lunch in the mediaeval dining hall students explored the unique centre of Oxford with its ‘dreaming spires’ and opportunities for high quality retail therapy! 

A Level students investigate existence of ET!

Students at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) had the chance to meet a well-known Scientist who researches the possibilities of extra terrestrial life recently.

Lewis Dartnell, a researcher based at University College London (UCL), is an ‘Astrobiologist’, a researcher looking into where life might exist beyond Earth.

Alongside his research, Dartnell writes regular science articles in newspapers and magazines and has published a popular science book introducing astrobiology, “Life in the Universe: A Beginner’s Guide”.

Dartnell talked the students about his job role, and what qualifications he had to undertake at college and university to achieve his dream job.

He also gave the students facts about the solar system and talked about what motivates him to research further into life beyond earth.

Theatre trip for A Level English Lang/Lit students

The A Level English Lang/Lit trip to see 'Hamlet' at The Crucible in Sheffield was a hit. The impressive production starred talent such as John Simm (Life on Mars) and John Nettles (Midsomer Murders). Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was good to see such an engaging production of a set text.

NULC celebrates record A Level results!

Students at Newcastle-under-Lyme College are celebrating their best ever A Level results. This year (2010) the overall A Level pass rate has increased to 98.5%. The percentage of students passing with grades A to C increased to almost 69 per cent, with 19 of the new A* grades awarded across a range of subjects including Biology, Maths, Business Studies and English Literature.

A* grades have been introduced in order to recognise those students who achieve an exam mark of 90% or above.

Commenting on this year’s achievements, Karen Dobson, Principal and Chief Executive at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, said: “We’re absolutely delighted by the achievements of all the students, and very proud of all the staff who have worked hard to provide the high standard of teaching, learning and support that helps our students to achieve such high levels of success.”

She added: “This is a fantastic achievement to mark the first year in our new college environment. We’re receiving record numbers of applications for all our courses and results like these will see the success story continue - for us and for our students.

100 per cent pass rates have been achieved in 27 out of 32 A Level subjects including Accounting, Law, Physics, Critical Thinking, Economics, Geography, English Language and Literature, Law, Art and Design, Photography, Computing and Information Technology.

The A Level success mirrors the high levels of achievement on the College’s vocational courses, where pass rates place the College in the top 10% of Further Education colleges in the country. 91 students (29%) achieved a triple distinction on the college’s advanced vocational courses - equivalent to three As at A Level and attracting the same number of UCAS points.