Two NULC Language students in work placement at EU Automation

For the fourth consecutive year, some Newcastle-under-Lyme Language students completed a week’s work experience placement at EU Automation in Stafford.

EU Automation is a young and dynamic multi-lingual company based in Stafford that supplies industrial automation parts worldwide. Languages skills are essential to the company in providing a unique and efficient service thanks to its multilingual sales and customer teams.

The partnership between NULC and EU Automation started 4 years ago and Mark Proctor, the company director has been at Newcastle-under-Lyme college a few times as a guest speaker to talk about the importance of languages in business. Every year, language students who are interested write a CV and letter of application in the language(s) of study and are interviewed by EU Automation. This year, Charlotte Valles, After Sales Team Leader at EU Automation (fluent in Spanish and French) came to Newcastle-under-Lyme College to conduct the interviews with the languages team, Michaël Lacoult (Lecturer in French) and Edna Acosta (Lecturer in Spanish). “It is a very valuable process for the students and good practice as it is close to a real job interview. They even have a few questions in the language of study during the interview.” Michaël

This year, Tia-Louise Simpson (A Level student in French, Art and English Literature) and Jessica Barker (A Level student in Spanish, Graphic Design and Psychology) have been the successful candidates and they spent the week of the 19^th June 2017 at EU Automation. During the placement, the students have experienced a variety of departments of the company and worked with a variety of people from these areas: French and Spanish sales, Order Fulfilment Time, Finance, Customer service, Marketing and Supplier relations. They are also given the opportunity to choose to spend their last day in their preferred department.

“My experience at EU Automation was very useful and eye opening. Not only did it give me some experience in the trade but gave me greater knowledge on a potential career path for life after university.”Jessica

Tia (on the left) and Jessica (on the right) both working within different teams

”During my week at EU automation I was able to experience the many sectors which make the company work as a whole and gain an insight in regards to what opportunities becoming fluent in a language can provide me. I would have to say that working with people from different cultures was one of the most interesting aspects of the week.” Tia

Both staff at EU Automation and NULC students seem to benefit from the experience and actually Clara Taylor, ex-NULC student and young graduate from Bangor University who did a placement at EU Automation last year has been successfully working for the company for about a year.

Big Biology Day

A Level Biology students Emma Scott and Parawazin Jawadin attended the Big Biology Day at Staffordshire University last week. 

The students ran an activity asking people to create biological cells out of sweets and biscuits.  The activity was lots of fun for all involved.

For more information about studying A Level Biology call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk

All about paper

Year 1 A Level Textile Designers started their course in September and have just completed their first project 'all about paper'.  Each student worked from the same design brief to complete a hand bound sketchbook, design sheets and a half garment made from paper.  Ideas developed taking inspiration from images of paper garments found on Google and Pinterest.  These young designers were asked to manipulate paper in response to techniques and technical terms choosing which types of paper they would each upcycle.  Papers were folded, curled, creased, scrunched, woven, sewn and gathered.  Design ideas were tried, sketched and photographed on the mannequins before final designs were constructed.  The students also had the opportunity to visit Unit 12, a gallery and studio space, owned and curated by Jennifer Collier.  Jennifer Collier's work is made from paper which she exhibits and sells internationally.  It was such a fantastic experience to meet Jennifer and see her making.

An exhibition of the students work is on display at the MADE Here shop in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.  Please pop in and take a look.




For more information about studying A Levels in Art and Design subjects please call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk.

First Year A Level Textile Design Students Visit Unit 12

First year A Level Textile Design students visited the fabulous studios and gallery ‘Unit 12’ owned by the talented designer maker Jennifer Collier on Thursday 13^th October.

This was a fantastic opportunity for students to get further inspiration for their own projects ‘all about paper’.  A selection of which will be exhibited in our own NULC shop MADE Here in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre later this week.

Meeting Jennifer Collier and some of the other resident artists alongside seeing work first hand is a really valuable part of their studies.

For more information about studying A Levels in Art and Design subjects call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk 

Students take study trip to Venice

AS and A Level Art, Graphics, Photography, Theatre Studies and Textiles students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) participated in a study visit to Venice in February half-term.

During the three day trip to Venice, staff and students from the College visited a range of galleries including the Guggenheim, Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art and Gallerie dell’Accademia, to allow the students to gather research on artists to help them with their studies.

Natalie Weatherer, Subject Leader in Theatre Studies & Media at NULC, said: “The students have thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Venice. During their visit they visited lots of galleries and significant landmarks making it a really enriching excursion.”

Students hold bake sale

AS and A Level Theatre Studies students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) held a bake sale on Friday 11 March to help raise funds for their sets, props and costumes for their upcoming performances.

The students, who baked a range of tasty treats to sell to staff and students at the College, raised over £100.

Natalie Weatherer, Subject Leader in Theatre Studies & Media at NULC, said: “The students have worked really hard over the past few weeks organising and preparing this bake sale. They managed to raise more money than they initially hoped for which will massively help them when preparing for their performances as part of their course.”

Accounting students compete in 2015 CIPFA Sixth Form Management Games

On 24 June seven aspiring  NULC (Newcastle-under-Lyme College) A Level accounting students took part in the 2015 CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) Sixth Form Management Games at Staffordshire University.

CIPFA is one of the leading professional accountancy bodies in the UK and the only one that specialises in the public sector.

The game involves the students adopting the various roles that make up the management team of a fictitious public body dealing with very real issues such as major cuts in funding whilst at the same time remaining accountable to the communities in which they operate. 

The day was an excellent introduction to the world of work and a way of developing and strengthening teamwork, leadership, management and organisational skills.  The introduction of new and unexpected challenges throughout the game also allowed students to develop the skills required to deal effectively with time pressure, strict deadlines and uncertain outcomes.

Richard Simpson, NULC’s Curriculum Leader for A Level Accounting said: “Our students were fantastic, they engaged with some very demanding problems in a really positive and collaborative way and achieved some very credible outcomes.  All the students found the day a challenging but very rewarding experience."

To find out more about our range of accounting courses, click here.

(Picture from L-R: Andrew Lewis, Stuart Leat, Kain Davies, Maddie Sykes, Elanor Baddeley, Chris Bowers and Amy Moriarty)

AS Theatre Studies programme

On Friday 1st May the AS Theatre students performed the first moderated work in the new Performing Arts Centre.  

The images show a performance of Matilda which was absolutely fantastic, the students attained 100% A-D grades with 61% attaining high grades (A-B) for the unit.  John Shortall our AQA moderator was very complimentary of our new facilities at the Performing Arts Centre and the superb acting ability of our cohort.  The unit is taught by Faye Matthews who has worked extremely hard with the learners to deliver a superb performance of the classic!

And on Friday 8th May A2 students will be moderated and we invite friends and family to watch a range of physical and creative adaption pieces which will start from 11am.

Thanks to Sue Bowdery who took some amazing pictures of one of the AS performances.

Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference

First year (AS) A Level students took a trip to a conference at Haydock Park to find out more about Oxford and Cambridge as potential university destinations.

The students all had very good GCSE results so NULC works with them to consider Sutton Trust and Oxbridge for the future.

 

Ski Trip Courmayeur 2015

Last week NULC Sixth Form students took to the slopes in Courmayeur, Italy, it was a week that gave the students opportunities to try a new activity and gain new experiences.

Becky Maxfield, a BTEC Sport student said: "The skiing trip to Italy was the best start to 2015 I've ever had - I've met people who I never would have met from just being in college and I've got along with them all really well, making friendships that made the trip worth it even more."

Students were given the opportunity before the trip to participate in extra skiing lessons, visiting the Chill Factor in Manchester to prepare themselves for the slopes of Italy.

Andy Pankiw, BTEC Construction student said: "I really enjoyed the college ski trip to Courmayeur because I’d never done anything like that before, I would like to go again, the staff on the trip were really nice, relaxed as well as controlled in marinating good behaviour. Overall brilliant!"

Joe Brisbourne, a BTEC Sport student said: "

I've never been skiing before but after the free lessons that the college put on and the trips to the chill factor Manchester, I have been able to develop a passion for skiing. Without this trip I wouldn't have got the opportunity to experience the life of skiing. If this opportunity arose again I'm sure I and many new beginners would grab it with two hands and go on the trip!"

 

 

This was the first year of the ski trip running and all students were great ambassadors for the college.

A Level Student Bethany Onions added: "Courmayeur 2015 was an amazing trip, everyone had a really good week and made some great memories. The trip was well organised and the après ski was great. Everyone made friends really easily which made the week so enjoyable."

The trip organised by lecturers David Sutton & Jenny Winch, proved to be a huge success and thoroughly enjoyed by all the students that accompanied them.

To find out more about studying an  A-Levels & BTEC's at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Sociology Students Help the Hungry at Christmas

A Level sociology teacher Zoe Emery and personal tutor Clare Thornhill have been encouraging their students to donate food for the Newcastle-Staffs food bank, which is located in Silverdale.

Each table in Zoe’s classroom was given a list of foods suitable to bring, which included tinned fruit, soup, meat, vegetables, fish, rice pudding and sponge puddings, as well as dry foods such as pasta, biscuits, and breakfast cereals.

Zoe also put a link to the food bank on the sociology page on NULC’s intranet site, to give students additional information on food banks.

Zoe’s initiative came from ties to the subject she teaches. In sociology a large part of the topic looks at poverty and families in different groups in society who may not be as well off.

Zoe said, “It’s a chance to do something and know it’s helping, rather than just handing over money.” And this is a chance that a lot of sociology students took on board. On the first day of food collection there were already seven bags full of food in the classroom. One first year student and her mum planned a week’s worth of meals and then bought it all for the food bank.

On Thursday 18^th December all the food collected was taken to learner services, and from there to the food bank in Silverdale, where it is sorted and stored by volunteers into type and best before date. The food was then distributed over Christmas and the New Year because, as Zoe explained: “it’s a bleak time when people are most down.”

People are identified by care professionals, such as doctors, to decide if they are in crisis, and, if they are, they are issued with a food bank voucher. This voucher can be exchanged for three days’ worth of emergency food, which has been designed by dieticians to provide nutritionally balanced food.

However this is just a temporary solution and people in need are directed to agencies by the volunteers at the food bank, who can help to solve any long term problems.

Article written by Samantha Moulton

To find out more about studying an  A-Levels at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students attend Clothes Roadshow

On Friday 5th December, students within the Faculty of Academic and Creative Studies attended the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham.

The day included a dedicated seat in the Fashion Theatre, a fashion career seminar along with the opportunity for students to speak to representatives from several Universities offering HE courses in Fashion and Textiles.

 

With opportunities to view the work of recent graduates on the small catwalks in the venue throughout the event.

The Clothes Show was a great chance to speak with industry experts, have a look at the latest trends and get a real insight into the world of fashion.

To find out more about studying an  A-Levels at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students attend UCAS Design Future event

First and second year A Level Textile Design students attended the UCAS Design your Future event in Manchester on Tuesday 25^th November 2014.

Textile students accompanied fellow creative's from the Barton and Cliff House’s within the Faculty of Academic and Creative Studies on the day trip.  All of the students had the fantastic opportunity to talk to and receive advice from representatives from a wide range of art colleges and universities as part of the build-up to making their UCAS applications.  As well as being able to speak to course specialists, students were able to see work produced by undergraduates and attend workshops and presentations by experts.  The successful day trip was organised by Assistant Faculty Head Mike Kelly.

“Whilst in Manchester we also seized the opportunity to visit the Museum and Art Gallery where we experienced the work of media and textile artist Andrea Zapp and the 1950’s Cotton Couture exhibition.”

To find out more about studying an  A-Level in Textiles at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

A-Level Accounting and Law Students Visit Warwick University

On November 5^th a group of 29 A-Level Accounting and Law students visited Warwick University for an insight into what a Russell Group University has to offer students who aspire to a career in the professional services industry.  Students were treated to a tour of Warwick’s beautiful campus facilities hosted by a team of Warwick’s student ambassadors who, representing the diversity of Warwick’s student body, came from countries as diverse as the UK, Latvia, Poland and Holland amongst others.

 

Students were also given the opportunity to get a feel for what being in the lecture hall is like for a Warwick undergraduate.  All students took part in Law sessions entitled “The Knives Act 1997 – An Introduction to Reading Statutes” led by Dr Stephen Connelly and another on “Defamation and Privacy” led by Dr Adam Slavny.  The legal aspects were mirrored by fascinating sessions on International Business led by Dr Michel Synnott.  NULC Accounting student Katie Wilton said, “I really enjoyed the taught sessions.  The academics really challenged us but in a fun way and we were really encouraged to get involved in the analysis and debates which I really liked”.

The day concluded with a keynote address by one of Warwick’s National Teaching Fellows, Dr Ashley Roberts.  He led students through a very engaging introduction to the theory of leadership and emphasised to students the need to develop a critical faculty when establishing the merit or otherwise of the various theories he presented.

Richard Simpson, NULC’s Head of A-Level Accounting said “Warwick University put on an incredible display of what a top class university has to offer.  The sessions perfectly communicated to our students the similarities between the ostensibly diverse disciplines of Accounting and Law and embedded this notion in a clear appreciation of the increasingly international nature of large professional services organisations who might one day employ some of our students.”

Emily Phillips, NULC’s Head of A-Level Law said, “I’m sure that what our students experienced at Warwick University will encourage them to really stretch themselves academically and will have had a very positive influence on their understanding of what might be possible for them in the future.”

To find out more about studying A-Levels in Accounting and Law at NULC contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

 

 

 

AS Media Students record latest College radio advertisement

On Monday 22 September 2014, three AS Media students arrived at Signal 1, Staffordshire and Cheshire’s local radio station, to help promote Newcastle-under-Lyme College’s (NULC) open events, the first taking place Monday October 6 at 5.30 – 8.00pm.

Forty-eight students put their names forward for the opportunity to provide voice overs for the advert with Marcus Wingrove, Jessica Crabtree and Ali Hussain selected as the lucky three to help market and represent the College.

The students accompanied by Tara from Schools Liaison met the team at Signal who are involved in numerous successful advertising campaigns and lent their vocal talents to provide their experiences of College life and the opportunities presented to them at NULC, these will be used across a number of adverts airing on Signal 1 to promote the College’s open events over the course of the next few months.

All three students were a credit to the College remaining professional throughout and gaining a valuable insight into the world of radio advertising.

Listen out for the advert airing in the near future on Signal 1 in the run up to the first open event on October 6.

To find out more about studying AS Media at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Further events are planned to take place on: Thursday 13 November, 5.30pm to 8.00pm, Thursday 4 December, 5.30pm to 8.00pm, Saturday 24 January, 10.00am to 12noon and Thursday 12 March, 5.30pm to 8.00pm.

Film studies students shortlisted for BFI film award

A2 Film Studies student Elly - Louise Walker has been shortlisted for a BFI film award.  The competition was open to all schools and colleges across the country and over 600 entries were received by the board.  There are only four awards and Elly's film ‘A bottle of Innocence’ has been selected for the Best Short Film category.  The film has a beautiful story centring upon the innocence of childhood filmed using live action and animation.

Well done Elly!

Photography students scoop awards in university competition

Four photography students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) have been recognised in a university photography competition.

Danielle Cooper, aged 18 was awarded Silver in the New Creatives Awards by Derby University for her photography entry titled ‘Landscapes’.  Danielle from Fenton studies A Levels in Photography, Media Studies and Textiles at NULC and received £150.00 prize money with judges commenting: "Danielle's image is a very imaginative response to landscape via the use of still-life. The use of poppy flowers and ferns evoke the shape of land and trees with the graduated light source creating a twilight sky.”

In addition to the top awards, three First year photography students Eirene Georgakakou, Olivia Christie and Hollie Jones received commendations from judges.

Former Trentham High School pupil, Eirene, aged 17 was commended for "Eirene has crafted a very beautiful and carefully made image investigating the historical qualities of photography in response to the genre of landscape. The image very effectively evokes the presence of the observer in the environment with use of shallow depth, movement and the visual presence of optics."

Olivia, aged 17 studies AS Levels in Photography, Media, English Language and Business Studies submitted ‘Child running into a pool of light’.  Judges commented: “Olivia's image, capturing the moment a child enters a pool of light as he runs off to play, is a beautifully judged moment. The image has been effectively composed with the adult figure to the right side of the frame and the deep tones of the woods against the brightness of sunlight on the path."

Hollie Jones, aged 17 from Sneyd Green submitted ‘Ballet Dancer’, judges commented: “Hollie has created a subtle and carefully perceived layered image of a dancer. The way the superimposed images of the figure coincide with each other draw the viewer into anticipating movement and action."
The New Creatives Awards are organised by Derby University to find up-and-coming creative stars of the future.

To find out more about studying creative A Levels at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students awarded summer school placements

Four Sixth Form students from NULC have been awarded places on summer schools at prestigious UK universities.

The summer schools are organised by the Sutton Trust.  For over 15 years, the Sutton Trust has worked with leading universities to improve access for low and middle income young people.  The key initiative is the summer school programme for Year 12 students from state-maintained schools. The week long, campus-based summer schools allow bright students from non-privileged homes a taste of life at a leading university and to gain an insight into what it is like to live and study as a first-year undergraduate student. 

The students who are taking part are:
Caroline Layzell – Nottingham (Engineering, mathematics and computer science)
Scott Huson – St Andrews (Physics and Astronomy)
Meg Allingham – Durham (Geography)
Jacques Dunn – Cambridge (Chemistry)

A Level students visit Oxford University

Click the picture below to read student comments from the Oxford University visit.

 

A Level students visit Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference

Click the picture below to read student comments from the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference.