Newbury College welcomed Paralympian Jack Rutter to their Monks Lane Campus on Tuesday 10 May where he gave an inspirational talk to students on his career and how overcoming adversity can help towards achieving your goals, followed by an interesting Q&A session.
After eight years playing for Birmingham City Football Club Academy Jack was forced to retire from professional football when a criminal assault left him with serious brain injuries. Following years of extensive rehabilitation Jack has made a remarkable recovery, which has seen him captain the England Cerebral Palsy football team, secure a place in the Rio Paralympics and become an ambassador for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.
Sports Maker and Enrichment Officer at Newbury College, Aimee Kaur, said We are delighted to have such an inspirational speaker attend the College and our students have thoroughly benefited from hearing Jack's story. He has taught them that with determination and commitment we are all able to achieve our goals.
Speaking of his visit Jack said, I'm honoured to be asked to come and talk to the students at Newbury College and hope that my story can show them that even through adversity you can still achieve your dreams.
Newbury College offers a range of sporting and enrichment for students which often includes guest speakers, these activities are held in order to enhance the learning experience.
Newbury College is hosting its annual family fun Open Day at its Monks Lane Campus on Saturday 14 May, between 10am and 1pm. The event showcases the wide variety of courses the College has to offer and includes the launch of its new part-time guide for courses starting in September. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak to subject specialists, take part in interactive activities and watch visual displays.
Alongside the event, and as part of their Skills Project, the Animal Care students are running a charity dog show. Dogs and their owners are invited to enter the competition, all proceeds raised at the dog show will go to the National Dogs Trust.
Other activities on the day include a climbing wall, mountain bike pump track, interactive portrait sketching workshop and an international café serving delicacies from Italy, Spain and France.
Principal Dr Anne Murdoch, OBE said, We are delighted to welcome the local community to the College, providing them with ideal opportunity to visit our facilities and understand the many programmes we have on offer. With such a variety of activities on offer there's something for all ages to enjoy on the day.
For visitors currently in year 11 the open event is a great opportunity to discover the options available when they finish school this summer. Adult learners, whether looking to further their career or take up a new hobby, can come and find out more about the courses on offer for the next academic year.
We recently commissioned a study to demonstrate our economic impact on the local area and help us quantify the financial benefits to our main stakeholder groups (learners, society, taxpayers and local businesses). The key findings of this report include:
The economic impact of Newbury College to the local business community in Berkshire is £63.4 million each year.
Every £1 that learners pay for their education at Newbury College yields £4.50 in higher future wages ' an 18.1% annual rate of return on investment.
Society receives £5.60 in return for every £1 invested in Newbury College.
Taxpayers receive £5.70 in benefits for every £1 in costs ' a 22.8% annual rate of return.
Commenting on the report, Principal, Dr Anne Murdoch OBE, said: As the primary further education college in West Berkshire, we felt it important for everyone in the area to understand the role we play in the local economy and see the positive benefits we create both as an education provider and employer.
For our learners, it's reassuring to see that future earnings are higher as a result of the education they receive here. And when they leave to join the local workforce, the report shows that our leaners add a further £57.5 million in income to Berkshire's economy each year.
The report, published in March, was carried out by Economic Modelling Specialists International (EMSI), using a model that applies investment and regional economic investment analysis.
Making important decisions about the future can be a daunting task for many of the young people who are currently preparing to sit their GCSE exams and with such a wide choice of A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and training opportunities now available to 16 year olds, who under recent government legislation are required to remain in some form of education until they are 18, parents and guardians often play a critical role in supporting the decisions young people make regarding their studies.
Newbury College recognises the important role that parents and guardians play as young people make the transition from school to college and regularly asks parents and guardians for their feedback on the provision provided to their children.
A survey conducted following the recent Progress Evening in March highlighted that parents and guardians thought highly of the education and skills that Newbury College provided to young people, with 98% agreeing that the teaching is of a high standard and 100% agreeing that their son/daughter is gaining new skills to help them in the future.
One parent commented I am pleased that my child is enjoying college, that her confidence and learning is growing and that she is happy. Another praised the support Newbury College provides by saying This is the first year [my son's] course has run and the college have been more than supportive in trying to keep my son's interest and encourage him to complete it. They have given lots of praise where needed and have offered more than I could ever have expected in terms of encouragement and care.
Newbury College also provides a range of academic and vocational programmes for 14 and 15 year olds, as well as professional qualifications, business training and higher education courses for adults. An Open Day is being held at the Monks Lane campus on Saturday 14 May from 10am to 1pm where members of the public are invited to come along and discover the wide range of opportunities available. Visitors will be able to talk to subject tutors and take part in a range of interactive activities to get a taste of what Newbury College has to offer.
Parents and guardians of young people looking to take the next step in their education are also encouraged to attend a special Information Evening on Wednesday 15 June which will be hosted by Principal Dr Anne Murdoch and feature talks from existing students on their own positive experiences at Newbury College.