NULC students inspire youngsters to take up Drama & Theatre Studies

A group of Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Trentham High School took part in a Drama and Theatre Studies taster session at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.

Thirty-three students participated in the workshop with a brave few asked to perform a scene from Lewis Carols timeless classic Alice in Wonderland to Subject Leader in Drama and Theatre Studies Natalie Weatherer and current A Level Drama and Theatre Studies students.

As part of the workshop Trentham High School pupils were able to work alongside the college students and ask questions about their course before having a guided tour of the college.

The aim of the visit was to give the pupils the opportunity to work with the current college students as they prepare for their own college production of Alice in Wonderland.

The visit was a great success with an encore request for the college students to visit the school and run more workshops!

Pictured: NULC students who helped with the taster session.

Mrs Watkins, Drama Teacher at Trentham High School said: “The visit allowed the students to work alongside the college students and seeing them perform.”

Jude Martin, Year 10 student from Trentham High School said: “I enjoyed watching the performance about Alice in Wonderland and then getting the opportunity to perform it ourselves.”

To find out more about studying  A Level Drama and Theatre Studies at NULC click here or contact the information point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.  

Another successful trip for NULC students

Hallo von Berlin!

Thirty-three A Level students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) went to Berlin last week on a History trip.

Much of the focus was to visit historical landmarks and museums. Second World War Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Plotzender Prison and Wannsee Conference were on the agenda as well as the Topography of Terror Museum (Gestapo).

Then, the students travelled back to Cold War times with the famous Checkpoint Charlie with its museum and the Eastern Secret Service Offices now Stasi Museum.  Many of the students and at least one member of staff  became addicted to Brotwurst and berliners (doughnuts).

Many thanks to Lisa Browne (Subject Leader for History) for organising such a wonderful trip. Also thanks to Christopher Mcquillan (History Lecturer) and Michaël Lacoult (Subject Leader for French) who had the pleasure to accompany the lucky thirty-three ‘Berliners for a week’. The students had a really good time in the German Capital and the visits have been extremely interesting with some excellent guided tours. A very memorable experience for students as well as lecturers!

Auf Wiedersehen!

To find out more about the range AS and A Level courses available at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

Lord of the Dance visits NULC

NULC A Level Dance students recently enjoyed a workshop taken by Daniel Jones, principal male lead at the English National Ballet.

Daniel is a real life Billy Elliot, having trained locally before applying to the Royal Ballet School.  In recent years, he has toured worldwide with National Ballet, taking leading roles in both ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Swan Lake’. Other career highlights have included Creating a role in Mauro Bigonzetti's ‘Symphonic Dances’ and performing ‘Tybalt’ at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. He is also associate producer and choreographer for ITV's ‘Men in Tights’.

Faye Matthews, Subject leader for Dance, was thrilled that Daniel accepted her invitation to come in to her class and ever so slightly star struck when he offered to partner her in a demonstration. Faye feels that her students have gained a great deal from his insights, experience and above all passion for Dance.

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

Students take part in body image study

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) is working with Staffordshire University and the University of Derby to investigate the effects of dance on body image.

16 A Level Psychology students from NULC will take part in a dance movement therapy intervention and will then take part in focus groups and interviews where they will discuss the experience.

The project will be managed by Professor Sarah Grogan from Staffordshire University and Dr Jill Bunce from the University of Derby who will both be involved at all stages of the study. Simone Heyland will run the dance movement therapy intervention at NULC and two research assistants from the University of Derby will run the focus groups and interviews with the students.

The study will be the first in the UK to investigate the effects of a contemporary dance intervention on young men and women’s body image and experiences of embodiment, and the first to look at the impact of dance interventions on young men’s body image.

The results will be used to inform a larger-scale study and to help to understand how to make these kinds of dance therapy movement interventions more effective in improving young people’s body image.

To find out more about the study contact Wendy Davies on wendy.davies6@mypostoffice.co.uk.

NULC student wins public speaking award

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College’s (NULC) Sixth Form Centre took part in an annual public competition.

The competition was open to students from all areas of the Sixth Form Centre and two teams of three competed against Newcastle-under-Lyme School.

Tutors Lisa Browne and Mike Fyles accompanied the two teams to the competition which was held at Newcastle-under-Lyme School.  Lisa said: “The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I’m pleased to announce that one of our teams - Pippa Davis, Kieran Cressy and Robert Brammer came second in competition.”

Kieran Cressy, aged 17 from Talke is studying AS Levels in Critical Thinking, English Literature, Law, Psychology and Physics at NULC’s Sixth Form Centre and was presented with the Speaker of the Night Award.

Lisa continued: “Kieran was specifically praised for his enthusiasm, arguments and being able to make the topic of the ‘Large Hadron Collider’ accessible to all.

To find out more about the range of courses available at NULC’s Sixth Form Centre click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

NULC students sample the Parisian life

NULC students enjoyed a trip to Paris as part of their studies.  The students braved temperatures of -7 to see some of the countries most famous landmarks.

Students studying A Levels in Media Studies, Film Studies and French were given the opportunity to visit the French capital where they visited museums and art galleries and got to sample the Parisian way of life.  The students were accompanied by lecturers Verica Travar (Film Studies), Natalie Weatherer (Media Studies) and Michael Lacoult (French).

Michael Lacoult, subject leader for French said: "The students have been exceptional, their attitudes and behaviours have been outsanding and they've all been a real pleasure to take away. As visitors abroad, they've been a real credit to the college and to their country."

 

Pictured: NULC students outside the The Musee du Louvre.

After the success of the trip to Paris, staff are now in the process of organising another visit in 2013.

To find out more about the range of courses available at NULC's Sixth Form Centre click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk

Kind-hearted student sky dives for charity

NULC student Kimberley Fieldhouse has taken part in a sky dive to raise money for charity.


Kind-hearted Kimberley aged 17 from Clayton is in her second year at NULC's Sixth Form Centre, studying A Levels in Law, Psychology and Media Studies.  Kimberley has organised a range of local events over the past year including a number of bag packs at local Sainsburys stores, an abseil, two sky dives and a charity night all to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Kimberley decided to do a sky dive as it was something she had always wanted to do and also knew that such a courageous act would raise a lot of money for her beloved charity.  The reason Kimberley raises so much money for Cystic Fibrosis is one close to her heart: "My cousin died four years ago when she was only 21 years old of this genetic disease, and I've been passionate to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis charity ever since."

Kimberley roped in a number of family and friends in to the fundraising including her boyfriends dad George Carter, her next door neighbour Lee Brereton, her cousin Melaine Lloyd and fellow NULC students Jack Owen and Josh Morris and Kirsty Paige.

The sky dive took place at Langar Airfield in Nottingham on 27 August last year on the day of her cousin's memorial.

Kimberley says: "I really enjoy all my charity work it's something i will continue to do well into the future and not just for Cystic Fibrosis but for all other charities as well.  So far I've helped to raise money for the North Staffs Children's Adventure Playground, the Donna Louise Trust and Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation."

Kimberley really is an inspirational student who has done a lot fundraising for the local community.  Everyone at NULC would like to congratulate you on such a fantastic effort and wish you success in future events.