OUTSTANDING CHOICE OUTSTANDING SUCCESS OUTSTANDING PROGRESSION

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1 Success Outstanding at Bury College Issue 19 OUTSTANDING CHOICE OUTSTANDING SUCCESS OUTSTANDING PROGRESSION University Scholarship for A Level student Performing Arts students appear at the Lowry Bury College Dance Company, Accentu8, performed their choreographed piece Signatures to a crowd of over 450 people at the prestigious Lowry venue in Manchester. Accentu8 is a dance company made of Level 3 Performing Arts Dance and Musical Theatre students at Bury College. The group enables students to gain performance experience and puts shows together for different events. Melissa Titmass a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts student enjoyed performing at the Lowry. The former pupil of The Elton High School said, It was a great experience performing in front of lots of people at a prestigious venue. Being part of the Accentu8 group has improved my skills and helped me learn dances quickly. Following a competitive assessment process, Bury College student Alex Ahmed from Rochdale has been offered a place by Ernst & Young on a BSc(Hons) in Accounting, Auditing and Finance at Lancaster University. Alex was one of eight successful students out of 120 who attended a selection workshop in London to be chosen for the opportunity. This prestigious course receives over 1,000 applicants per year with only 40 gaining places. The four year sandwich degree will provide Alex with the skills he needs to become a professional accountant. Alex is currently studying A Level Economics, Business and English Language at Bury College. He said, The support at Bury College has been great, even outside of College hours. You just have to ask for help and the staff are willing to help at any time. FREE RETURN COACH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS See inside for details

2 Free Bury College Return Coach Services In response to overwhelming demand from students, Bury College is delighted to be able to offer FREE Return coach services. Free Return Coach Service routes include: Bolton North via Halliwell and Breightmet Bolton North via Turton Bolton South Rochdale/Rawtenstall Middleton/Heywood Rochdale North Manchester/Bury South Bury North For more information contact Susanna Flood on or visit: schoolleavers/freecoachservice.aspx What our students say Bury College has really helped me focus on my career goal and has made me more determined. There are many helpful members of staff and the tutors are great and always willing to help. It is a good learning environment. Gabriella Hayden, former pupil of Harper Green School studying A Level Biology, Maths and Chemistry. Gabriella is also a winner of the Commitment to Learning Award at the prestigious Bury College annual Celebration of Achievement awards. The Bury College Sports Academy The Bury College Sports Academy has been established to provide you with the best start in your education and sporting career. The Academy will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills as an elite sports person and offers benefits including: Links with local sporting organisations Access to state-of-the-art facilities including a sports massage centre, gym and PlayFootball all-weather pitches Personal fitness tests that relate to your sport Sessions with professional sports people Work placements Outdoor activities that include the opportunity to gain additional qualifications Personalised timetables and one-to-one mentoring There is also the opportunity to be considered for the Bury College Sports Scholarship. Amy Archibold received the Bury College Sports Scholarship in recognition of her success with Rochdale Junior Netball team. Amy is studying AS Psychology, Sociology, Physical Education and Biology at Bury College. The former pupil of Whitworth Community High School said: The Bury College Sports Scholarship has helped me with the cost of playing netball and training. My A Level PE course at Bury College is also developing skills that I use on the netball team. Work experience at Hallmark Reece Hacking and Jayne Kay, Interactive Media students, won the chance of a lifetime to work with card manufacturer Hallmark in their design studio. As part of their course Reece and Jayne created greeting card designs, gift wrap and a bag as part of a live commercial brief for the UK greetings card publisher. The students will now have the opportunity to gain additional employability skills through work experience with Hallmark. NEW for 2012 Jayne, a former pupil of Tottington High School said, Getting work experience at Hallmark will really help with future employment. I have enjoyed designing for a live client brief, which has given me experience of what it will be like to work in industry. Reece Hacking, a former pupil of St James's Church of England School and Sports College said, The project helped with my time management and gave me professional work to include in my portfolio. I have also developed new skills in the programmes we use at College to create new designs.

3 Apprenticeship success Apprenticeships offer many students progression routes at work. Emily Cooper has progressed from Café Assistant to Manager at Emersons Café in Bury since completing her Apprenticeship in Hospitality and Catering. Emily is currently on an Apprenticeship in Team Leadership and aims to complete a licensing course with Bury College providing her with responsibility for selling alcohol on the premises. Speaking about her experiences, Emily said, The Apprenticeship with Bury College has led to my promotion as Manager. The staff at Bury College never fail to help and I would like to thank Bury College and all my tutors for their help and support. Talented students work with The University of Manchester Emily has also been awarded the Bury College Apprenticeship Award as part of the College s annual Celebration of Achievement awards, which recognises the individual achievements of students during their time at Bury College. What our students say I love the friendly environment around College because it helps you feel comfortable in your surroundings. I'm really enjoying the variety of my course and my tutor is very helpful. Natalie Raye, former pupil of Whitworth Community High School, studying BTEC Extended Diploma in Art & Design (Interactive Media). Inspiring medical students Bury College encourages all students to prepare and consider their future careers, helping improve employability skills and equipping students for the jobs of the future. As part of this initiative, A Level and Vocational students benefited from an informative presentation by former Bury College student, Dr Assad Khan, who returned to the College to give advice about careers in Medicine. Dr Khan studied A Levels at Bury College and now works as a Junior Doctor at Bolton Hospital. 16 Bury College students have been selected for The University of Manchester s Access Programme (MAP). The prestigious programme aims to help talented students realise their ambitions to study at university. Selected from hundreds of applicants, the Bury College students will now gain an insight into university life and following successful completion will also gain an extra 40 UCAS points, increasing their course options. Ebony-Jayne Duffy is one of the students who will benefit from MAPs revision sessions, events, lectures and interactive activities to support their learning. The former pupil of Fearns Community Sports College is studying AS Psychology, Law, Business Studies, Economics and Music Technology. Ebony-Jayne said: I feel privileged to have been chosen for the programme. It s a good opportunity to help me progress to university. Students who attended the presentation gained a frank insight into the medical profession and learned how to improve their UCAS applications by obtaining relevant work experience and incorporating volunteer work into their College life. Sawaiz Mirza, former student of Abraham Moss High School, is studying AS Level Psychology, Computing, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at Bury College. Sawaiz would like to pursue a career as a GP. He said, The careers talk was really useful and informative. It has given me an understanding of what I need to do to enter a career in medicine. AS students Heather Campbell and Claire Edhouse, former pupils of Middleton Technology College (pictured above) were also selected for MAP. Heather added: The programme has helped me get a view about what university is like and I enjoyed meeting past and present students.

4 Project Management advice for Business students Business students at Bury College received professional advice from Project Manager Kevin Follis who works for Eric Wright Construction on the College s new TBC million Woodbury Centre development. Students on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business learnt effective planning and project management techniques they can apply to their course and also had a sneak preview of the new centre that they will be studying in from September. Jake Harris, a former pupil of Castlebrook High School, said: I enjoyed seeing the framework of the new development up close. It has helped me understand how a large project is planned, managed and developed. New Bury College Construction Centre Everyone is friendly and I get along with the tutors really well. I am learning how to put decorative panels within structural walls. Learn your trade in a real working environment! This exciting edition to the campus will include: Industry standard tools State-of-the-art equipment and machines New practical courses to develop your employability skills Courses available for September 2012 include: NEW for September 2012 Bricklaying Carpentry and Joinery Plastering Apprenticeship in Construction Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation Ashley Hilton PublicServices night hike Level 3 Public Services students developed their team work and communication skills with a four hour Night Hike up Holcombe Hill. Students used preparation, navigation, and leadership skills to complete the hike. Former pupil of Turton High School, Rachel Louise Graham said, I really enjoyed the hike. It was fun spending time with people from other groups and improving our team work skills. In the future Rachel would like to work as a Mounted Police Officer. What our students say At Bury College you are treated like an adult. I am really enjoying my courses, the subjects are interesting and I enjoy the debates we have in Sociology. Mentoring for Excellence student Alexandra Burnell is a former pupil of Matthew Moss High School, studying A Level English Language, Photography and Sociology.

5 Language students visit Dusseldorf Providing students with opportunities to broaden their experiences is at the heart of Bury College Language courses. A Level German language students travelled to Dusseldorf this year on a motivating trip that brought the language and culture of Germany alive for them. The trip, which lasted five days, included lots of exciting visits to a film museum, radio and TV studio, 1920s cinema, a Gestapo holding prison in Cologne and a German Grammar School. Students also sampled the delights of German cuisine by eating a traditional German meal in a brewery and visiting a chocolate museum in Cologne. Students that benefitted from the trip were: Sarah Connor and Jodie Malpas, former pupils of Tottington High School, Sophie Goodman, formerly of Manchester High School for Girls, Benjamin Donohoe, former Bury Church of England High School student and Sarah Fraser a former pupil of Middleton Technology College. Sophie Goodman enjoyed the trip, she said: My favourite part about the trip was going to the school. I met loads of lovely people who I have stayed in contact with. Going to Germany has been my best decision as my language has improved drastically and the sights were amazing. Photograph courtesy of Neil McQuade at Racer Ready Magazine Astronomy Club is Light Years Ahead! Students at Bury College have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of groups and clubs. 13 students are currently taking part in an exciting study of cosmology in the college s Astronomy Club. Students have been learning how to use astronomical coordinates, studying the physics of asteroids and learning how to use the remote Faulkes telescope in Siding Spring in New South Wales in Australia. Lucy Yates has enjoyed taking part, she said: I find it really interesting. It s been great looking at images from the telescope. The sheer size of space and what you can see is amazing. There s also the thought that if we re looking out at space is there anything looking back? Those taking part include, Josh Taylor, former pupil of Middleton Technology School, Lucy Yates and Daniel Kennedy, former pupils of Parrenthorn High School, Adam Smith and Kyle Hall, former pupils of Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, Josh Whittaker, former pupil of The Derby High School and Max Duxbury, formerly of Philips High School. Scholarship for skier Matthew Martin, a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Public Services student, has received a Sports Scholarship from Bury College in recognition of his success in skiing. The 150 Sports Scholarship helps Matthew with equipment and entry fees for races as he excels in the North West England Ski squad. Matthew is also a reserve for the England Ski team and a member of Dragons Alpine Racing where he trains in both slalom and giant slalom in Tignes, France. Success for the former pupil of Castlebrook High School has included twelve podium positions and medals achieved whilst representing the England Dry Slope Race team in Scotland and Ireland. More recently he came 1st in his age group in the Celtic Cup (a series of races held across the country) and 3rd in the BASS Giant Slalom at the Welsh Alpine Championships in Switzerland. Bury College has been very good in supporting me to attend skiing events, enabling me to balance my training and racing with my studies. Matthew Martin

6 Fundraising at Bury College Students and staff at Bury College have raised over 5000 for charity so far this year. A wide range of events have taken place raising funds for many local and national charities. Saima Khan and Mehwish Javed, former pupils of the The Derby High School, Safa Asif, former pupil of Manchester Islamic High School for Girls, Shafia Karamat formerly of Matthew Moss High School, Georgia Nicholson-Thomas formerly of St Francis High School and Patryk Zak a former pupil of Mount St. Joseph High School raised money for Bury Hospice by abseiling 128 feet down Peel Tower on Holcombe Hill. The generosity of staff and students was also recognised through Sport Relief fundraising where lots of events and activities took place throughout College including, cake stalls, raffles and competitions. Getting involved in fundraising events offers a unique opportunity to meet new people, experience something new and make a difference in someone's life. Georgia Nicholson-Thomas Enrichment at Bury College A wide range of enrichment activities are available at Bury College. Enrichment offers you a way to take part in new activities, make new friends and socialise. Participating in additional activities whilst at c ollege can also add value to your UCAS application. Mentoring for Excellence student Laura Walsh enjoys taking part in netball. She said: I am captain of the Bury College netball team who were very successful last year and have built on that this year, winning all but one of our matches so far this season. Netball as an enrichment was a great way for me to meet new people in my year and it has been so much fun to take part in throughout my whole time here at Bury College. A former pupil of St Cuthbert s RC Business and Enterprise College, Laura is studying A Level PE, Biology, English Literature/Language and has been awarded the Bury College Exceptional Achievement Award as part of the annual Bury College Celebration of Achievement awards. Make Bury College Your First Choice! There are opportunities for everyone at Bury College. This newsletter highlights just a small selection of our successes - and you could be part of this too! If you have a success story that you would like to contribute to the next edition, please [email protected] or telephone Developing Individual Potential Inspiring Excellence Promoting Prosperity Through Knowledge (M249/12) Designed and Produced by the Marketing Team. Printed by Printworks/nmd. Second Printing May 2012