Motor Vehicle students from Newbury College took part in a visit to the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA). The visit was organised for the trainee mechanics to gain an insight into how the department of transport oversees the vehicle MOT system, and instigates road side inspections for cars and heavy vehicles.
Students took part in a discussion and presentation on the involvement of VOSA in their various rolls as administrators of the MOT test, vehicle inspections, roadside inspections and accident investigations before being shown around a current MOT test on a 7.5 ton commercial vehicle.
Newbury College Motor Vehicle Lecturer, Alistair Napier said, "It was a great honour to be the first College to visit the VOSA centre. The students all thoroughly enjoyed the day, and it gave them an insight into the importance of what the department oversees".
The students were all extremely positive after their visit to VOSA after learning more about an area of motor trade that they were yet to cover.
Newbury College was delighted to welcome Olympian and Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Julie Bradbury, to deliver a badminton coaching session recently which was attended by students and members of the local community.
Julie Bradbury is a sporting icon in Badminton having won Gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada and representing Great Britain at both the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Along with those sporting achievements she is only the second person to hold all five titles in all three disciplines of badminton (mixed, single, doubles) at the English Nationals.
Julie Bradbury spent the session giving coaching tips to those who attended and said, "It was great to present the badminton masterclass at Newbury College and hopefully inspire a few members of staff to encourage badminton to be played by students at the College".
The event was organised by Joe Pegg, Sports Maker at Newbury College who said, "To have a visit from Julie Bradbury is fantastic. Her combined experience of playing and coaching is outstanding and I am sure all aspiring Badminton players will have learnt a great deal from Julie during the Masterclass."
Graduate Engineering students from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (Rutherford Appleton Laboratories) were presented with certificates by Principal Dr Anne Murdoch after successfully completing the first part of a graduate skills training programme at Newbury College.
As part of the graduate skills training programme the students undertake a specialised four week welding course which familiarises them with the practical skills needed to carry out Manual Metal Arc welding, Gas welding and MIG welding as well as learning the types of welding deflects that may occur.
Business Executive, Martin Russell, who organised the programme, said, "Newbury College have a long standing relationship with the Science and Technology Facilities Council at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories and this is the third graduate skills training programme the College has undertaken on behalf of STFC".
The graduate programme offers further development of their skills when the graduates will take part in a 20 week machining programme, which will enable them to improve their skills in various types of machining and fitting such as lathes, milling and bench fitting. These skills courses can be adapted to suit any organisation.
Children at Mary Hare Primary School were treated to an Easter egg hunt and craft day arranged by students from Newbury College.
The event was organised by students studying Health and Social Care Level 3 who had been set an assignment to carry out a voluntary project in the community, which will be marked towards their final grade.
The primary school children created Easter baskets in which to put any eggs they had discovered on the hunt. The eggs were donated by local supermarkets and other materials for making the baskets were provided by the Thatcham Garden Centre.
Newbury College Health and Social Care student Elisha Lees-Smith, aged 24, said "It went absolutely brilliantly and everything went according to plan. This project is all about giving back to the community and we are really happy with all of the help, support, goodwill that the supermarkets have shown us".
The children thanked all of the College students for arranging the events by giving them Easter eggs of their own.