Chichester Matters college news | the latest stories | achievements | innovations | and more! Published Fortnightly - Issue: 171
Edited by: Helen Ward, James Searle & Mike Pink
Friday 12th October 2012
SkillBuild Success
SORRY WE’VE BEEN AWAY HOPE YOU’VE MISSED US!
John Bradbury (centre) collects the award, on behalf of Construction, from Ground Force’s Tommy Walsh (left)
The Construction department at Chichester College have been named as the first winners of the ‘Best Performing College’ award at this year’s National SkillBuild final held at Preston Guild Hall.
Chichester College were represented at the awards, which ran from September 12 -14, by five students in the following categories:
John Bradbury’s team beat off strong competition from 184 other colleges to be recognised at the multi-trade competition, which features colleges from across the UK. The newly introduced category adds scores from all competing students from each college together, to find the college with the highest average score.
Richard Freshville (29 years old) – Painting & Decorating
The competition allowed students to compete against the best trainees in the country across a variety of trade disciplines over three days. As well as overall team gold, Edward Harringman was awarded individual gold for cabinet making.
Edward Harringman (19 years old) – Cabinet Making (Gold) Alistair MacAllan (22 years old) – Cabinet Making (Silver)
Ben Shotter (19 years old) – Carpentry (4th) Steve Pickton (18 years old) – Cabinet Making Principal, Shelagh Legrave, said: “This is a wonderful result for both Chichester College and the Construction department. To be recognised on a national scale as a College is testament to the hard work and dedication the staff and students give to their respective trades.
Edward Harringman – Cabinet Making (Gold)
“I would like to congratulate the five Chichester College students who were competing in their individual categories, and in particular Edward Harringman who won Gold for cabinet making.” John Bradbury, CTM for Construction, said: “This was a total shock, to think we outperformed all colleges in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is excellent. Our students have participated in SkillBuild for a number of years, and they always do us proud.” A big well done to everyone in the Construction department for this wonderful success. Let’s hope we can repeat this performance at next year’s event.
Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Get to know… Suki Dhesi
Team of the Month – The Farm
(Academic Studies Manager)
This Team of the Month Award was carried over from the last academic year…
I know many people enter the education profession having had diverse and varied backgrounds.
Spring is always an incredibly busy time of year at Brinsbury with lambing, ploughing, drilling, muckspreading etc. The farm team has gone through some extensive changes due to sudden personnel changes. All of the team, have provided the students with a great experience despite real challenges in terms of making sure that there were enough people to do all the jobs that needed doing.
I, however, left university, went straight onto a postgraduate certificate in education, then took on a post teaching Psychology at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke. After two years I had the opportunity to apply for Head of Psychology and to my surprise was successful. After a couple of years and a very good Ofsted I felt ready for a new challenge and took on the role of Head of Faculty for Social Science, Science and Maths at Portsmouth College. I enjoyed being able to ensure excellent provision for the learners in my faculty. Eight years later, I am now keen to replicate this success across the entire A-level, GCSE and Access provision at Chichester College.
Everyone involved has done far more than they are normally expected to do, with a cheery and positive attitude. Everyone has been focused on making sure that the farm operates effectively and animal welfare levels are high, with 2% of lamb deaths this year in comparison with 15% nationally. This has been alongside ensuring that students are receiving excellent teaching and learning. Staff have willingly taken on the challenge of managing costs and are already introduced some new ways of doing things that give students real work experience and reduce costs. For example students were involved with muck spreading which would usually go out to contractors. The students gained invaluable tractor driving experience and we saved nearly £2000 in contracting costs. Learning Assistants have fed sheep and lambs in breaks and after sessions,
achieve their future goals and aspirations. I am confident the AS and A-level success rates will exceed national averages in each and every course on offer, leading to outstanding provision!
Black History Month (BHM) was initiated in 1987 by Akyaabi Addai Sebbo, to recognise the contributions of African, Asian and Caribbean people to the economic, cultural and political life in the UK.
political urgency of the present. Bringing the contribution of the past and present black men and women to center stage is a reminder of the real world we currently live in. The ultimate goal of BHM in education, is that it should not just be an add-on, but it should inspire all subject areas to interpret and incorporate history at levels that they considered to be relevant.
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BHM runs throughout the month of October and goes beyond just history; it is a celebration of cultural difference and individuality. It puts emphasis on the important point that all peoples and all nations are linked, so that learning about one alone gives a distorted and incomplete view. If we call for an inclusive society, it is only right that we then need an inclusive history.
To have students honestly ask the question: ‘Why do we celebrate Black History Month?’ is in and itself a great exercise in questioning, exploring and synthesising concepts as complex as change and continuity over time. If planned effectively, BHM can help students better understand the contributions of cultural minorities on this month and throughout the year.
their own collages in the same style.
Black History Month
There has been and is a clear determination by all involved to make the farm work. This has led to an enhanced student experience, an increase in animal production and
real sense of achievement and pride by all. They are owed a huge thank you! The Farm team members: Dan Stamper, Richard Butterfield, Doug Walters, Helen Johnman, Karen Bicknell, Andy Pannell, Ben Penfold, Mike Richey, Jackie Lenarth, Stuart Edes, Candice Cottenham and Steph Davies. Nominated by: Alison Read Brinsbury Campus Manager
College Life Week As you may know each department was recently given a slot to promote in-house services within College as part of College Life Week. Hospitality and College Travel students took the lead for the day and planned and prepared an event promoting College Travel, Options Bistro and Goodwood Restaurant with an American theme. The event was a huge success and prompted Student Success Manager, Lisa Humphries, to comment: “Thank you for your area’s participation in College Life Week. Your students were engaging and really sold the area and services well.” Students from Travel & Tourism man their stand in Coasters
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and getting to know the dedicated and committed staff in A-levels. I've seen very good practice in lessons and support for students outside of lessons. The individualised support that each student receives will inevitably enable them to
It's now approaching six weeks into this new and exciting role, it feels like a lot longer! I've really enjoyed working with,
lecturers have come in early and at weekends, and all of the farm staff have given their time and expertise generously.
Juliett Littlechild College Travel Co-ordinator
Suki Dhesi (second left) with the A-level team
BHM gives an opportunity for the wider community to acknowledge, respect and celebrate the contributions that have been made to world development by people of colour. In spite of this, there are still many questions posed about BHM, the most searching being ‘why?’ and ‘if’ it is really necessary. However, ‘if’ Black/ African achievers and achievements had not been sidelined out of conventional history then there would have been little point to BHM. Whatever its faults, Black History Month offers an entrée into languages and cultures that few would otherwise have the chance to engage. It aims to focus not only on black heroes that powerfully challenged the racial assumptions of their era, but also on the
Top ten tips on how to teach Black History Month?
Watch and discuss short videos on first-hand accounts of immigration and migration in Britain (www.commonwealthonline.org.uk; the guardian BHM webpage; Black History Month webpage).
Create collages: Review the collages created by artist Romare 5 Bearden and have students create firsts: Introduce all the firsts in Black history in the UK. 6 Fantastic Martin Luther King, Jr. is perhaps 7 one of the most well known figures of BHM. Students could study
his famous speech, and write or draw changes they would like to see in the future or get them to discuss dreams that they have. (www.theteachersguide. com/BlackHistoryMonth.html).
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Discuss and research with students on Black inventors and inventions 8 and possibly complete a worksheet
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Discuss about social and racial stigmas and expectations amongst 9 young people.
Look and discuss current campaigns focused around issues concerning Black History Month. Explore the contributions of Black and ethnic minorities through quizzes on subjects such as Black Victorians, Britain’s early footballers, war veterans, media and community personalities.
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Explore the etymology of words frequently used in our current urban community related to different cultures.
about the information learned.
Celebrate the achievements of all nationalities and cultures 10 around the world. Chiko Ncube Learning Support Assistant
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Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Aspiring Leaders’ programme
Welcome to our new governors As well as chairing the Governing Body John will be a member of the Buildings & Estates, Finance & General Purposes, Quality & Curriculum, Governance & Search and Remuneration committees.
Sir Paul Haddacks Vice-Chairman of the Governing Body
Paul Haddocks (left) and John Goble
John Goble Chairman of the Governing Body
Left to right: Simon Dooley, then International Marketing Manager, Lisa Smith, CTM Creative & Performing Arts, John Bradbury, CTM Construction, Shelagh, Helen Loftus, then Academic Studies Manager, Liz Taylor, CTM Hospitality & Tourism and Alison Read, Head of Brinsbury Campus
In December 2011 the College launched a development programme for Aspiring Leaders. This was to complement various elements of management development already on offer including the Aspiring Managers programme and development centres one and two which have been running for some time. It was particularly focused on leadership. The offer was to give the opportunity to six managers through a competitive selection process.
Following an assessment centre and a day of interviews, six managers were selected to take part, pictured above with Shelagh Legrave. Over the last six months they have all been allocated a mentor from the Senior Management Team, completed a L5 Project Manager course run internally through Business & Management, carried out some work shadowing internally and some externally in other colleges, attended a Governing Body meeting, taken forward a task allocated by their mentor and completed
a project of their choice. The range of projects has been enormous – from opening the College at weekends to the role of course leader and a different approach to literacy & numeracy. Their success in completing the programme was celebrated this week with a presentation of each project and reflections on how useful it had been and suggestions for the future. We will be running another one in January. Shelagh Legrave – Principal
National BTEC Awards 2012 Luke Livingstone recently came second in the 2012 National BTEC Awards for Outstanding Apprentice of the Year (16-18 year olds). Unipart employs Luke whilst Chichester College and Jewel Training work in partnership to deliver his apprenticeship training.
The Governing Body look forward to working with you to achieve these aims.
I am honoured to have been asked to be Vice Chairman of the Governing Body. I want to help ensure that good governance in its fullest sense is part of the DNA of Chichester College, enabling the College to be one of the most successful in the country and to deliver its vision of being the first choice for further education for our local community, for regional businesses and for international students. As well as being Vice-Chairman Sir Paul will be a member of the Buildings & Estates, Finance & General Purposes, Governance & Search, Remuneration and Staff committees.
On July 24 2012, engineering lecturer Graham Moss took students from the blacksmithing course to the New Forest Show, to show their work and enter pieces in a variety of classes. Steven Bull came first in his class with his chimney crane and won Reserve Champion for the whole show. Damien Sawyer was also commended for his stove door.
The National BTEC Awards Team told us: “We received an unprecedented number of entries this year and all of the shortlisted nominations were of a really high standard. Selecting the finalists for the Awards was an incredibly difficult job so Luke has done incredibly well to make it to the final stage of the Awards.”
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I am delighted to have now been asked to chair the Governing Body and help continue the path towards outstanding teaching and learning throughout the College. Having achieved the number one position in Sussex and 22nd in the country based on success rates, we need to ensure that this momentum is maintained and that we are clearly the preferred choice for students in our catchment area. The new building projects that we currently have at Brinsbury and Chichester will provide modern, state of the art facilities which should help to attract new students and achieve this aim. We will continue to manage the College’s finances to generate a healthy surplus each year so that gradually the remainder of the old buildings can be replaced.
Blacksmith success
Luke has just completed a L2 Apprenticeship in Warehousing and Storage at Unipart, supported by Chichester College and Jewel Training. Unipart are committed to developing new team leaders and they believe that Luke has a bright future and are looking forward to him continuing his journey with the company.
Congratulations to Luke and Jewel Training for all the hard work in getting this award.
As one of the first intake of students when the College opened in 1964 and subsequently an external auditor for a few years, I have always had a strong interest in the College’s development. My background is predominantly finance related and soon after gaining my professional accounting qualifications with West Sussex County Council, I decided to switch into the private sector and spent the next 30 years in IBM working in a variety of finance, IT development and audit managerial roles, both for the UK and worldwide. When asked to join the College’s Audit Committee in 2001, as an external member, I was hugely impressed by the progress made in the intervening years. I became a full member of the Governing Body in 2003, chairing the Audit Committee for around four years and then chaired the Finance & General Purposes Committee upto the end of the last academic year,
whilst also being a member of the Staff, Buildings & Estates, Governance and Remuneration committees.
College Governor is a relatively new role for me and it is one in which I greatly look forward to deepening and broadening my experience. I have a public service background, having joined the Royal Navy aged 18 and serving for 40 years before retiring as a Vice Admiral. Highlights of my naval career include commanding a variety of warships, having overall command of all UK maritime forces in the first part of Gulf War 1, teaching at the US Naval Academy and being the Director General of the International Military Staff of NATO during the challenging period that followed the 9/11 attacks. On retiring from the Navy I became Governor of the Isle of Man where I was the Queen’s Representative and carried ultimate responsibility for good government.
These awards capped off an excellent year for the department, which included an outstanding grade from the EAL. Luke Livingstone with his BTEC Certificate
The display of blacksmithing work was in reception for a week and impressed plenty of College visitors.
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Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Wood you believe it?
Peter Jones Enterprise students have had an exciting first month at College having already secured local press coverage for their enterprise work in the local community. Following last year’s success in Emsworth, the students will be putting their entrepreneurial skills to use in Selsey.
Chichester College 3D Design student, Madara Degtere, recently played a vital role in the Timber Trades Journal (TTJ) Awards Lunch held at The Savoy Hotel, London. The event is the timber industry equivalent of the Oscars and Madara’s design for the trophies was selected by local company English Woodlands Timber to be made and presented to the winners.
Find out more in this article from the Chichester Observer.
The partnership between English Woodlands Timber and the College came about last year when 3D Design
Madara (centre) with her replica trophy alongside course leader Terry Molyneaux and Sarah Farmer from English Woodlands Timber
students were sourcing materials for their furniture-making project. Following the success of this first joint venture, the affiliation was strengthened further when Sarah Farmer from English Woodlands Timber approached course leader, Terry Molyneaux over the summer. Her vision was for Chichester College students to design the winner’s trophies for the TTJ Awards. Following a number of intensive summer workshops, Madara’s design was
eventually chosen and work began on production of the trophies. Nick Hewer from the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’, hosted the lavish awards ceremony and presented Madara’s trophy to 13 winners across a range of categories, in front of over 300 guests. To say thank you and congratulations, Sarah visited the 3D Design workshop last week to present Madara with a replica of the trophy she designed (left).
Volunteer wins new award for his work on local canal Engineering student, Matthew Totham, was recently rewarded for his volunteer work with the Chichester Canal Trust. Matthew was the first winner of the new Eileen Savill Award presented by the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group (MWHG), for his contribution to the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the Manhood Peninsula. As well as volunteering at the canal, Matthew is also a keen kayaker and takes great pride in ensuring that the environment around the banks of the canal are clean and well kept. His prize included a hand-carved trophy, certificate and a personalised bag for his kayak paddles. Matthew said: “Winning the award made me feel really appreciated. Working at the canal is a good way to spend your spare time and it’s nice to do something positive for the environment.” Anybody interested in volunteering to help preserve the canal environment, should contact Alison Slaney on 01243 536933.
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Chichester Matters | Issue 171
Sports results Mens Elite Squad 12/09/12 Berkshire College 2-5 Chichester College 19/09/12 Chichester College 8-0 Reading College
Mens 1st Team 12/09/12 Chichester College 1-5 Isle of Wight 26/09/12 Chichester College 2-1 Collyers
Mens 2nd Team 12/09/12 Bishop Luffa 6-4 Chichester College
Ladies Football 26/09/12 Chichester College 3-0 South Downs
Mixed Hockey
IfL briefing If your contract of employment has a paragraph referring to IfL membership please read and note the following information: Teaching staff are probably aware that the previous government passed legislation making it mandatory for teaching staff working in Further Education to be members of the Institute for Learning (IfL). Accordingly, the requirement became contractual in this College. Initially funding was available for individual membership but controversially during 2011 the fees became due from the individual at the same time as they were increased substantially. Questions were raised nationally about the value of IfL and the requirement for individuals to pay. The current government commissioned Lord Lingfield to review teaching qualifications in further education and
his interim report, Professionalism in Further Education was issued in March 2012. Some of his recommendations are controversial, particularly surrounding the removal of a requirement for teachers in further education to hold a qualification. However, his recommendation to make membership of IfL voluntary was welcomed by the sector. The Government is acting on this particular proposal by passing legislation to revoke the mandatory requirement for staff to register with IfL from Sunday September 30 2012. It is not currently removing the requirement for staff to be teacher trained. For this reason, we are removing the contractual requirement for staff to be members of the IfL. All other terms and conditions remain as per your contract of employment. If you have any queries please contact Human Resources.
19/09/12 Chichester College 7-5 Havant College
Follow us on Twitter: chi_college
Mens Hockey
Like us on Facebook: Official Chichester College
19/09/12 Chichester College 5-7 Chichester University
Netball 19/09/12 Chichester College 32-22 Havant College
eSafety tip Ben Stockdale, a lecturer from the Electrical team, sent in this week’s e-safety tip: Public – often free – hot spots are open networks that are vulnerable to security breaches because they do not encrypt data. It is therefore possible for your passwords, email messages, and other information to be visible to hackers. That means it's up to you to be aware of wireless hot spot security and to protect the data on your PC or mobile device. And one way of doing that is to simply turn off the wi-fi capability of your device. Many laptops now have a Wi-Fi hardware button you can use to disable your Wi-Fi. If yours doesn’t, you can disable your Wi-Fi adapter using your operating system. For more details here are two links from Here’s How and Microsoft: http://tinyurl.com/55bsqb http://tinyurl.com/9y2ryyc
ILT tip of the week
Vacancies
Ten steps to reach your S-Drive and C-Drive remotely.
Admissions Advisor
There are times when you will need to get hold of documents stored on your college PC or from the newly established S-Drive. In order to do that, follow these steps:
Childcare Assistant Assessor/Instructor Assessor/Instructor
Go to http://ag.chichester.ac.uk/ From here download and install the Appgate and tunnelling IP drivers Click “Staff File Access” Click “Don’t ask me again” If your version of windows pops up with the question, “Do you want to run explorer.rdp then say yes The RemoteApp window will appear, asking you “If you wish to connect anyway”. Do two things: Click the ‘Don’t ask me again’ box, and then Click Yes A security warning message appears. Press Run (nearly there...) Next, enter your username and password. But this time prefix your usual username with chi\ (e.g. chi\smith) Enter your usual staff password A window providing you with access to your S-Drive and local drives will appear
This vacany closes on 19/10/12
These vacancies close on 18/10/12
Student Tutor This vacany closes on 25/10/12
For more information about vacancies at the College, please visit the Staff Intranet or the main college website.
Welcome to our new starters Frances Fryer – Site Librarian Ian Rowley – Lecturer in Sport & Public Services Sarah Carruthers – Human Resources Advisor Mandy Wimble – Meals Assistant Janet Hutchinson – Childcare Assistant Emily Short – Apprentice Sarah Caldercott – Learning Assistant
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