Students and staff at Newbury College were flying the rainbow flag for a special week of activities and events that celebrate the rich diversity of the college community.
The activities formed part of this year's student-led Skills Project by Academy (pre-GCSE) students who actively encourage all members of the college community to come together to promote awareness of LGBT+ issues, help celebrate diversity and raise over £100 for Stonewall, a charity that campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across Britain.
Students produced engaging displays on LGBT+ awareness and advice on tackling homophobic bullying and behaviour, as well as a rainbow cake sale and photobooth where students and staff could pose with props and upload their photos to Instagram with #newburypride.
A mixed-ability 5-a-side football tournament was also held with teams of students and staff, both to help raise funds for the charity and encourage participants to sign a pledge to support LGBT+ in sport.
Academy Tutor, Jess Durham, said: The students themselves came up with the idea of putting on a Pride week. It is something very relevant and personal to a lot of our students and this was an excellent opportunity for them to celebrate their diversity.
Academy students at Newbury College can study vocational or academic pre-GCSE and GCSE programmes. Students can start their career at Newbury College in year 10 and progress through to higher education.
Newbury College Sport students headed down to the south coast on Friday 16 June 2017 for the annual West Wittering U19 College Mixed Beach Rugby Tournament.
Course Leader, James Ross, said: "The college team performed well, winning their opening match and finishing 4th in their pool. Special mention should be made to the outstanding effort of the players in a sport some of them had never played before."
For a few weeks every Friday, students on our Level 2 Carpentry course are attending kitchen fitting sessions at Howdens Joinery in Newbury. As part of their work experience and under supervision, Howdens has allowed them to revise several kitchen displays at its depot.
Ian Dodd, Depot Manager at Howdens said: We are keen to help Newbury College students qualify as carpenters and by offering work experience, we help them to put their carpentry skills into practise. Working in partnership this way allows the industry to develop new talent.
The students really appreciate the opportunity to apply their skills in a real life situation, adds course leader Mark McDonald. It gives them an insight and an appreciation of the quality of a Howdens' kitchen and it also gives them the knowledge and confidence to fit a kitchen in the future. We are very grateful to Howdens for their support.
Newbury College is always on the lookout for local businesses/organisations to help place our students on work experience. If you'd be happy to work with us, please call 01635 845000 and ask to speak to a member of the Learner Services Team.
Click here for more information on our carpentry courses.
Our Health and Social Care students visited Bucks New University recently to find out what it's like working as an Operating Department Practitioner in a hospital operating theatre and recovery room.
The role of Operation Department Practitioner was registered with the Health and Care Professions Council in 2004 when doctors and anaesthetists recognised the benefits of having a practitioner who would participate in the assessment of patients prior to surgery, and provide individualised care throughout the operation and recovery process.
In a training simulation suite designed for students studying at degree level, the students dressed up in scrubs and carried out CPR. They also listened to a presentation covering the history of the profession.
The experience enabled the students to consider an alternative progression route to traditional routes such as nursing or midwifery roles, explained course leader Karen Dodd. Links like the one with Bucks New University help us add value to the Health and Social Care courses we run here at Newbury College and we are grateful to the university for letting us visit for the day.
Newbury College is recruiting students for its Level 2 and 3 Health and Social Care courses in September 2017. Click here for details. For more photos, see the album on Facebook.
Click here for information about the Operating Department Practitioner course at Bucks New University.