Higher education http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/higher-educationDetermined student wins place at Teesside University/news/determined-student-wins-place-at-teesside-university A college student has won a place at university after showing a clear determination to pursue a career in mental health nursing. Kristina Doy, 18, from Saltburn is currently studying a BTEC Level 3 extended diploma in Health and Social Care at the College – receiving distinctions in all of her units so far. Alongside her academic work, Kristina is a volunteer Ambassador for B-EAT – an association where she promotes the message that eating disorders can be beaten to audiences at schools and conferences.   “I’m still in shock about getting a place to study Mental Health Nursing at Teesside University,” said Kristina. “I’ve wanted this for so many years and I’ve worked really hard to get this far. Now that I’ve got a place I’m really happy and I can’t wait to get started.” “I know it’s going to be hard, but I will never give up. I’m determined to help others.” Last year Kristina won a Teesside University Passport Pride Award, which recognises and celebrates the achievements of students in their final year of further education. “Winning the award was so unexpected – I couldn’t believe I had been picked!’ said Kristina. “Receiving the award was really scary but exciting at the same time.” Kristina’s lecturers Claire Barwick and Gillian Morgan are extremely proud of her and believe that she will achieve her dream of becoming a mental health nurse after she completes her degree. Claire said: “We feel that Kristina has gone over and above what is required of her and acknowledge that her contribution to both the college and her course has been outstanding so far. “We have particularly been impressed by her progression through the programme, the development of her personal and academic skills, her commitment to volunteering and the development of professional relationships in the placement setting and college.” Gillian added: “Kristina has identified a clear desire to become a mental health nurse and has already started studying for her university course, working hard to get the grades she needs.” If you're interested in enrolling on a course then contact the College on 01642 473132.    Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:58:26 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/determined-student-wins-place-at-teesside-universityNew opportunities to open doors for Loftus locals/news/new-opportunities-to-open-doors-for-loftus-localsPeople living in Loftus and the surrounding areas are being offered a fantastic new learning opportunity as two new short part-time courses are launched in the town. The new courses, which are free subject to eligibility, aim to help local people gain new qualifications and improve job and career prospects, without having to travel into college. The courses on offer are Caring for Children CACHE Award and Diploma Level 1 and Training and Skills for Work Award and Certificate Levels 1 and 2, are being delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College at the Centre of Opportunity (the old Co-op building) on the High Street in Loftus. The Caring for Children course is aimed at learners who would like a career in childcare, or would like to know more about caring for young children in the home. Studying for one day a week over the course of eight weeks, learners who complete the course may wish to go onto study the Diploma in Caring for Children, or into employment. The Training and Skills for Work course gives learners the chance to improve their employment opportunities by helping with maths and English abilities, as well as building personal skills and preparing students for job interviews. It will also enable learners to develop skills in a variety of vocational areas, including construction skills, IT and health.   Studying for three days a week over 14 weeks, learners can progress onto the next level qualification in the same vocational area, an Apprenticeship programme or into employment. Tony Gatehouse, Centre Manager at the Old Co-op Building, said: “This is a great chance for people here in Loftus and the surrounding area to improve their job and career prospects by studying for qualifications. Our building is all about providing important opportunities for local people and I’m looking forward to these new courses starting.” Redcar & Cleveland College Principal Gary Groom said: “By offering these courses in the Loftus community we are giving people a chance to broaden their horizons, as well as trying out something new, without leaving their doorstep.” Courses start on the week commencing 20th February, but there are opportunities for people to join in the weeks following. The courses are free, subject to eligibility, and no entry requirements are needed. For more information on courses call Student Services at Redcar & Cleveland College on 01642 473132 or contact Tony Gatehouse at the Centre of Opportunity on 01287 643019.   Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:03:47 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/new-opportunities-to-open-doors-for-loftus-localsCollege to host special open evening/news/college-to-host-special-open-evening Redcar & Cleveland College will be holding a special open evening on Wednesday 22nd February to help prospective new students find out about courses. The open evening will guide potential learners to find out how a new qualification can help them take the next steps to a rewarding career. It will give a chance for anyone thinking of developing their skills to come along and find out about full and part-time courses and apprenticeships. The college will also be holding ‘Have a Go’ taster sessions on the night where prospective students can get a chance to try out different skills including plastering, nail art, robotics and even a mock flight experience. These mini-taster sessions are aimed at people who wish to develop their skills in a particular vocational area as well as being able to get advice and guidance from college tutors on the vast range of courses and apprenticeships available.  Career advisors will also be on hand to offer guidance to students who are about to take their GCSEs on what options are available to them for courses starting in September as well as providing information on new opportunities and career progression.   Current students will also be at the open evening to talk about their experiences of college life and exhibit their work as part of a skills showcase. Gary Groom, Principal at Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “We’re inviting prospective students to come along to the open evening where they can learn about the wide range of subjects and courses on offer, and tour the campus to see how our facilities can give them a fantastic student experience and provide the best opportunities for learning.” Further details of the range of courses available to students can be found in the college’s Prospectuses which are available to download from the homepage or by calling 01642 473132. Details of the open evening are as follows: Date:                         Wednesday 22 February 2012 Time:                        5:00pm – 8:00pm Location:                   Redcar & Cleveland College, Corporation Road, Redcar    Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:33:43 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-to-host-special-open-eveningCollege awards celebrate top students/news/college-awards-celebrate-top-students Top performing students from a Tees Valley college's Further and Higher Education courses had their achievements celebrated at its annual award ceremony recently.   The Celebration of Achievement Awards at Redcar & Cleveland College saw students studying courses across all of the subject areas on offer awarded for their achievements and endeavours whilst at college.   Amongst awards were handed out were the prestigious Further Education Student of the Year, Higher Education Student of the Year and Work Based Learning Student of the Year, which were awarded to sports student Nicky Askew, Early Years student Diane Baird and Advanced Apprentice Rachael Robinson respectively.    Nicky, who took the decision to return to college after some time out of education to further his career, successfully completed his course before spending time in the USA working as a soccer coach.   He is now studying on the BSc in Sport and Exercise (Applied Science) at Teesside University and continuing his work as a coach in football development classes in Middlesbrough.   During his time at college he balanced the needs of his studies alongside a part time job to fund his course and he is now hoping to develop a career in the industry as a coach. He said:   “I’ve always had a passion for sport, but an injury meant that I stopped playing football and took a job in an unrelated area. After doing this for a while, I realised how much I wanted to work in sport and took the decision to go back to college to get the qualifications that I needed to do this.   “Coming back to college was daunting at first, but having had some time away from education made me realise how important it is to work hard and gain good grades, which was something I tried to pass on to my fellow students.   “Taking the course at Redcar & Cleveland College has opened up so many opportunities for me and it’s fantastic to be recognised for my achievements.”   Diane, who completed a Foundation Degree at the college played an active roll in college life throughout her studies, acting as a course representative and Development Working in addition to completing her course. She is now studying for a BA (Hons) at the college and hopes to land a job at the college on completion of her studies. She said:   “I can’t praise the staff at the college enough for all of the help and support that they have given me whilst I’ve been here. There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t have won this award without their contribution as well as the support of my family.   “Being recognised in this way is a real honour and has spurred me on to challenge myself further and in new ways which I hope will eventually give me the opportunity to return to the college as a lecturer or assessor and be able to give something back to future students.   Winner of the Work Based Learning Student of the Year was Rachael Robinson. Rachael has worked her way through college, having started on a Level 1, course to eventually complete an Advanced Apprenticeship with Coast & Country Housing and has now landed a full time permanent position with the company.   Speaking after her win, Rachael said:   “I feel very privileged and overjoyed to have won the Work-Based Learning Student of The Year Award.   “It came as a surprise and, although I would never have made it if it hadn’t been for my family, the tutors at Redcar & Cleveland College and colleagues at Coast & Country.   “I have gained numerous amounts of qualifications, skills and confidence over the past 4 years that I never expected, but I have achieved.   “Ever since joining Coast & Country on the Apprenticeship programme not only did I gain my NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration, I also gained respect, confidence, communication skills and a permanent job, which I hope will prove to bring bigger accomplishments.”   Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, presented the winners with their awards. He said:    "The students here tonight have all worked extremely hard to make it into the nominations and the winners who we have recognised have proved themselves to be outstanding in their chosen subject areas.    "The college works hard to inspire all of our students and we are extremely proud of the achievements of all our winners and nominees."      Other winners on the night were:   Beauty & Holistics Student of the Year: Nikki Harrison and Faye Robinson Hairdressing Student of the Year: Paul Lane Sport Student of the Year: Nicky Askew Art & Design and Travel & Tourism Student of the Year: Liam Wiles Business, Management, Administration & Accounting Student of the Year: Jessica Taberner Computing, IT & Media Student of the Year: Craig Cockerill Engineering & Science Student of the Year: James Pickersgill Public Services Student of the Year: Ashleigh Harvey The Paul Stott Memorial Trophy First Prize: Jack Moody The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors Shield: Robert Hansen Built Environment Student of the Year: Lisa Gardener The Cliff Houlding Memorial Trophy Level 1: Robert Pearson The Cliff Houlding Memorial Trophy Level 2: Jack Brignall Wellbeing & Education Student of the Year: Emma Dobie and Rachel Lillystone Achievement Over Adversity Award: Kirsty Dearnley Enthusiasm and Contribution to College Award: Ashleigh Harvey The Sir William Turner Foundation Vicki Lawrence Memorial Award: Hannah Measey        Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:12:12 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-awards-celebrate-top-studentsRedcar Higher Education Centre gets Royal seal of approval/news/redcar-higher-education-centre-gets-royal-seal-of-appro The Higher Education and Conference Centre at Redcar & Cleveland College got the Royal seal fof approval today (Tuesday 11th October) when it was officially opened by His Royal Highness The Duke Of Gloucester. Developed in partnership with The Sir William Turners Trust Foundation and Teesside University, the £3.94m Centre offers students the opportunity from Redcar and beyond to study for accredited degree level courses in an environment specifically developed to meet their needs. As part of his visit, the Duke met with students studying on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering in the Centre and saw some of it’s high-tech equipment in action, including a robotic arm which is one of only two in the UK. He then went on to unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the Centre. Commenting on his visit, His Royal Highness The Duke Of Gloucester said: “It’s a very great pleasure for me to be here in Redcar to have the very pleasant task of officially opening this Higher Education and Conference Centre. “It’s a great delight to me as an ex-architect to see a new building being put up to solve a particular problem and you now have a building at the cutting edge to provide exactly the right facilities that are needed for training the young people of the area. “We need our young people to be able to do all sorts of tasks and to think for themselves. Facilities such as this will give them the knowledge and understanding to keep our companies ahead of the field and ahead of the competition.” Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, Gary Groom, said of the centre: “The opening of the Higher Education Centre marks an important step for the provision of education and training in the borough. The College is delighted that His Royal Highness has officially opened the new centre here today and has made such an important occasion for Redcar extra special “By working with our partners, The Sir William Turner Foundation and Teesside University, we have been able to deliver a learning environment that goes beyond anything you would normally expect to find within a Further Education college. “It will now be easier than ever for our students to progress through the college to obtain degree level qualifications and we are also looking forward to working with local business and industry to meet their training needs. “Our focus for the centre is firmly upon providing the kind of courses that will be key in filling the future skills needs of employers within the region and it is great to see so many of our industry leaders here today to share the opening with us.” John Coulthard, Chair of Governors at the college, said: “It has been a great privilege to have His Royal Highness visit us today to officially open our new Higher Education and Conference Centre. “It has been a great honour for the college and we hope that he enjoyed his visit to the college as much as we enjoyed playing host to him.” Professor Graham Henderson, Vice Chancellor of Teesside University, said: “The university has worked with the Sir William Turner Foundation and the college to deliver this Higher Education centre and we believe that it is going to do fantastic things. “The centre at here Redcar, along with the four other university centres within the region’s colleges, makes higher level education more accessible that ever by bringing the offer to people’s doorsteps. “This is a facility that is already adding value to the lives of people in this community and will continue to do so for many years to come.” Peter Sotheran, Chair of the Sir William Turner Trust Foundation, said: “The Trustees of the Sir William Turner Foundation are pleased and privileged to be associated with this new development and we hope that it will help Redcar & Cleveland College to continue raising aspirations and exceeding expectations.” Teaching will focus on courses from within the emerging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector, as well as the Built Environment, Business and Management, Care, Counselling and Health, Computing, Engineering, Sport and Teacher Education & Learner Support.  Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:48:48 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/redcar-higher-education-centre-gets-royal-seal-of-approOpen evening gives prospective students a taste of college life/news/open-evening-gives-prospective-students-a-taste-of-collRedcar & Cleveland College is opening its doors to prospective students tonight (Wednesday 16th February) for a chance to find out how gaining new qualifications could help them take the next steps to a rewarding career. The event is a chance for anyone thinking of developing their skills, including young people who will be leaving school this summer, to come along and find out how a new qualification from the college could improve their employability and career prospects. Details are as follows: Date: Wednesday 16 February 2011 Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm Location: Redcar & Cleveland College, Corporation Road, Redcar The college has places available on courses in all subject areas. There is still time to apply for those who are leaving school this summer, people looking to boost their skills or those looking for a change of career. Staff will be on hand to give advice on the full range of full-time and part-time courses on offer and careers advisors will provide information on opportunities and career progression. Current college students will also be there to talk about their experiences of college life and exhibit their work as part of a Skills Showcase. There’s also a chance to view the college’s new Higher Education Centre, which opened in September last year. Boasting the latest in cutting edge technology, the Centre offers prospective students across the borough and beyond the chance to gain degree level qualifications. Gary Groom, Principal Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “We’re inviting prospective students to come along to the open evening where they can learn about the wide range of subjects and courses on offer, and tour the campus to see how our facilities can give them a fantastic student experience and provide the best opportunities for learning.” Further details of the range of courses available to students can be found in the college’s Full-Time Prospectus which is available to download from www.cleveland.ac.uk or by calling 01642 473132.  Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:14:36 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/open-evening-gives-prospective-students-a-taste-of-collNew £3.9m college development to open doors/news/new-39m-college-development-to-open-doors   A major new Higher Education development on Teesside opens its doors for the first time today (Friday 10 September). The £3.94m Higher Education Centre at Redcar & Cleveland College will offer the opportunity for students from Redcar and beyond to study for accredited degree level courses in an environment specifically developed to meet their needs. The centre has been developed in collaboration with two key partners, Teesside University and the Sir William Turner Foundation, who have provided the funding in order to see the project through to fruition. Teaching will focus on courses from within the emerging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector, as well as the Built Environment, Business and Management, Care, Counselling and Health, Computing, Engineering, Sport and Teacher Education & Learner Support. Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, Gary Groom, said of the centre: “The opening of Redcar & Cleveland College’s Higher Education Centre marks an important step for the provision of education and training in the borough. “By working with our supporters, The Sir William Turner Foundation and Teesside University, we have delivered a learning environment that goes beyond anything you would normally expect to find within a Further Education college. “It will now be easier than ever for our students to progress through the college to obtain degree level qualifications and we are also looking forward to working with local business and industry to meet their training needs. “Our focus for the centre is firmly upon providing the kind of courses that will be key in filling the future skills needs of employers within the region and it is great to see so many of our industry leaders here today to share the opening with us.” State-of-the-art equipment, including the latest Computer Aided Design software, robotics, Biometric and 3D technology, will be installed in the centre’s classrooms and workshops, ensuring that students receive their training using the most cutting edge facilities available. Chair of the Redcar & Cleveland College Board of Governors, John Coulthard, added: “What we have achieved with the Higher Education Centre builds upon our already world class Phase 1 development, which opened in 2008. “Without the backing of the Sir William Turner Foundation and Teesside University, it would have been impossible for us to deliver a project of this high standard. We are delighted that they have worked with us throughout the process to help us achieve our vision.” Peter Chester, a Sir William Turner Foundation Governor and former history lecturer at the College, said: “The College, the University and the Sir William Turner Foundation have come together to invest in a building which represents a new vision for this College, the town and the local community, and we are pleased to be part of this. “Although we associate Sir William Turner's name with education and prestigious schools in the twentieth century, he was very much a practical, 'skills-based' man, and he would have much appreciated the focus of much of the work of the modern Redcar & Cleveland College. We share Sir William Turner's vision that education is beneficial to all and I think he would recognise today that we have invested his legacy wisely.” He added: “The motto of the old Coatham School and Sir William Turner's Grammar School was 'Floreat Domus' - 'May the House Flourish' and I cannot think of a more appropriate good wish for this new Higher Education Centre.” Professor Graham Henderson, Teesside University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “The University has been working in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland College for many years, to improve access and progression to higher education for the people of Redcar and Cleveland, to the point where the College is now one of our most important, and valued, strategic partners. “We are therefore delighted that, together, we have been able to take the major step of creating an outstanding new Higher Education Centre within the College – which is a visible tribute to our joint, long term commitment to making higher education as accessible as possible.”  Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:25:56 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/new-39m-college-development-to-open-doorsGo higher with Redcar & Cleveland College/news/go-higher-with-redcar-amp-cleveland-college With the jobs market growing more and more competitive, employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can bring that little bit extra to a job, and people who have studied at higher education level are reaping the benefits.  To help meet this demand, Redcar & Cleveland College has expanded its range of HE courses all of which are described in the 2009-2010 prospectus. The College has added a range of exciting new courses across all areas including a Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching and Exercise and a Foundation Degree in Chemical Science that are new for September 2009.  These will complement the existing successful Foundation Degrees in Counselling and in Early Years.  Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “This is our most comprehensive higher education offer to date and with almost 40 courses on offer there is something for everyone. “Alongside the Foundation Degrees, students at the college can also study HNCs, HNDs, NVQs and other professional qualifications which provide skills based progression to a higher level than other vocational training routes.” “Higher Education courses are relevant to a range of careers in areas such as Construction, Engineering, Business, Accounting, Teaching, and Sports Professional occupations.”  Amongst the courses on offer are a HNC in Mechanical Engineering, a BA (Hons) Degree in Education Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Management accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management.  The HE courses have been specifically developed to meet the needs of local employers and with all courses delivered at the College’s new £26m campus by an experienced team of lecturers, there has never been a better time to be studying a higher education course.  Redcar & Cleveland College’s higher education and training options are also designed for employers who are seeking ways to up skill or retrain their employees in an economic environment that is fast changing and less certain than even a few years ago. Copies of the new Redcar & Cleveland College Higher Education prospectus are available by clicking here or by calling into the college campus on Corporation Road, Redcar. Anyone wanting to find out more about the courses on offer, or wishing to discuss tailored HE training in more detail, can contact the college directly on 01642 473132. What’s on offer? Redcar & Cleveland College offers a wide range of higher education course options to suit every student, but which one is right for you? Read on to find out more about the courses on offer:  Foundation Degrees Foundation Degrees provide an alternative to the traditional academic degree and are designed with employers to combine academic study with workplace learning to equip people with the relevant knowledge, understanding and skills to improve performance and productivity. Foundation degrees offer organisations and businesses the opportunity to enhance self-training and development with minimal disruption to the operation. They can ease problems caused by skill gaps, develop broad leadership and management potential, cut the costs of recruitment and training, and encourage higher levels of staff motivation. Honours Degrees These qualifications are designed to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding, developing abilities and problem solving skills as well as ‘applied/practical’ learning. HNCs/HNDs Higher National Certificates/Diplomas (HNCs/HNDs) are designed specifically to provide a skills/career-based qualification. These qualifications also provide a route onto Honours degree programmes. NVQs National Vocational Qualifications are work-related; competence-based qualifications and reflect the skills and knowledge needed to do a job effectively. NVQs are available to anyone at any age or stage of their career. NVQs are flexible and accessible. You can decide the pace, place and way in which you learn. Professional Qualifications There is a broad range of higher-level professional qualifications, which will help students to progress in their present career or to gain entry into a job that they are particularly interested in.Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:37:24 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/go-higher-with-redcar-amp-cleveland-collegeCollege to host skills showcase event and open evening/news/college-to-host-skills-showcase-event-and-open-eveningProspective students will get a chance to find out how gaining new qualifications could help them get on in life next week (Wednesday 21st October). Redcar & Cleveland College is holding a special Open Evening where anyone thinking of studying on a course can drop in and get further information, as well as taking a look around the world-class facilities. Staff will be on hand to give advice on the full range of full time and part time courses on offer. There will also be a Skills Showcase exhibition of work from current college students. Details are as follows: Date:        Wednesday 21st October Time:       5pm – 8pm Location: Redcar & Cleveland College, Corporation Road, Redcar The event is a chance for anyone thinking of developing their skills to come along and find out first hand how a new qualification from the college could give a boost to their confidence and improve their employability and career prospects. Visitors will get the chance take a tour of the college campus, and careers advisors and lecturers will be on hand to offer advice on opportunities and career progression. The college has recently launched its 2010/2011 Full Time Prospectus, giving anyone thinking of studying a full time course at the college comprehensive details of what is on offer. Gary Groom, Principal Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming prospective students to the new Redcar & Cleveland College Skills Showcase 2009 and showing them how the learning environment and courses we have on offer can give them a real edge when it comes to improving skills and gaining employment.”  Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:17:00 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-to-host-skills-showcase-event-and-open-eveningHeather aims higher with Access course!/news/heather-aims-higher-with-access-course A student, who has exceeded even her own expectations, is celebrating after winning a place at university after completing a course at Redcar & Cleveland College. Heather McLeod, completed the Access to Health course and is now going on to study a degree in Nursing Studies at the University of Teesside. Heather initially joined the college on the part-time Amspar Medical Receptionist course in 2007 and following the completion of this course decided that she wished to continue studying and fulfil a lifelong ambition to take up a career in nursing. Talking about her time at Redcar & Cleveland College, Heather says: “I was initially really nervous about coming back to college after such a long time out of education, but with the support of my family and the tutors at the college I was able to find a course that really suited me and fitted around the other commitments I have in my life. “The first day was a bit nerve racking and I felt like the oldest student in the college, but I soon settled in and started to enjoy the course. “Towards the end of the Amspar course my tutors started talking to me about what I wanted to do next and suggested that I consider the Access to Health course as a route to take me through to university. “I’d never thought about going down a route that would lead me to university, but after some persuasion I enrolled on the course starting in September 2008. “The Access course was challenging at times, but was really enjoyable and I now can’t wait to go on to university this September!” Angela Ince, Heather’s tutor on the Access course, said: “Heather’s initial uncertainty about taking up a place on the Access course is something that a lot of students experience initially, but once she got started on the course she exceeded both her tutors and her own expectations. Over the two years she has attended Redcar & Cleveland College it has been very humbling to see how much she has grown in confidence and stature, and how well she is now prepared to enter a level of education she did not consider was for her. Heather is not the only Redcar student to taste success on the Access programme this year. All of the students on the Access to Humanities course have gained places on degree or higher-level courses, whilst many of the Access to Health students are going on to study further higher-level qualifications. Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “What Heather and the other students on the Access courses have achieved is absolutely fantastic and demonstrates how when a student raises their aspirations they can achieve their ambitions in life. “We’re finding increasingly that people are deciding to come back to college to develop existing or new skills and with the college offering a range of routes through into higher education many are surprising themselves with how far they can go.”Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:40:26 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/heather-aims-higher-with-access-courseOfsted inspectors grade Redcar & Cleveland College as ‘good’/news/ofsted-inspectors-grade-redcar-amp-cleveland-college-asStudents and staff at a Tees Valley college are celebrating after Ofsted inspectors praised its effectiveness and graded it as a ‘good’ learning establishment. Redcar & Cleveland College Principal Gary Groom said he was thrilled with the inspector’s report, which praised the wide range of courses available, the effectiveness of the college, and the new state-of-the-art facilities. He said it was testament to the hard work put in by every member of staff and student during the past few years, who have worked to further improve all aspects of college life. “We are delighted that the college has now been recognised for the large number of improvements we have made since the last inspection in 2004, when we were then graded as ‘satisfactory’,” said Mr Groom. “Previously, the college was not meeting its full potential and needed to improve both standards and the facilities. “We are now officially graded as being a good college, which is fantastic news for everyone in Redcar and Cleveland – knowing that not only is there a terrific new £26m college building in the borough, but there is also continued improvements in both success rates and student retention.” Inspectors rated the new college building and facilities, which opened in September last year, as outstanding. Safety of students and staff was also graded as outstanding, and the inspectors also commented that students were well behaved and respectful to each other. They said the overall effectiveness of the college was good, and stated that its capacity to improve further was also good. The report stated: “Over the last three years, success rates have significantly improved. Success rates for learners aged 16 to 18 are above national average. “The quality of provision is good, as are teaching and learning. Lessons are well planned and teachers effectively link theory to practice. The college is highly responsive to the needs of students, employers, local and national priorities. The curriculum is very accessible and progression routes are increasingly well-used.” It added: “The principal provides strong direction to raise standards. Quality improvement strategies are very effective. Success rates have improved year-on-year. “The college has made good progress since the last inspection. Strengths identified then have been maintained and areas for improvement addressed.” Mr Groom said everyone at the college was very proud of what they had achieved. “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the college, because without their hard work and dedication, this great Ofsted report would not have been possible,” he said. “We set out on a long journey to improvement when I arrived here four years ago and, while we are extremely pleased with our achievements so far, we still have a distance to travel and are very focussed. “We will continue to strive for excellence in the hope that we achieve the highest grade possible at our next inspection – that of ‘outstanding’.”  Chairman of Governors Dr Graham Hillier said: “This is an excellent achievement for the college. We are all extremely pleased that the inspectors recognised the many improvements that have been made since the last inspection, and saw the college as we do – a good learning establishment. “Everyone has worked very hard and will continue to do so to ensure that our students get the best education possible.” View the newsletterTue, 23 Jun 2009 16:12:59 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/ofsted-inspectors-grade-redcar-amp-cleveland-college-asSABIC staff go back to college/news/sabic-staff-go-back-to-collegeWorkers from a Tees Valley petrochemicals manufacturer have gone back to college to improve their job skills and knowledge.   Staff at SABIC Petrochemicals, based at the Wilton Centre, have been studying for Higher National qualifications in Mechanical Engineering at Redcar & Cleveland College with the aim of gaining qualifications and progressing their careers.   Over 20 employees have been through the specially developed programme, which was delivered on site and allowed students to study flexibly around their working patterns.   Students were taught using a combination of targeted lectures, self-study and tutorial support enabling them to continue with their main jobs throughout the length of the course.   This approach meant that students were only required to be released for a fraction of the time it would normally take to study a course of this kind and also allowed additional members of staff from SABIC to join in on relevant modules.   Mark Loughran, ESS Inspection Manager at SABIC UK Petrochemicals said:   “The tailored HNC programme provided by the college has enabled us to develop our people, first by giving them the under-pinning academic requirements around their current roles and secondly to prepare them for further internationally accredited technical training.”   Chris Coupland, Head of the Engineering Faculty at Redcar & Cleveland College, said:   “Redcar & Cleveland College have been working with SABIC for over 2 years now and our flexible approach to course delivery has really paid dividends for the staff, both in terms of their academic achievement and also their ongoing job roles.   “We are already working with a number of other companies on the Wilton site and beyond, including ABB, to deliver similar programmes of training for their staff.”   Organisations interested in further information on this course or other professional training please contact Patricia Oswald on 01642 513200.Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:25:13 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/sabic-staff-go-back-to-collegeCollege centre leads the way with gas training/news/college-centre-leads-the-way-with-gas-trainingTradesmen are receiving world-class training and assessment in gas installation and assessment at a north east college. Redcar & Cleveland College’s gas centre has been hailed as a national centre of excellence for training and assessment for gas professionals.   At a recent inspection by accreditation authority BPEC, the inspector praised the college’s facilities which have been upgraded to industry leading standards as part of the move to its new £26m campus.   The BPEC assessment is required for the college to offer Corgi certified training and certification and looks at all aspects of the work carried out in the college’s gas centre from the facilities themselves to the quality of the training on offer.   In his assessment report the inspector said that “BPEC is proud to be associated with a progressive college with such excellent, modern facilities in the Gas Centre.”   Peter Marshall, Head of the Gas Centre at Redcar & Cleveland College said:   “We have worked extremely hard to establish the college as a centre for excellence in gas training in the north east and it is absolutely fantastic that we have received this recognition on a national level.   "The gas centre is also launching a new CPA1 Gas Analyser course which is required by anyone who will be fitting or working on modern condensing boilers.   "The 5 hour short course can be completed in a single day and provides Corgi certification after carrying out a short assessment included in the course."   Peter added:   “Moving to the new campus last September has allowed us to expand the range of courses that we offer. We have introduced the Combustion Performance Analysis course, have re-launched the Reassessment of Unvented Hot Water Systems course and are looking at the delivery of a course on Solar Water to complement the course on the Installing and Testing Domestic Photovoltaic Systems.   “The CPA course is proving to be extremely popular and we have already had staff from several large local companies enrol to go through the course.”   Anyone wanting further information on the CPA1 course or the other courses offered at the Redcar & Cleveland College gas centre can contact Peter Marshall on 01642 777218 or visit www.cleveland.ac.ukTue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:08 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-centre-leads-the-way-with-gas-trainingCollege opens doors for prospective students/news/college-opens-doors-for-prospective-studentsRedcar & Cleveland College will be opening its doors next week (Wednesday 11th February) to give prospective students a chance to see the range of courses on offer at the college’s £28m new campus.   The open evening takes place between 4:30pm to 6:30pm and visitors will be treated to demonstrations and taster sessions from across the curriculum areas offered by the college.   The college is still enrolling for part-time courses starting this Spring and careers advisors will also be on hand to offer guidance for students about to take their GCSE exams about what options are available to them for courses starting in September.   College Principal Gary Groom said:   “The open evening is a great opportunity for anyone thinking of enrolling on a course at the college to come along and see what it’s all about.   Further information on the courses available at Redcar & Cleveland College can be found at www.cleveland.ac.uk or by calling 01642 473132.    Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:20:02 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-opens-doors-for-prospective-studentsCollege students receive sporting master class from Olympic star/news/college-students-receive-sporting-master-class-from-olyStudents at Redcar & Cleveland College found out what it takes to be a professional athlete today (Friday 21st November) when Olympic pentathlon star Katy Livingston visited the college.   Katy, who grew up in Redcar and competed for Team GB at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year, delivered a master class to students studying for their BTEC National Diplomas in Sports and Fitness and answered questions about the time and dedication it takes to be a top level professional athlete.   The students, who are currently undertaking a module on coaching, found out about Katy’s daily training programme and diet, before getting some practical guidance of the kinds of exercises and activities that she goes through every day.   But the session wasn’t just about getting the benefit of some professional experience. A course assessor was on hand to witness the event and the work that Katy did with the students will be graded and count towards the overall mark that they get for their course.   Katy’s discipline of the Modern Pentathlon involves competing in five events – running, swimming, pistol shooting, fencing and horse riding. She talked about her time in Beijing and told students about her hopes for winning a medal on home ground at London 2012.   Talking about her visit to the college, Katy said:   “It was fantastic to be invited along to the college to meet with the students and I hope that I inspired some of them to follow in my footsteps and compete at the Olympics in 2012.   “The students showed that they had really done their homework on the pentathlon and my career and it’s great that my visit today has actually contributed to the qualification they will achieve.   “The facilities that the college has in its new building mean that the students have access to resources that I could only have dreamed about when I was growing up in Redcar.”   Andrew Anderson, aged 21, who is studying for a Level 2 NVQ in Sports and fitness, said:   “We were all really excited when we heard that Katy was going to be coming and we’re extremely grateful that she has given up some of her spare time to talk to us about her experiences.   “The work that we do on the sports and fitness course has given us an idea of what it takes to compete at the highest level, but to hear it first hand from someone we were watching compete at the Olympic Games only a couple of months ago has been a real inspiration.”   Megan Hodgson, aged 16 is studying a Level 1 NVQ in sport. She said:   “It was really inspiring for Katy to come along and show us the kind of things she does as an athlete and talk to us about her experiences.   “After doing some of the practical sessions with Katy I’m seriously thinking about taking up the pentathlon as a sport.”   Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said:   “We’re extremely grateful to Katy for giving up her time to come into the college and visit the students. Her session with the students gave a fantastic insight into how she has managed to reach the pinnacle of her sport.   “Katy’s visit to the college today has given the students studying sports and fitness something to aspire to and has shown them that they are more than capable of going on to become athletes competing and succeeding at the highest level.   Over 100 students are currently studying sports related qualifications at Redcar & Cleveland College, and with success rates of over 85% many of them go on to gain employment in sports related jobs after completing their courses.   The college is also involved in an innovative regional programme aimed at giving all its students access to sporting activities such as football, rugby, basketball, cricket and table tennis by developing links with local sporting clubs. Neil Young, the Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCO) has developed links with sports coaches and community groups with a view to enhancing the sports provision and widening sports participation in Redcar and East Cleveland.   After moving to its £26m new home in September this year, the college now boasts top class facilities for sports and fitness students, including a new high-tech fitness centre. From early next year the college’s Sports Hall & Fitness Suite will be available to hire by community groups, sports organisations & teams.   Further planned developments including new sports pitches are due to begin construction on the footprint of the old college building in the new year.   You can browse further photos from the event here.Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:13:25 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-students-receive-sporting-master-class-from-olyRedcar & Cleveland College students get head start to HE/news/redcar-amp-cleveland-college-students-get-head-start-toRedcar & Cleveland College has joined with other colleges across the north east to launch a new scheme aimed at helping students to progress from further education to higher education. Passport Plus has been set up in conjunction with the University of Teesside to mark its tenth anniversary and to demonstrate the continued commitment of members to support progression to higher education. The scheme provides students who are considering higher education courses with a range of support services including advice, guidance and a range of activities to help them make the move into HE. Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said: We’re absolutely delighted to be involved in Passport Plus as it will give students at Redcar & Cleveland College a fantastic opportunity to study at degree level whilst they are with us here and then go on and progress to University.” The University of Teesside’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson said: “I am delighted to announce this major expansion of our Passport programme. It is a partnership in which I take great pride and this latest evolution will, I am sure, make a major contribution to supporting students to achieve their potential.” Passport Plus represents the members of the University of Teesside Partnership which boasts over 30 member institutions and over 6000 student members from across the region. Passport Plus institutions will enjoy additional benefits both to students and staff to include student shadowing opportunities and the provision of HEadstart modules.  College students can study year one degree level modules while at college, enhancing their skills and knowledge and giving them the chance to get a head start on their higher education.    Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:12:22 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/redcar-amp-cleveland-college-students-get-head-start-to

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