12.01.2023 Views

The Edge - January 2020

  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Celebrating our success with the community<br />

Issue #3<br />

<strong>January</strong>/February <strong>2020</strong><br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College Newspaper<br />

@wvrcollege<br />

wvr.ac.uk<br />

It’s official, we are a GOOD college!<br />

Students and staff at Warrington<br />

& Vale Royal College have<br />

cause for celebration as their<br />

recent Ofsted report officially<br />

commended the organisation as<br />

an overall ‘Good’ college.<br />

Nichola Newton, Principal & Chief<br />

Executive of Warrington & Vale<br />

Royal College said:<br />

“I am very proud to be principal<br />

of this wonderful college and<br />

I am so pleased that Ofsted<br />

have recognised just how well<br />

we are serving the communities<br />

with whom we work. This is a<br />

huge achievement for our staff<br />

and students who have worked<br />

together at pace and with great<br />

focus and energy to succeed<br />

since the merger of Warrington<br />

Collegiate and Mid Cheshire<br />

College in Northwich and Winsford<br />

in 2017. To have achieved this<br />

excellent result and be described<br />

as ‘highly inclusive’ re-affirms<br />

my belief that we have become<br />

a college that the people of<br />

Warrington and Vale Royal can<br />

trust and justifiably be proud of.<br />

Quite simply, we believe in our<br />

students and we do the very best<br />

for them, inspiring them to achieve<br />

and this report is testimony to that.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> report observed that the<br />

college meets local and regional<br />

needs very well, providing a wide<br />

range of courses that ensures<br />

students and apprentices of all<br />

ages are well prepared for further<br />

study, employment or promotion at<br />

work. Areas of the inspection rated<br />

‘Good’, include leadership and<br />

management, quality of education,<br />

behaviour and attitudes and<br />

personal development.<br />

<strong>The</strong> inspectors praised the<br />

college’s very caring and highly<br />

inclusive learning environment,<br />

applauded the excellent<br />

relationships between students<br />

and their tutors and assessors,<br />

and highlighted how the college<br />

develops young people and adult<br />

students as individuals.<br />

<strong>The</strong> college’s industry-standard<br />

equipment was also identified in<br />

the report, enabling tutors to teach<br />

modern methods and techniques<br />

far beyond the requirements of the<br />

qualification.<br />

This commitment to excellence<br />

was also demonstrated through the<br />

college’s personal development<br />

programme, with inspectors<br />

applauding the wide range of<br />

activities, work experience and<br />

internships which complements<br />

student programmes of study and<br />

develops students as individuals.<br />

<strong>The</strong> report also commends<br />

the excellent conduct, respect<br />

and professional standards<br />

demonstrated by students and<br />

apprentices in classrooms and<br />

throughout the college.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se high standards are rooted<br />

within the college’s highly effective<br />

senior leadership team and<br />

governing body who work tirelessly<br />

to ensure that students have<br />

access to an ambitious curriculum<br />

within a safe and nurturing<br />

environment.<br />

To find out more about Warrington<br />

& Vale Royal College and the wide<br />

range of courses on offer, visit the<br />

college’s website wvr.ac.uk or<br />

attend our college Open Evening<br />

on Wednesday 25th March <strong>2020</strong>,<br />

5.30PM - 8.00PM at our Warrington<br />

and Winsford campuses.<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


2<br />

r e s t a u r a n t<br />

lunch<br />

Wednesday & Friday<br />

12.00 PM - 1.15 PM<br />

£7.95 for two courses or<br />

£9.95 for three courses<br />

DINNER<br />

Wednesday<br />

6.30 PM - 9.00 PM<br />

(last orders for food is 7.15 PM)<br />

£15.95 for three courses<br />

To make a reservation<br />

or for more information<br />

please contact:<br />

01925 494 378<br />

buckleys@wvr.ac.uk<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College,<br />

Winwick Road, Warrington WA2 8QA<br />

Powerful hate crime film produced<br />

by college media students set to<br />

educate young people in Cheshire<br />

r e s t a u r a n t<br />

themed nights<br />

Valentine's<br />

Dinner<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal<br />

College Creative & Digital<br />

Media students James Brett<br />

and Luca Matthews are the<br />

creative masterminds behind<br />

Cheshire police and Remedi’s<br />

new hate crime awareness film.<br />

Launched in conjunction with<br />

National Hate Crime Awareness<br />

Week, the inspirational film tells<br />

the story of people throughout<br />

Cheshire who have experienced<br />

hate crime and how it has<br />

impacted their lives.<br />

<strong>The</strong> film will be used to raise<br />

awareness of the effects of hate<br />

crime and stress the importance of<br />

reporting such crimes to the police.<br />

It will be shown at hate crime<br />

workshops facilitated by Halton<br />

Got Your Back, a service run by<br />

Remedi and commissioned by the<br />

police & crime commissioner for<br />

Cheshire, which supports victims<br />

of crime under the age of 18.<br />

Final year level 3 students<br />

James and Luca were chosen by<br />

Cheshire police to produce the<br />

video after they made enquiries for<br />

a documentary they were filming<br />

as part of their college course.<br />

Luca, the film’s executive producer<br />

and editor, said: “From the very<br />

beginning, James and I have<br />

felt extremely privileged to have<br />

been asked to work on such an<br />

important and poignant project.<br />

“We were initially attracted to<br />

the brief because we have both,<br />

unfortunately, been the victims<br />

of hate crime. Through this<br />

opportunity, we can now both<br />

stand up against hate and use our<br />

knowledge of it to educate those<br />

watching, which is something we<br />

believe has been effectively shown<br />

in the film.”<br />

Cheshire’s police and crime<br />

commissioner David Keane said:<br />

“We’ve seen incidences of hate<br />

crime increase on both a local and<br />

national scale over recent years.<br />

That’s why it’s important that we<br />

educate young people from an<br />

early age so they understand what<br />

a hate crime is and how they can<br />

seek support if they or someone<br />

they know is a victim to hate crime.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> film does an incredible job to<br />

depict the effects of hate crime on<br />

real people in our communities.<br />

It is harrowing to hear the pain<br />

and suffering they have had to<br />

go through because of someone<br />

else’s actions.<br />

“Even more poignantly, the film has<br />

been produced by students who<br />

have unfortunately been victims<br />

of hate crime themselves. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

understand what it feels like to be<br />

targeted simply for being who you<br />

are and they have been able to<br />

channel these experiences into a<br />

fantastic resource that will educate<br />

other young people about the<br />

seriousness of hate crime and will<br />

hopefully reduce hate crime in our<br />

communities.”<br />

Lisa Gill, Manager of Remedi in<br />

Cheshire, commented: “We have<br />

already engaged with 700 young<br />

people in Halton through the hate<br />

crime workshops but this film will<br />

make the workshops even more<br />

interactive and enable young<br />

people to really understand the<br />

effects of hate crime on local<br />

people in our communities.<br />

“James and Luca have worked<br />

incredibly hard over the last few<br />

months to capture as many stories<br />

and experiences as possible and<br />

as a result, have been able to put<br />

together a professional film which<br />

tells the real story of hate crime in<br />

our communities. I am incredibly<br />

proud of their work, commitment<br />

and dedication.”<br />

James, who was responsible<br />

for the film’s directing and<br />

cinematography, added: “It is an<br />

honour to have been chosen to<br />

undertake the job, particularly<br />

because this will be our first<br />

accomplished credit within our<br />

chosen creative field and has<br />

given us both the right knowledge<br />

and tools to step into the industry.<br />

“We have worked alongside a<br />

team of great people, who have<br />

supported and nurtured us through<br />

a process that we haven’t always<br />

been so familiar with, but with lots<br />

of hard work, determination and<br />

elbow grease, we have created a<br />

film we are extremely proud of.”<br />

You can watch the Cheshire hate<br />

crime video here:<br />

youtu.be/_Phu_7IHLIo<br />

Upon completing his course at<br />

college, James hopes to progress<br />

to the University of Westminster<br />

to study film, while Luca aspires<br />

to study scriptwriting at <strong>The</strong><br />

University of Central Lancashire.<br />

Four courses, £19.95 per person<br />

Wednesday 12 th February<br />

Book a table today:<br />

01925 494 378<br />

buckleys@wvr.ac.uk<br />

Pigs might fly!<br />

Congratulations to HND Fine<br />

Art student Amelia Prescott<br />

whose artwork was purchased by<br />

Blakemere Village in Northwich<br />

and will soon go on display at the<br />

popular local attraction.<br />

Students were tasked with<br />

producing artwork with a<br />

‘flying pigs’ theme, relating to<br />

Blakemere’s history as a pig farm.<br />

<strong>The</strong> owner of Blakemere, Ginny<br />

White, visited Winsford campus to<br />

congratulate Amelia personally and<br />

collect the artwork.<br />

Ginny said: “Amelia’s artwork fitted<br />

the brief perfectly. Her design is<br />

so original and will fit perfectly at<br />

Blakemere.”<br />

Well done Amelia!<br />

#trailblazers<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


3<br />

Students celebrate Black<br />

History Month with week<br />

of trips, talks and tastings<br />

Students give the college top<br />

marks in first term survey<br />

October marked Black<br />

History Month, the annual<br />

commemoration of the<br />

history, achievements and<br />

contributions of black people<br />

in the UK. To highlight this<br />

occasion, Warrington & Vale<br />

Royal College hosted a week<br />

of events celebrating African<br />

and Caribbean cultures and<br />

histories.<br />

<strong>The</strong> week commenced with a<br />

screening of Green Book, a<br />

multi Oscar winning film about a<br />

working-class Italian-American<br />

bouncer who becomes the driver<br />

of an African-American classical<br />

pianist on a tour of venues through<br />

the 1960s American South. <strong>The</strong><br />

film looks at life in 1950s America<br />

whilst the two characters travel<br />

using the <strong>The</strong> Negro Motorist<br />

Green Book, a travel guide for safe<br />

travel through America’s racial<br />

segregation.<br />

Students attended talks from<br />

the college’s Access to HE tutor<br />

Gerri Capper, and Warrington<br />

Islamic Association’s Mohammed<br />

Abdullah. Gerri shared her<br />

experiences as a black woman<br />

growing up in Liverpool, from<br />

her time at primary school to<br />

becoming one of the first black<br />

female lecturers at Liverpool<br />

Hope University. Mohammed,<br />

a Somalian Pharmacologist,<br />

discussed his life in Somalia, the<br />

United Arab Emirates and his<br />

journey to the UK to study at one<br />

of the country’s most prestigious<br />

universities.<br />

Health & Social Care and Childcare<br />

students also enjoyed a trip to the<br />

International Slavery Museum in<br />

Liverpool. <strong>The</strong> students looked<br />

specifically at recognising black<br />

contributions to British society and<br />

fostered an understanding of black<br />

history in general.<br />

Throughout the week Buckley’s<br />

Restaurant opened their doors<br />

and invited students to sample<br />

food with a ‘black origin’, cooked<br />

and served by the college’s<br />

hospitality and culinary arts<br />

students. Dishes included corn<br />

bread, mac ‘n’ cheese, meat loaf,<br />

fried chicken with butter biscuits<br />

and collard greens.<br />

Reflecting on the week of<br />

activity, the college’s Director of<br />

Teaching, Learning & Professional<br />

Development Rachel Butt<br />

commented: “This year’s Black<br />

History Month activities have been<br />

really successful. Students from<br />

across campuses and curriculum<br />

areas came together in really<br />

diverse ways to engage in the<br />

celebrations. <strong>The</strong> food tastings<br />

prepared by our hospitality and<br />

culinary arts students were<br />

wonderful, as were the excellent<br />

talks from Gerri and Mohammed,<br />

not to mention the thoughtprovoking<br />

trip to the slavery<br />

museum. It is great to see so<br />

many students and staff taking<br />

part in celebrating the important<br />

contributions people of African<br />

and Caribbean descent have<br />

made to our country over many<br />

generations.”<br />

Last term the college’s quality department issued their annual<br />

First Term Survey to over 2000 students. We are delighted to share<br />

the results of the survey, which demonstrates the lengths our<br />

wonderful staff go to, to ensure students get the most out of their<br />

college experience.<br />

Here are some of our first term highlights:<br />

97<br />

98<br />

of students agree they<br />

%<br />

receive good support<br />

from their tutor<br />

of students agree<br />

%<br />

teachers have high<br />

expectations and encourage them<br />

to behave well and work hard<br />

97<br />

of students agree their<br />

%<br />

teachers treat them<br />

fairly and with respect<br />

of students said they<br />

97 %<br />

feel safe at college<br />

2196 students completed the survey.<br />

Wednesday 25 th March<br />

5.30PM - 8.00PM<br />

Visit our Warrington<br />

or Winsford Campuses<br />

You don’t have to go far to get far...<br />

Success starts here!<br />

Open Evenings are a great way to explore our campuses<br />

and see why Ofsted rated us as a GOOD college!<br />

You will get to chat to current students and industry<br />

specialists, tour our top-quality facilities and discuss the<br />

best course for your chosen career.<br />

Register now:<br />

wvr.ac.uk/openevening<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


4<br />

Students celebrate achievements at glittering<br />

Higher Education Awards Ceremony<br />

<strong>The</strong> successes and<br />

achievements of Warrington<br />

& Vale Royal College’s higher<br />

education students has been<br />

celebrated at the college’s Higher<br />

Education Awards Ceremony,<br />

set within the magnificent St<br />

Elphin’s Church in Warrington.<br />

Friends, family, staff and fellow<br />

students gathered at the church<br />

to honour the determination and<br />

commitment of students who<br />

have completed HNCs, HNDs<br />

and teacher training, as well as<br />

higher level apprenticeships and<br />

professional qualifications.<br />

As well as academic certificates,<br />

several students also received<br />

special awards for outstanding<br />

achievement in their subject area.<br />

Diploma in Education and Training<br />

student Jade Wilkinson, won<br />

the Continuous Professional<br />

Development Award, sponsored by<br />

Warrington’s Own Buses.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Hilary Tucker Creative Arts<br />

Award went to Shannen Stocks,<br />

who successfully completed her<br />

Performing Arts HNC.<br />

HNC Healthcare Practice<br />

students were awarded the Harry<br />

Cunningham Higher Education<br />

Progression Award. <strong>The</strong> group’s<br />

nomination was read by tutor Amy<br />

Capper, who delivered a heartwarming<br />

speech applauding her<br />

students’ pastoral care towards<br />

one another.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Higher Education Group of<br />

the Year Award was sponsored by<br />

Shanley’s and presented to the<br />

college’s HNC Art Practice group.<br />

<strong>The</strong> event also witnessed<br />

Honorary Alderman John Joyce<br />

become a Fellow of the college.<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College’s<br />

Principal & Chief Executive Nichola<br />

Newton praised John’s dedication<br />

to the college, and applauded his<br />

500 hours of voluntary service<br />

since becoming a member of the<br />

college board in 2006 and leaving<br />

in 2019.<br />

Nichola said: “John has<br />

supported the college through<br />

many challenges and successes<br />

including financial challenges,<br />

Ofsted inspections, the new<br />

college build, the demolition of the<br />

old tower block and more recently<br />

the merger with Mid Cheshire<br />

College. His wealth of experience<br />

both financial and from his<br />

experiences as a governor at other<br />

educational institutions and as a<br />

councillor have been invaluable.”<br />

Gary Skentelbery, editor and owner<br />

of online newspaper Warrington<br />

Worldwide, was also named a<br />

Fellow of the college. Nichola<br />

reflected on Gary’s unwavering<br />

support and guidance towards the<br />

college over the past 25 years,<br />

declaring him to be a “true friend<br />

and champion of the college”.<br />

<strong>The</strong> evening was concluded with a<br />

Student Vote of Thanks, delivered<br />

by special award winner Jade<br />

Wilkinson.<br />

Jade said: “I would like to thank<br />

our honoured guests for taking the<br />

time out of their busy schedules<br />

to celebrate with us this evening,<br />

in particular Honorary Alderman<br />

John Joyce and Gary Skentelbery<br />

for receiving their Fellowships of<br />

the college with such good humour<br />

and enthusiasm.<br />

“I would like to thank all of<br />

our tutors for their hard work,<br />

determination and endless<br />

patience in guiding and supporting<br />

us on our course, as well as a vote<br />

of thanks to the college marketing<br />

team for their organisation and<br />

smooth running of the event.<br />

“Most importantly of all though,<br />

I would like to thank the family<br />

and friends of each of our<br />

graduands, for their unconditional<br />

help and support along the way,<br />

and especially the students of<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College -<br />

I would like to wish you lots of luck<br />

and best wishes for the future.”<br />

Congratulations to all of the<br />

college’s higher education<br />

graduates!<br />

Pictured: Honorary Alderman John Joyce<br />

(top) and Gary Skentelbery (above) with<br />

Principal, Nichola Newton.<br />

Pictured: HNC Healthcare Practice students and tutors<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


5<br />

Higher Education at Warrington & Vale Royal College <strong>2020</strong>/21<br />

Learn locally and save on your living costs. We are on your doorstep!<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College offers a range of higher education and professional<br />

courses from construction, engineering, accounting, human resources, management,<br />

public services, sport, teaching and many more.<br />

Why study at Warrington & Vale Royal College?<br />

• Affordable course prices. Our full-time fees are<br />

£5,995 per year – significantly lower than university fees!<br />

• Less debt without compromising on quality<br />

• Small class sizes<br />

• One-to-one support and guidance<br />

• Excellent links with employers<br />

• Fantastic facilities on campus.<br />

Open Evening<br />

25 th March <strong>2020</strong>,<br />

5.30PM - 8.00PM<br />

Apply now for September <strong>2020</strong> higher education and professional courses!<br />

Visit wvr.ac.uk/higher-education or call 01925 494 402 to request a prospectus.<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


6<br />

Judge us by the companies we keep...<br />

Employer engagement at Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

Trips, visits and guest<br />

speakers are just some of<br />

the many activities that build<br />

up Warrington & Vale Royal<br />

College student’s study<br />

programmes. Our fantastic<br />

links with employers across<br />

the region means that 100%<br />

of our students have access<br />

to amazing work-related<br />

opportunities.<br />

students are learning with the most<br />

up-to-date resources.<br />

L+S Training visited health &<br />

social care and childcare students<br />

to deliver first aid training,<br />

teaching them vital skills they<br />

will require as they progress<br />

throughout their careers.<br />

Every month we host ‘Meet the<br />

Employer’ activities giving our<br />

students the opportunity to network<br />

with subject-specific employers<br />

and education providers. Last<br />

month we invited Active Cheshire<br />

into the college to visit our Level<br />

2 & 3 Sport students, where they<br />

discussed opportunities for careers<br />

within the industry.<br />

with managers and mentors before<br />

receiving certificates to mark the<br />

occasion. Well done Daniel, Ellis,<br />

George, Harrison and Liam!<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

regularly welcomes university<br />

representatives to its campuses<br />

to talk to students about their next<br />

steps. Laura from Manchester<br />

Metropolitan University and<br />

Andrew from Liverpool John<br />

Moores University shared their<br />

knowledge on the application<br />

process, personal statements and<br />

the hundreds of study options<br />

available at their universities.<br />

Brickwork and multi-skills students<br />

enjoyed a talk and tool<br />

demonstration by Tim Jewitt from<br />

the family-run business Footprint<br />

Tools, a British Hand Tool<br />

manufacturer with a heritage of<br />

manufacturing in the UK dating<br />

back to the 1760s.<br />

Brickwork also recently received<br />

an extremely generous donation of<br />

approximately 10,000 bricks from<br />

Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC.<br />

Brickwork were not the only<br />

department to receive a generous<br />

donation last term. Our electrical<br />

department also received new<br />

sockets and switches from<br />

Electrium Sales, ensuring our<br />

Alzheimer’s Society have<br />

helped a number of our Health &<br />

Social Care students to become<br />

‘Dementia Friends’. A Dementia<br />

Friend is somebody that learns<br />

about dementia so they can<br />

help their community by raising<br />

awareness and understanding.<br />

State of Mind Sport came to our<br />

Warrington campus to speak to our<br />

sport, joinery and motor vehicle<br />

courses to discuss the power of<br />

sport to promote positive mental<br />

health. Phil and Ian delivered a<br />

truly motivating talk about their<br />

experiences as professional rugby<br />

league players.<br />

Our campuses have recently<br />

received some very special visitors<br />

from <strong>The</strong>rapy Dogs Nationwide.<br />

Eddie, Freya and Lottie provided<br />

our students with affection and<br />

support. <strong>The</strong>se very special dogs<br />

are frequent visitors to hospitals,<br />

retirement homes, nursing homes,<br />

schools and hospices, providing<br />

comfort, distraction and stimulation<br />

to those that need it most.<br />

Earlier this academic year<br />

a number of the college’s<br />

electrical apprentices celebrated<br />

completing the first year of<br />

their apprenticeship with Tata<br />

Chemicals. <strong>The</strong> apprentices<br />

gathered at a celebratory event<br />

Level 2 & 3 Media Make-up<br />

students applied make-up on the<br />

performers at Warrington<br />

Contemporary Arts Festival’s ‘Light<br />

Night’! Held in Palmyra Square,<br />

the event introduced local families<br />

to a collection of world-class art<br />

and performance displays, from<br />

giant, light-up musical instruments<br />

to theatrical street performers. <strong>The</strong><br />

production company were really<br />

impressed by our students.<br />

Apprentice Emily Bretnall is named Business<br />

Services Apprentice of the Year finalist for UK<br />

Nuclear Skills Awards<br />

Former Level 5 Human<br />

Resources apprentice Emily<br />

Bretnall has been shortlisted as<br />

a finalist for NSAN’s (National<br />

Skills Academy for Nuclear)<br />

UK Nuclear Skills Awards<br />

<strong>2020</strong> in the Business Services<br />

Apprentice category.<br />

Pictured: Apprentice Emily Bretnall with<br />

tutor, Tracy Callaghan<br />

<strong>The</strong> awards ceremony, which takes<br />

place in Manchester on Thursday<br />

12th March <strong>2020</strong>, will celebrate<br />

the successes and achievements<br />

of the nuclear industry’s future<br />

and current superstars who have<br />

been nominated for awards in<br />

Apprentice, Graduate, STEM,<br />

Subject Matter Expert and Equality,<br />

Inclusion and Diversity disciplines.<br />

Emily is currently employed<br />

as a HR Advisor for Nuvia, an<br />

international nuclear engineering,<br />

project management and service<br />

provider based in Warrington. She<br />

began her level 5 apprenticeship at<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

in December 2017 and completed<br />

in July 2019 with a CIPD Level 5<br />

qualification.<br />

At our annual HE Awards<br />

Ceromony, Emily received the<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

CIPD Student of the Year Award<br />

which she was nominated for by<br />

her tutor Tracy Callaghan.<br />

Emily said: “I thoroughly enjoyed<br />

my apprenticeship and am very<br />

grateful for the excellent support<br />

from my mentor Jill Murphy and<br />

tutor Tracy Callaghan.<br />

“To come from a non-nuclear<br />

background and to be a finalist at<br />

the Nuclear Skills Awards gives me<br />

a great sense of achievement. In<br />

early December I had to undertake<br />

an interview and deliver a<br />

presentation to a panel of judges.<br />

I’m very proud of how far I’ve come.”<br />

We wish Emily the best of luck and<br />

will be keeping our fingers crossed<br />

for the good news in March!<br />

Amazing Alumni!<br />

We love welcoming former<br />

students back to Warrington &<br />

Vale Royal College to speak to<br />

our current students and inspire<br />

them in making their next steps.<br />

Since leaving the college, Dylan<br />

Smith has joined the British Army<br />

as a Communications System<br />

Operator after successfully<br />

completing our Level 3 Public<br />

Services course.<br />

Dylan said: “<strong>The</strong> course gave me<br />

an insight into what to expect from<br />

a career in the armed forces. I<br />

loved learning from the tutors who<br />

have so much experience within<br />

the public services industry.”<br />

Thank you for visiting, Dylan!<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


7<br />

<strong>The</strong> most wonderful time of the year<br />

A merry and bright Christmas<br />

was had by all at Warrington &<br />

Vale Royal College, as students<br />

spread festive cheer throughout<br />

our campuses.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Academy helped their clients<br />

to prepare for the Christmas party<br />

season with treatments ranging<br />

from glamorous haircuts to glowing<br />

facials. Beauty therapy students<br />

setup shop in Debenhams in<br />

Warrington’s Golden Square<br />

Shopping Centre, providing glitzy<br />

nail painting services to customers.<br />

Even <strong>The</strong> Academy’s Christmas<br />

tree received a makeover,<br />

showcasing false eyelashes and<br />

makeup brushes!<br />

Buckley’s restaurant served<br />

hundreds of Christmas dinners<br />

to guests from Warrington and<br />

beyond. <strong>The</strong> award-winning<br />

restaurant’s Christmas availability<br />

sold out within days! <strong>The</strong>ir festive<br />

menu featured salmon gravlax<br />

and lamb rump, and traditional<br />

favourites including turkey and<br />

Christmas pudding.<br />

Festive Fundraising<br />

It’s behind you!<br />

Electrical installation tasked<br />

college open evening guests with<br />

an electric switch challenge to light<br />

up their Christmas tree.<br />

Science, motor vehicle and<br />

carpentry & joinery students also<br />

built themed Christmas trees. Take<br />

a look at their tree-mendous<br />

Carpen-tree, Chemis-tree and<br />

motor grotto!<br />

Christmas is a time of giving,<br />

and our staff and students<br />

spent their last few days of term<br />

fundraising for those that need<br />

it most.<br />

Foundation Maths students set<br />

up their own Christmas stall full of<br />

handmade gifts and trinkets to sell.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y raised a whopping £217.00<br />

for RSPCA Warrington Halton &<br />

St Helens Branch.<br />

Staff at Warrington & Vale Royal<br />

College donated a large selection<br />

of toys to <strong>The</strong> Toy Appeal, a<br />

Knutsford-based charity providing<br />

Christmas toys to children living<br />

in poverty across the North West<br />

of England. <strong>The</strong> children who<br />

received a toy will have been<br />

referred to <strong>The</strong> Toy Appeal by<br />

health and wellbeing partners<br />

across the boroughs. We hope that<br />

our donations brought a smile to<br />

their faces on Christmas morning.<br />

This year’s annual college<br />

Christmas pantomime witnessed<br />

Performing Arts students deliver<br />

a dazzling performance of Paul<br />

Barron & Sarah Dyson’s Once<br />

Upon a Time.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fun packed show was<br />

performed at the college’s<br />

Warrington campus for three<br />

dates during December and<br />

was a production full of laughter,<br />

comedy, spectacle and traditional<br />

pantomime nonsense with a little<br />

something for everyone.<br />

Audiences followed the love story<br />

of Cinderella’s daughter and Snow<br />

White’s son as they battled against<br />

the wickedest of witches, Evelyn,<br />

played by Harry Peacey.<br />

Local schools including<br />

Meadowside Primary School,<br />

Beamont Community Primary<br />

School and Nugent House School<br />

enjoyed matinee performances in<br />

the college’s 160-seat theatre.<br />

Performing Arts tutor Sindy<br />

Richardson said: “I’m so proud of<br />

our talented students for delivering<br />

a consistently stellar performance.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y had great fun performing<br />

for local schools - the children’s<br />

laughter and enjoyment was<br />

infectious!”<br />

Subject Leader Audra Thomas,<br />

said: “All of my classes have<br />

been involved in this year’s ‘Pay<br />

it Forward’ project. <strong>The</strong>y visited<br />

the RSPCA Centre Warrington,<br />

Halton & St Helens Branch and<br />

recognised the importance of<br />

helping to support the neglected<br />

and poorly treated animals. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

have planned more events such as<br />

a prize bingo, Easter tombola and<br />

a bake sale. <strong>The</strong> project allows<br />

the students to put their numeracy<br />

skills to practice both in an out of<br />

the classroom environment.”<br />

Childcare students hosted ‘Get<br />

Your Sparkle On’ to raise money<br />

for the NSPCC. <strong>The</strong> fundraising<br />

event included a cake sale, raffle,<br />

nail painting and lots<br />

of Christmas competitions.<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk


8<br />

Have you seen Warrington & Vale Royal College’s<br />

eye-catching new bus wrap?<br />

Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

unveiled a striking new wrap<br />

for its dedicated college bus,<br />

designed by Graphic Design<br />

students Téa Hewitt and Imogen<br />

Sandbach, with the help of their<br />

fellow classmates.<br />

<strong>The</strong> eye-catching bus transports<br />

students from Winsford and<br />

Northwich to the college’s<br />

Warrington campus.<br />

<strong>The</strong> design is high impact,<br />

featuring illustrations of Warrington<br />

and Northwich landmarks, set<br />

amongst blue skies and lush<br />

green landscapes.<br />

Imogen, who has since progressed<br />

to Loughborough University to<br />

study Graphic Communications<br />

with Illustration, couldn’t contain<br />

her excitement upon first seeing<br />

the college bus, exclaiming: “It’s<br />

fantastic to see our design come<br />

to life. Knowing that hundreds of<br />

people will see our artwork every<br />

day as they’re driving through<br />

Cheshire is surreal.”<br />

Warrington’s Own Buses, partners<br />

of Warrington & Vale Royal College,<br />

were happy to co-ordinate the<br />

bus wrap as part of their ongoing<br />

contract, providing transport for the<br />

college’s 16-18 year old students<br />

on bus routes via Irlam, Leigh,<br />

Northwich and Winsford.<br />

Gareth Mead, Head of Commercial<br />

at Warrington’s Own Buses,<br />

commented: “We’ve five wrapped<br />

buses at our Warrington depot and<br />

are pleased to add this one to our<br />

fleet. It was a brilliant and unique<br />

opportunity for the college’s graphic<br />

design students, and we’re proud<br />

to highlight some of the wonderful<br />

landmarks we have in Cheshire.”<br />

Former St Nicholas Catholic High<br />

School student, Téa, cannot wait<br />

to add the special commission<br />

to her portfolio, claiming: “It was<br />

such a brilliant experience that will<br />

certainly help us to stand out to<br />

prospective employers.<br />

“We were given live briefs<br />

throughout our graphic design<br />

course at college which gave us<br />

a head start and prepared us for<br />

university. Our tutors were lovely<br />

and so supportive. We can’t thank<br />

them enough!”<br />

Téa is currently studying Graphic<br />

Design at the University of<br />

Huddersfield.<br />

To find out more about studying<br />

Graphic Design at Warrington &<br />

Vale Royal College, please visit<br />

wvr.ac.uk.<br />

To see more of Téa and Imogen’s<br />

artwork, take a look at their<br />

business Instagram accounts:<br />

@teahewitt @it.sdesign<br />

Pictured: Students Téa and Imogen with tutor Jayne Fox, Principal Nichola Newton,<br />

and Gareth Mead, Head of Commercial at Warrington’s Own Buses<br />

New Year, New Skills: Learn something new in <strong>2020</strong>!<br />

A new year can feel like a fresh<br />

start, the perfect opportunity to<br />

break a habit, make a change or<br />

learn something new.<br />

We offer a huge variety of parttime<br />

and full-time adult courses to<br />

help you tackle your learning goals<br />

no matter how big or small.<br />

From higher education and<br />

professional courses in<br />

accountancy, human resources<br />

and marketing, to leisure courses<br />

in photography, mindfulness and<br />

beauty therapy, we will have a<br />

course to match your ambitions.<br />

Kick-start your year – take a look<br />

at our new Adult Course Guide<br />

online now or call 01925 494 400<br />

to request a copy.<br />

NEW YEAR<br />

NEW COURSES !<br />

Whatever your ambitions are, Warrington & Vale Royal<br />

College has a wide range of part-time leisure and<br />

professional courses starting <strong>January</strong> and February.<br />

Call our enrolment hotline:<br />

01925 494 400<br />

Or enrol online at wvr.ac.uk/january<br />

01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College<br />

wvr.ac.uk

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!