HCUK 14-16 College newsletter

HCUK 14-16 College Newsletter • Summer 2014

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Welcome to the Summer 2014 edition of the HCUK 14-16 College’s

Newsletter.

We are now drawing to a close our first academic year, and what a year it has been; seeing the 14-16 College go from strength to strength. The students established themselves comfortably into College life and have shown how successful under 16s can be in a College environment, contributing to the best possible outcome from our recent Ofsted visit. Inspectors graded us as having made ‘significant progress’ – the highest possible outcome from a monitoring visit – congratulations to all staff and students on this remarkable result!

Students have been involved in a number of different activities over the last year, seeing particular success with the Job Club, where they have been producing some outstanding, industry standard work benefiting

local institutions and building links with the community.

As we enter our second year the 14-16 College is looking forward to welcoming our new Year 10 students and wish them well with the transition from School to College. We are also delighted to move the Hull students into our new, bigger, brighter location in the Wilberforce Building.

Once again, thanks for all your support and we look forward to our students’ continuing success at the HCUK 14-16 College. Have a great Summer.

Gary ManganHead of School

Welcome


The 14-16 College has been awarded the highest possible rating by Ofsted in its first monitoring visit in April 2014.

Inspectors said the College had made ‘significant’ progress in all areas assessed in the time since it launched in September 2013. Officials looked at a number of key areas focused solely on full-time provision for 14-16 year olds, including the curriculum, teachers, student support, safeguarding, and steps to ensure continuous improvement. A series of strengths were identified, and the students were praised for their strong aspirational goals, and the progress they have made since joining the College.

Unlike the grading of a full Ofsted Inspection, new schools are rated as having made ‘insufficient’, ‘reasonable’ or ‘significant’ progress in each area – Hull College Group

scored the top rating of ‘significant’ in every area.Inspectors particularly praised a number of practices at the College, including: anti-bullying measures; improved attendance levels from previous schools; thorough monitoring of student progress; support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN); the choice of vocational pathways and the committed staff and governors.

The Ofsted report also identified particular strengths within the College. These included students’ participation in the Job Club, where they are commissioned to create real-life projects – at the time of the visit, they were working on an 8ft-tall replica Dr Who TARDIS.

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Ofsted Praises the HCUK 14-16 College


Hull College Principal Graham Towse said: “We’re delighted by the outcome of the Ofsted visit. Staff

and students within the 14-16 College are extremely committed to achieving the best possible outcomes, and the report is a reflection of this. Many of the students with us have made enormous progress since starting studying with us, and they are rightfully proud of this – we’re pleased that this was clear to the Ofsted visitors. Moving forward, it is important that we continue to develop and strengthen the Hull College Group 14-16 College and support all of our students in achieving their educational ambitions.”

Hull College Group Chief Executive Gary Warke MBE, who was part of the national steering group established to

set up full-time recruitment of students in Further Education colleges at 14 said: “Monitoring visits by Ofsted are particularly important to ensure that the College is meeting students’ expectations and delivering the best possible standard of learning. We welcome the report and will continue to drive forward the opportunity for all 14 year olds to enrol at college full-time and focus on ensuring all of our students achieve their educational ambitions and fulfil their potential.”

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Ofsted Praises the HCUK 14-16 College


The 14-16 Northern Players present…

A Variety!

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On May 20th 2014, the College’s ‘14-16 Northern Players’ brought their performing skills together to stage a variety show, raising money for Whizz Kidz, a charity that works tirelessly to ‘transform the lives of disabled children across the UK, supporting them to become confident and independent young adults.’

Jessica hackney, Ashleigh Patison, Elle Aubrey, Ellen Boughen, and Elli May Bell provided the singing power and Jack Harvey-Smith combined singing and dancing, showing off his flexibility with a piece inspired by a contortionist. Nauman Zulfiqar and Mario Sequeira also showcased their talents with an improvised comedy piece based on characters taken from one of their favourite comedians, Martin Lawrence.

Mario Sequeira hosted the show, which was held in Charlotte’s Restaurant in The Horncastle Building. Mario did a fabulous job, even braving the stage with his own original stand-up routine.

It has been a dramatic year for these young performers-in-training but they have all made great progress, which was evident in their most recent

acting assessment. The group’s tutor, Caroline Block, says that confidence and teamwork has been their main hurdle this year but “if they build on the skills they have developed this year then they will be able to create something really special next year.”

Find out more about who Whizz Kidz are and what’s going on right now at

www.whizz-kidz.org.uk


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Novel Ideas for

Eastfield PrimaryThe 14-16 College Job Club, run and organised by construction tutor, Darren Storrer, provides students with real work experience in the form of projects commissioned by external clients. Following on from the success of the projects completed for Craven Park Primary School, Eastfield Primary School approached Darren to see if his club could devise a ‘novel’ way of encouraging the students to make more use of the school library.

After initially developing a collection of murals, the students came up with the brilliant idea of creating a life size Dr Who TARDIS as the entrance to the library, allowing the pupils to walk through the TARDIS and into the library.

The TARDIS is currently under construction (see photo) and is already recognisable, a fantastic working example of our students’ maths and construction skills at trade standard. The idea has even grasped the attention of other local primary schools, 4 of which have already requested to have their own TARDIS. Also, Ganton Special School has requested a Formula One racing car and Catfoss Community Centre have ordered a replica Spitfire plane.

The Job Club is also working on other projects for Eastfield Primary, including a ‘Hogwarts’ train on platform 9¾ from the Harry Potter

series, a replica of Roald Dahl’s writing shed which opens out into a giant bookcase and a reading corner with stools shaped like giant books and a teacher’s chair shaped like an open book.

All of this success is down to the hard work, talent and commitment of the 14-16 Job Club members. The College is remarkably proud of high quality of the work being produced by its students and how they are building relationships with the local community, developing their skills and preparing for working life.

Watch this space for photos of the completed TARDIS…


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End of Year School Trip

AS a celebration of a year’s hard work, the 15th July saw the 14-16 College students taking time out of their hectic study schedule to let their hair down and enjoy a well-earned day out at Light Water Valley.The day started off with the weather forecasting sunshine and highs of 23 degrees. Stu-dents were reminded to bring plenty of water and sun cream to avoid being burnt, but it was Learning Mentor Adam Burns

who ended up suffering most from the effects of the sun… Thanks to the navigation skills of minibus drivers, Lisa and Gary, the group arrived nice and early, ready for the rides opening at 10:30am and the staff were just as excited as the students to race to the front of the queue for the biggest ride of all... The Ultimate - a 1.5 mile wooden roller-coaster!The students checked in at lunch and were quick to tell the staff what rides they had been on, many even had their hair spray-painted all sorts of colours. At 3:00pm everyone was ex-hausted and ready to come home after an extremely enjoy-able day out. We look forward to arranging this trip again in the future as it is was fantastic and well-earned experience for both students and staff alike.

Important Dates for Autumn 2014Staff training days – 1st & 2nd September

Term starts – 3rd September8th October – Student Rep Election

Half Term – 27th October to 3rd NovemberYr10 Parents Evening Goole – 4th November

Goole College Post 16 Open Event – 5th November Yr10 Parents Evening Hull – 6th November

Yr11 Parents Evening Goole – 12th November Hull College Post 16 Open Event – 12th November

Yr11 Parents Evening Hull – 13th NovemberChristmas Break – 22nd December to 5th January


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Celebrating

FreedomAs we enter the Summer break many of our staff and students will be attending the annual Hull Freedom Festival along with thousands of visitors both local and from farther afield. This year promises to be even more spectacular than previous years as Hull has so much to celebrate after being awarded City of Culture status 2017, the Sie-mens development and other major local investments. One of our 14-16 College students has written a poem reflecting on the fight for freedom:

Freedom – Claudia Woods

We can fightFor the right

To our freedomTake off those shackles

Get ready for battleWe’ll give those slavers

All of the hasslePull out your fists

Show them what they didTo your wrists

Make them payFor making you believe

You wouldn’t live another dayWe are stronger

And will fight for longerTell our families we will see them

‘Cause we fought for our FREEDOM


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After School Sessions – 2014/15As a reminder, there are various after school sessions available to the 14–16 College students. All students are free to participate – just ask tutors or support staff for further information:

Monday: 4pm-5pm • Future Productionz with Mario • Common Room 3pm-4pm • Gifted Readers • DE 08 3pm-4pm • Enrichment/Pod Club • Common Room

Tuesday: 3pm-4pm • Sport Catch-up • DE 109b 3pm-4pm • Maths Clinic with Tony Sproats • DE 103

Wednesday: 4pm-5pm • Future Productionz with Mario • Common Room 3pm-4pm • English Study Support with Adele • DE 08 3pm-4pm • Homework Session with Alex • Quiet Room DE 11

Thursday: 3pm-4pm • Art Session • Common Room 3pm-4pm • Dance with Alex/Adam • TBC

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HCUK 14-16 College newsletter