Newbury College students took centre stage to present original storybooks and promotional pitches at an end of project book launch.
Students on the Foundation to Digital programme presented, with enthusiasm and confidence, to peers and staff from across the College on Thursday 02 July. The audience included marketing specialists and avid book readers, who offered valuable feedback and asked questions about each creative concept.
Each story reflected the interests, ideas and personality of its creator. The books explored a wide range of genres, characters and themes, giving every student the freedom to develop a concept that felt relevant and meaningful to them.
The presentations marked the culmination of an ambitious creative publishing project. Students were asked to develop an original storybook concept and present it as a professional proposition for potential publishers.
Their work included a creator brand, logo and visual identity, alongside character designs, story development and market positioning. Students also produced a 60 second animation teaser, selected music and sound effects, created promotional materials and prepared to defend their ideas during a live question and answer session.
Hirjitpal Virdee, Course Leader, said:
“The book launch gave the project a clear professional purpose. Students were not simply completing a classroom exercise. They were presenting an original idea, a creative brand and a promotional campaign to an informed audience.
“Over the year, they have become more independent, more confident and more willing to explain and defend their ideas. The professionalism, respect and enthusiasm shown during the presentations were exceptional.”
The foundation programme includes a qualification in Digital Promotion for Business. It prepares students to progress to T Level Business or Marketing programmes or the Creative Media, Production and Technology programme.
Students explore digital promotion techniques, social media and email campaigns, audience engagement and content creation. Practical activities help them understand how organisations attract customers, communicate online and measure the success of promotional campaigns.
This approach brings Newbury College’s Super 7 principles of teaching and learning to life.
Students could see the bigger picture by connecting individual lessons to a complete commercial project. They built and applied knowledge from across the year, developed the language needed to present creative and marketing ideas, and used questioning to explore and strengthen their decisions.
Giving students ownership of a project also supports exceptional engagement. When learning connects with a student’s interests and has a clear outcome, it feels purposeful. Presenting to a real audience adds challenge and encourages students to produce work they are proud to share.
All full-time study programmes at Newbury College are shaped by the principle of “Careers, not courses”. This means qualifications form part of a wider career development programme, rather than being treated as an outcome on their own.
Students combine technical knowledge with practical experience, employability skills and activities informed by professional practice. Their learning is linked to clear progression routes and the skills needed by employers and the local economy.
They finish the programme ready to progress to further levels study or take their first steps into the workplace, with greater confidence in their talents and the contribution they can make.
Young people considering their next step can experience this approach at Newbury College Taster Day on Wednesday 15 July 2026. The event offers a taste of college life and the opportunity to experience the difference between technical, career focused education and traditional sixth form routes.
Students do not need to have applied to Newbury College to attend. Register at newbury-college.ac.uk/taster.