Diary dates…

04

Darlington CollegeIssue 5 January 2010

Electronics student’s dreams come true!

Electronics student Jamie Fergusonfound himself plugged into worldmotorcycling action at a global eventpacked with celebrities.The 19 year old, of Hartburn, wasinvited to join the Rizla SuzukiMotoGP team at the Estoril circuit inPortugal, helping the team mechanicskeep riders Loris Capirossi and ChrisVermeulen on two wheels.

He was able to use the skills he haslearnt at Darlington College, where heis studying HNC ElectronicEngineering, to keep the riders at thehead of the pack.

“Race bikes are governed by theirelectronics nowadays and I was able

to draw on the data-loggingexperience of the course to help themechanics,” he said. “I loved everyminute of it and would love to do it asa career one day.”The opportunity arose when Jamiewas mechanicing for Keen Racing,a team which was supporting theMotoGP race at Donnington Park.When he was in the paddock he wasintroduced to the Suzuki teammanager Paul Denning who made theoffer to accompany them to Portugal.“It was great to see all aspects of theirwork and fantastic to see how ourcourse can be applied in the real worldto things such as engine mapping,”

said Jamie, who works for the FinMachine Company at Seaham.

“They said they were impressed withmy work and attitude so hopefully oneday I might be able to secure a jobdoing this.”

Darlington College tutor Neville Wintersaid: “To gain this level of workexperience at such a young ageshows superb initiative and drive onbehalf of Jamie.

“MotoGP really is the pinnacle ofmotor sport and it has shown Jamiejust how the things he learns atDarlington College are used for realwhich has brought his course alive.”

Half Term HolidayMonday 15th February 2010 until Friday19th February 2010

Spring BreakFriday 2nd April 2010 until Friday 16thApril 2010

May Day Bank HolidayMonday 3rd May 2010

Spring Bank HolidayMonday 31st May 2010 until Friday 4thJune 2010

The Learner PanelThe Learning and Skills Council (LSC) havecommissioned an independent researchagency to set up an online panelrepresenting students in Further Education.The panel will provide a way for students totell education providers and policy makerstheir opinions on education, thereby helpingto shape future government initiatives.

We need you to join! As a reward, inaddition to being sent interesting andrelevant questionnaires, you’ll also earn highstreet shopping vouchers for every surveyyou complete, normally £1 or £2 per survey.

Students at the college are also asked totake part in a National Learner Views surveybetween 11th-22nd January. This will becompleted online in class.

To join or to find out more aboutThe Learner Panel visitwww.thelearnerpanel.org.uk

Students,

I would like to wish you a very HappyNew Year and I hope that 2010 bringsyou good health, happiness andsuccess. Your success, both in yourstudies and in your life as a whole isvery important to us. Let’s worktogether to make 2010 a fantastic year!

2010 is also going to be an exciting yearfor me personally as I become the newPrincipal of this fantastic college. It is aprivilege to be part of a college whosestaff and students have achieved‘outstanding’ success and I am keen

that we build on this in the future. I amvery much looking forward to getting toknow you in the months ahead.

One exciting new addition to the collegeis the social space which provides youwith a comfortable environment whereyou can relax and socialise in betweenyour studies. I am sure that you will findthese new facilities beneficial.

Once again I wish you all the best forthe year ahead.

Tim GrantPrincipal and Chief Executive.

Darlington CollegeNewsletter Issue 5

January 2010

Welcome from the new Principal

It was decided in a Learner VoiceGroup (which voices student opinion tothe Principal and the Executive Team)that there was a need for more seatingin an informal setting for students toenjoy their breaks.

As a result the new striking orange andgreen student social space wasrevealed to staff and students whenAndrew Seymour (Chairman of theStudent Council) cut the ribbon.Students have been involved throughoutthe whole design and building process

and named the centre which is nowofficially known as ‘The Gateway’.

The Gateway is where students canchill-out and use their laptops with thebenefit of receiving free wirelessinternet connections. A plasmatelevision screen broadcasts all of thelatest news and a comfortable seatingarea is perfect for lunchtime. We hopethat all students will benefit from andenjoy using The Gateway throughouttheir time at college.

New student socialspace is revealed!

The ‘Play Safe’ Sexual Health Clinic continues to be the flag shipof sexual health services in the college. The number of studentsaccessing this service has increased dramatically since itopened in September 2007. The clinic is open every Fridaymorning from 9 am to 12 noon with a specialist GP, nurse and issupported by Sexual Health Outreach Workers. The clinic teamoffers sexual health and contraceptive advice and treatment in afriendly, confidential setting. The clinic has achieved the goldaward in the Chlamydia Screening programme for both male andfemale students. Students can go along, no appointmentnecessary, to AF43 every Friday morning in term time.

HPV vaccinations continue to be high on the national agendaand the clinic team are providing separate Tuesday morningclinics to administer vaccinations to all girls aged 14 – 18.Students can make appointments with Diane Evans in the LRCor report to the desk in Central Point every Tuesday morning.

Why not be one of the first people in theNorth East to complete the world’s first

BTEC qualificationin Driving Science?

If you are about tostart learning todrive we haveobtained funding tosupport studentsthrough thistraining, which isthe equivalent toone GCSE.

Through an e-learning platform you willaddress the importance of integrating theright attitude with car control skills.

Over 5 modules you will learn about:

• Driving skills and risk

• Safe interaction with otherroad users

• Environmental driving

• Driving responsibilities andself-evaluation

• Safe driving behaviour

You will also cover night time andmotorway driving, risk managementand decision making skills.

Please note that you will still beresponsible for the cost of yourdriving lessons via one of thirteenadvanced driving instructors fromthe Darlington Driving InstructorsFederation.To see the full list andregister for this qualification, pleasesee Diane Evans in the LRC orcall 01325 503152.

Darlington CollegeIssue 5 January 2010

02

Get qualified inDriving Science

The Level 2 Award in Community SportsLeadership is an ideal opportunity foranyone interested in sport and physicalactivity and looking to deliver sessions tothe community in clubs at schools etc.It will also look great on your C.V.

On the course you will learn:

• The structure of sport (local,regional, national)

• The principles and practices ofleading safe sporting activities

• How to organise and deliversporting activities

• How to adapt sporting sessions

This is a 5 day programme running duringthe Easter holiday period (8th-14th April2010) from 10.00am until 4.30pm.

There is a cost of £30 which needs to bepaid by the 26th February at Central Point,or by cheque made payable to DarlingtonCollege. This fee will be refunded uponsuccessful completion of the course and avolunteering period.

For more information, or to book aplace contact Dan Pugh or Diane Evansat the LRC on 01325 503152.

Community SportsLeaders Award

Student health top of college agenda

Do you wantgo get somefresh air andexercise onyour break?

Why not join our newlylaunched lunchtimewalking group!For more information ontimes and locations callDiane Evans on01325 503152.

A new further educationSport’s Co-ordinator hasbeen appointed toencourage students to getmore active. Daniel Pughwho has a BA (Hons) degreein Sports Development andCoaching brings with him

lots of new ideas on how to get fit, especially in theNew Year. Punchaerobics, Pilates and skateboardingare just some of the new sports on the agenda. Toregister your interest in taking part, please visit Danin the LRC or email dpugh@darlington.ac.uk.

Staff and students arebeaming with pride afterhelping win a nationalaccolade for DarlingtonCollege.The National Skills Academy forHospitality and Catering has awardedthe title “Smiliest College” to studentsin a nationwide hunt for learner cheer.

Catering tutor Louise Temple alsopicked up a national award for SmiliestLecturer in a competition designed topromote the work of the NationalSkills Academy (NSA).

Darlington College is one of just ninenationally to have been awarded thecoveted status of being an NSA for

hospitality and catering.

The aim is to have centres ofexcellence to train staff for a sectorof industry that is worth millions ofpounds to the national economy.

Tutor Geoff Lawrence, one of the firstin the country to be officially trained tocarry out the new role, said he hadsubmitted a variety of smiley picturesto the NSA website and was delightedthe college had been chosen twice.

The college receives prize money anda celebrity master class for students.

He said: “It’s meant to be a bit of funbut the fact we have won does giveDarlington College national exposure.It also truly reflects that the college isa happy place to learn and work.”

Fundraisingupdate

03

Our studentsare named the‘Smiliest’

Staff and students have been busy raisingmoney for a number of different charitiesover recent months. This has seen thoseinvolved dressing up, collecting gifts,dancing, singing, abseiling and cycling toraise over £4700 for Breast CancerAwareness, Children in Need, Daisy Chain,Samaritans Purse and The Great North AirAmbulance.

Congratulations to everybody who has beeninvolved with fundraising, I think we have allhad a lot of fun doing it! Let’s see howmuchwe can collect for charity by the end of theacademic year.

TheCorporationBoard haswelcomedtwo newstudentmembers.Nick Blandand Andrew

Seymour will have a big role to play invoicing student opinions and ideas onchanges and improvements that canbe made to the college. Good luck to bothof you – we are sure that you will do agreat job!

Five new Student Liaison Officers havejoined the Learner Involvement Team. NickBland, Jason Molyneux, Amy Petty, JoshuaPyrke and Lee Whatmore will beresponsible for organising fundraising andsocial events, encouraging participation insports and communicating volunteeringopportunities across college to enhance thestudent experience for everyone!All smiles: Catering staff and students at Darlington College who achieved the national accolade