There was something on offer to suit all tastes during the Community and Open Day at Leeds City College’s Horsforth Campus on Thursday 16th May.

For the more adventurous, the opportunity to explore the surface of mars, learn about the solar system and be an astronaut for a day were some of the key attractions courtesy of the College’s STAR Centre, Keighley Campus’ learning hub which specialises in teaching STEM subjects via the subject of space.

For those who preferred something more down to earth – a visit to the College’s Landbased training facilities offered the chance to tour the gardens and greenhouses, make a purchase from the campus plant shop and get up close with the many fluffy, feathery and scaly inhabitants at the animal care centre.

Other activities included free massage and manicures courtesy of the hair and beauty students – this proved very popular, face-painting, police dog handling demos, live music, food and a student performance by the cast of fame. All curriculum areas were on hand to provide course information and advice on applying.

The Community West team also hosted an art exhibition and range of activities from programmes running at the local community centres, from cake decorating to sewing.

Leeds City College Events Manager Steven Knowles said: “We had over 250 visitors and very good feedback across the board. There is no doubt that the event achieved its aims as our last open day of the academic year, helping potential students to make a decision on which courses they want to take, whether a full time programme, professional course or part-time, leisure course.

It also helped reinforce our good relations with the town’s population, with many local residents and families of all ages turning up to enjoy the event.”

If you used to work at Thomas Danby and have either left, returned or moved to another campus, you are warmly invited to join us and help celebrate the history of the building and its people.

Where: Farthings Restaurant
When: 26th June @ 5pm till 8pm
What’s included: Canapes, live bands, exhibition on Thomas Danby, drink on arrival and then bar open.
Cost: the event is complimentary, but donations on the night to Macmillan Cancer Support are welcome.

Booking arrangements (booking is essential): Contact Deana Diclemente:
e: deana.diclemente@leedscitycollege.ac.uk
t: 0113 2846321
If you still work at Thomas Danby Campus, look out for details of your farewell dinner on Tuesday 25th.

Leeds City College is helping the Corn Exchange mark its forthcoming 150th anniversary with a piece of specially commissioned theatre.

In the region of 40 students from the Faculty of Creative Arts are taking audiences on a theatrical trip through history this week to mark the occasion.

The College was approached to design a piece of musical theatre which would commemorate the building, from its origins right up to present day as well as putting its development in context with the city itself.

The piece, entitled Leeds Corn Exchange 150th Anniversary of Trade, explores everything from the building’s early days of trading to its architect Cuthbert Broderick.

Bringing together acting, song and dance, the performance going ahead in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday (May 22nd) and Thursday (May 23rd) from 6.30pm, encompasses a range of different genres from urban and contemporary dance to theatre and slapstick.

The building itself, which is now home to some of the region’s most talented independent traders, will provide the backdrop for the show, with the ground floor and balcony part of the set and some of the shops utilised to broadcast specially made films by media students.

First year students from the College’s BTEC National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Acting and Performance) will be entertaining audiences and also interacting with them prior to the show.

The building’s own resident ghost George, an Edwardian gentleman, will also be making an appearance, thanks to some special effects.

The College’s Production Arts students will be working behind the scenes on lighting, sound and costumes.

Leeds City College Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts Shara Meek said the College was delighted to be providing what will be the highlight of the Corn Exchange’s anniversary celebrations.

“Being involved in a piece of professional theatre which has been commissioned off-site is a great opportunity for our students as well as providing them with actual industry experience.”

Joining the students will be Magpie Three, a West Yorkshire based theatre company, whose founder members Daisy and Alice will be acting as the evening’s comperes, bringing their own form of comedic and poetic theatre to the proceedings.

Leeds Corn Exchange will also play host to a series of special celebrations and events which will take place over the official anniversary weekend of July 27th and 28th, and will give a nod to its past, present and future.

Tickets priced £5 are on sale from Leeds City College Park Lane Campus Box Office at boxoffice@leedscitycollege.ac.uk and from The Juju Shop, interiors and gifts shop, in the Leeds Corn Exchange (open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Thursdays 10am-7pm and Sundays 10.30am-4.30pm).

A HOST of activities to encourage adult learners to keep their minds and bodies active are on the agenda at Leeds City College.

The College will be highlighting its diverse range of learning opportunity offered at its centres around the community as part of this year’s Adult Learners’ Week.
The week, running from May 18th, celebrates the benefits of lifelong learning and encourages participation in learning as well as recognising the achievements of outstanding individuals and innovative projects through regional and national awards.

The College’s Deacon House Centre, in Seacroft, is marking the occasion with a special launch event on Friday, May 17th for local residents, showcasing the breadth of its provision. A number of activities have been planned – with staff, students, their families and friends busy knitting away for the last month to create 700 squares which have been sewn together into a banner, which is to be unveiled. There will also be a giant cake and a balloon release, an art exhibition, plus poetry reading from the creative writing group.

Activities at college centres located across the city continue throughout the week, with free taster sessions including face painting, making sugar flowers, and fun with maths and English at its Burton Road Centre, gardening, beauty care and watercolours at Meanwood Centre and getting started on the internet and emails at Wetherby Centre.

Local residents can call in for a cuppa at Brigshaw Centre, in Castleford, on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 24th between 10-2 while finding out more about forthcoming part time courses.

And to finish off the week, a special Celebration of Learning is going ahead at St Bartholomew’s Centre on Friday, May 24th between 12– 2pm, with various external organisations on-site hosting Information & Guidance activities including the University of Leeds , Crime Prevention Team and Armley Helping Hands.

Ann-Marie Spry, Vice Principal Adult, Community & HE, said: “Leeds City College is committed to providing people of all ages and abilities access to learning which can help transform lives, whether their motivation is to retrain to re-enter the workforce, learn a new skill or to take up a new hobby.”

“In conjunction with Adult Learners Week, we will be running activities and taster sessions to showcase the range of opportunities on offer to help adults keep their bodies and minds active.”

All events and taster sessions are open to the public but people are asked to contact the centres direct beforehand to book a place as numbers are limited. More details are available here.

Campus students and is taking the amateur film world by storm, gaining publicity alongside Cannes and Sundance.

Students on the level 2 Motor Vehicle course at Keighley Campus, who are organising the event for an Enterprise diploma, have been astounded by the response they have had from filmmakers all over the world, with around 80 films submitted in total.

The students invited filmmakers to submit films ten minutes long or under to be shown at the Festival at the Campus on Saturday May 25th and go before a public vote, with the winners screened at a prestigious gala event at Keighley Picture House the following evening, Sunday 26th.

Entries were received from all over the world, covering all genres from sci-fi to animation, documentary to pop video.

Tickets are £2 for the Festival on 25th and cost from £10 for the Gala event at Keighley Picture House.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to catch some of the finest short films from around the world – the event is guaranteed to amaze, entertain and inspire.

Find out more and buy your tickets here.

A UNIQUE work placement programme is providing students with the chance to combine studying for a recognised qualification with hands-on international experience.

Leeds City College has teamed up with European Work Placements (ewp) to offer the opportunity to gain a Travel and Tourism qualification and work at a French holiday resort – and get paid for doing so.

As part of ewpUK, students study in the classroom at Leeds City College from September-March. They then swap Leeds for a French campsite from April- September as they embark on a work placement with leading European holiday organisations Eurocamp or Keycamp.

The first cohort of eight students has recently completed a Level 2 Travel & Tourism qualification with the college and are now on work experience as couriers in various resorts in Southern Brittany and Vendée.

The students are working on reception, greeting customers when they arrive and showing them to their accommodation. They are responsible for providing advice and information about the campsite and surrounding area, as well as being on hand to help holidaymakers with any further questions they may have or helping with any problems.

There is also some administration work including ordering stock and maintaining the store tent as well as cleaning and preparing accommodation.

It is the first time ewp, a market leader in travel and tourism, has teamed up with a college in the UK to offer such an opportunity.

Leeds City College Curriculum Area Manager for Travel & Aviation Richard Keys said: “This programme is a brilliant opportunity for the students; to have this kind of opportunity at their age is rare and a fantastic experience for them.”

The next intake of students will be in September and anyone interested in finding out more should visit www.europeanworkplacements.com/ewpUK

Bring family and friends, there’s plenty of free parking and come and say hello to Ronnie The Rhino.

Leeds City College Horsforth Campus
Calverley Lane
LS18 4RQ
e: marketing@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

18 year old Jack Yule, student at the Lee Westwood Golf School in Essex, has won the Players Championship at the British Schools and Colleges National Finals.

The competition played at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent had a field of 100 students from across the UK, who had qualified from regional qualifying events. Jack’s round of 69 (-2) was able to secure him victory by one shot. Four golfers finished 2nd equal on a score of 70, which included fellow Lee Westwood Golf School student Ben Wall.

Simon Dainty coach at the school said ‘I was so happy to see that Jack’s hard work had paid off. Jack promised he would deliver in the final and is a man of his word. We are all so proud of his success.’

In September Jack will complete his 2 year full time programme at the Lee Westwood Golf School, based at Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, which includes completing a BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport delivered by Leeds City College.

Another great achievement from the competition was from LWGS Essex student Josh Robertson who scored a hole in one (188 yards with a 4 iron) on the 7th on the Himalayas course. Sadly it was a day too early for the hole in one competition with a cash prize of £7500.

A group of 31 Travel and Tourism students escaped the cold British spring for the sunnier climate of Majorca for a ten-day work placement visit.

The group of Level 3 Diploma in Travel & Tourism students, from Park Lane and Keighley campuses, visited the island in April to gain work experience at Rey Don Jaime Hotel in Santa Ponsa, owned by Rosu Hotels. They were supervised throughout by tutors Dan Baker, Steph Ravanis, Leah Hughes and Rachel Swales.

Their work at the hotel covered many areas of the business including cooking, serving in the restaurant and bar and entertainment.

They also enjoyed a day off from all their hard work, with a visit to local attraction Katmandu theme park in Magaluf (pictured)

There were only limited places for the visit across the College, which meant students had to meet a certain criteria before being chosen which included commitment to work, attendance and behaviour.

One of the students chosen, Courtney McDougall, had never been abroad before starting the course. Earlier this year she visited Amsterdam as part of her studies and the Majorca trip was her first time flying. She described the recent trip as “the most exciting experience of my life – it was brilliant.”

Courtney’s mum has added that the opportunities she’s had at college have been amazing, and she is glad Courtney chose to come to Leeds City College rather than stay at school.

LEEDS City College Principal Peter Roberts recently turned back the clock when he spent the day as a student.

Peter joined A level student Christelle Malu in lessons on Monday (April 29th) at the College’s Park Lane Campus as part of a role reversal experience.

His day included lectures in law, work skills and art – one subject he wasn’t particularly looking forward to though he did draw a still life portrait, with a little help from Christelle.

And though it had been a while since he’d been a student, Peter said he settled in quickly and his fellow students had been more than welcoming.

“It was an extremely valuable experience,” Peter said. “I learnt a great deal – especially regarding what students think works well and what doesn’t work quite so well. I will be taking these messages back to the senior team – the ultimate aim is to make the learning experience of our students as enjoyable and stimulating as we can.”

“For example, it was particularly refreshing to see the wide range of enjoyable exercises which can be incorporated into basic revision exercises, including a crossword and a game of bingo which really worked well.”

Peter added he appreciated how hard students worked, with many having part-time jobs as well as attending college, and said the overall commitment and dedication of the vast majority of students was to be commended.

Peter’s day as a student was the second part of the role reversal as Christelle, 19, had spent the day as Principal earlier in the month, accompanying Peter to a number of meetings with colleagues and key stakeholders.

Christelle confessed she had initially thought it might be a little boring but had quickly realised the diversity of the principal’s role and had really enjoyed it.

Peter added he would certainly like to repeat the experience, trying his hand at a vocational course next time, and said he would be suggesting others in the college’s senior management team do the same.