CONNECT N E WS
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U P DAT E S
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D I A RY DAT E S FEB R UAR Y 2020
The re-launch of our Wellingborough campus reached a significant milestone with the first cladding panel being put in place. The Group added to the generous grant from SEMLEP’s Local Growth Fund to complete this £10m investment which will more opportunities for education within Wellingborough and the wider green.
L-R Adrian Piper Assistant Director Borough Council Wellingborough, Project Manager Mark Eustace, Victoria Phillipson Property and Projects Manager Borough Council of Wellingborough, The Bedford College Group CEO Ian Pryce and Lucinda Young SEMLEP Contracts Programme Manager.
BCS BEDFORD COLLEGE SERVICES
EDITOR’S NOTE Hello everyone! Welcome to the February edition of CONNECT Magazine and Happy 2020. The Staff Intranet is a great platform for staff members to post articles, news and adverts about events that may be going on in your department alongside having a feature in the monthly issue of CONNECT magazine. All staff members are able to post content on the Staff Intranet: help guides, 1-1 training and team training can be provided upon request. Please email myself or Olivia Morton at omorton@bedford.ac.uk for further information. Don’t forget to keep sending your articles and photos my way for the next issue by Monday 17 February.
DAMINI PATEL
Corporate Communications & Events Assistant
T: 01234 291891 E: dpatel@bedford.ac.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 4th FEBRUARY Wellingborough Open Day 6th FEBRUARY National College for Motorsport Open Day 17th-23rd FEBRUARY Study week (all campuses) For more diary dates visit www.bit.ly/collegecalendars
CONTENTS PAGE 2
CORPORATION NEWS
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PRINCIPAL’S UPDATE
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LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP
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EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
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YOUR PICTURES
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SPOTLIGHT ON
HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE REDESIGN OF CONNECT We are currently looking into redesigning CONNECT and we have put together a quick survey so we can hear your thoughts. The survey can be found here www.bit.ly/Survey-CONNECT
CORPORATION NEWS The Corporation was delighted to celebrate the success of students and staff at the Achievements Ceremonies in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and congratulate all of the prize winners and the organisers.
the Future will feature highly. The Commission’s progress report can be found at www.collegecommission.co.uk/ progress-report with a full report due this spring.
Although sad to note the resignation of Casandra Daubney as a governor in November the Board welcome back Andy Ellis (previously a governor of Tresham) as a co-opted member of the Audit Committee.
A much desired tour of the new Zoological Education Centre will also take place.
The spring term will see Shuttleworth host the Board development day on 2nd March where T Levels and discussions on the Independent Commission review on the College of
For more information please contact the Director of Governance & Clerk to the Corporation, Rachel Nicol.
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The Corporation wish you all a Happy 2020. RACHEL NICOL
Director of Governance and Clerk to the Corporation T: 01234 291003 E: rnicol@bedford.ac.uk
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EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE IN OTHER AREAS.
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Did you know you can follow Ian on Twitter? @ipryce
PRINCIPAL’S UPDATE
Concentration
Top of the Class
It was good to see everyone at the recent staff meetings. I just wanted to reiterate the importance of focusing on six priorities for the rest of the year: student experience, employer experience, processes, data, wellbeing and workload. Separately we must ensure our new campus in Wellingborough provides the community with a very special experience from day one.
I seemed to spend the whole of December wearing a black tie and picking up awards for the College at business, marketing and other events. The year 2020 seems to have started in similar fashion for the College. Dawn Fitt receiving her OBE for services to women into STEM was a lovely start, quickly followed by being shortlisted for the TES FE College of the Year and Professional Services team of the year (the sector Oscars) for our Building Services team.
Everyone can play a big part in making progress against the list of six. Every member of staff can directly improve the student experience, for example, by thinking through how a student will perceive your contribution to their time with us. Similarly, everyone should be able to make constructive suggestions on how to improve in the other areas. We said that technology would have a big part to play in achieving progress and I am particularly keen for you to help identify small technical improvements that would make life a bit easier. For example, ensuring at least one access gate at Bedford can be opened outside session hours by staff using their ID card or ensuring BCS has standard technology to allow you to join the gym via the website and to ensure automatic re-enrolment. Please keep feeding ideas to your managers.
The first is a real testament to everyone’s hard work over the last 30 months since the Group was created. The second is well-deserved recognition for a team that have overseen three massive building projects in three years – Buchanan Building, Zoological Education Centre and Wellingborough campus – plus the development of our new Learning Centres.
Putting Bedford on the map! We put our weight behind the Bedford Mayor’s campaign to get Bedford on the BBC Look East weather map. The good news is we succeeded. The bad news is it hasn’t stopped pouring with rain since!
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LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES NEW INTERACTIVE, ONLINE CONTENT FOR ESOL AND ACCESS TO HE STUDENTS (STUDY SKILLS) The Blended Learning Consortium (BLC) has recently added 40 new modules to their already extensive portfolio of online interactive content for Moodle designed specifically for our Access to HE and ESOL students. However, the Access to HE modules also cover some very useful information that are a great resource for any student undertaking assignments. Topics include: •
Knowing your study strengths and weaknesses
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Planning for effective study time
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Reading strategies
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Note-taking methods
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Speaking and listening
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Planning your written work
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Finding the right source
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Efficiency and effectiveness; textbook versus internet search engine
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Efficiency and effectiveness; Professional journal versus a newspaper
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Copyright laws
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Referencing systems and why we need them
Also new to the BLC modules are 10 new Level 2 ESOL resources:
These are SCORM-like interactive activities that often use Flash technology for their interactive elements. If you need to use this type of content you will have to direct your students to open Moodle in Microsoft Internet Explorer instead of Chrome. In some instances, due to the age of the content, this may not work either. If you do have trouble with NLN content please contact Learning Technologies and we will help to find alternative content for you. This may be a great opportunity to refresh your content with modules from the Blended Learning Consortium. This content is really easy to use in Moodle and covers numerous courses along with enhancement topics. Search CONNECT for previous articles on The Blended Learning Consortium or get in touch with Learning Technologies.
Learning Technology Training If you would like any training around Learning Technologies please contact the Learning Technologies team. We are happy to come along to Golden Hours, small groups or even 1-1s. We’d love to demonstrate tools like The Blended Learning Consortium interactive learning modules, Planet eStream video on demand system or the interactive Moodle technology - H5P. Learning Technologies Team contact details: Phone: Bedford: 01234 291959 (Monday – Friday 9.00am till 5.00pm)
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Imperatives
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Order of adjectives
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Adjective endings
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Adjectives comparative and superlative
Tresham: 01536 413143 (Wednesday – Friday 8.30am till 5.00pm)
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Adverbs of frequency
Email: moodlesupport@bedford.ac.uk
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Possessives - adjectives and pronouns
Staff Moodle: staffmoodle.bedford.ac.uk
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Proper nouns
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Tenses - past perfect
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Using must and have to
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Verb patterns - ing and infinitive forms
Google ending support for Flash based content With the withdraw of support for Abode Flash in Google Chrome later this year, some Moodle content will no longer work. This particularly effects NLN content that you may have on your Moodle pages.
4 February 2020
Nigel Gilbert Learning Technologies Advisor
NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP GOLD IN WORLDSKILLS IN UK The computing teaching team at Bedford College are celebrating winning gold at the WorldSkills UK LIVE finals for the Network Systems Administrator competition at Birmingham NEC held last November. Apprentice, turned employee Phil Beall, took first prize in the all-action event which is the UK’s largest skills, apprenticeship and careers event showcasing more than 70 industries including Digital, Technology, Engineering, Construction and Arts. In addition, the Group’s Computing department along with 25 students hosted a Have
a Go area at the event within the Digital, Business and Creative hub – demonstrating the variety of digital skills training and encouraging young people to sign up for courses. Principal Ian Pryce said: “This is the second time Bedford College has won Gold in the highly competitive category of IT, we have had others reaching the UK finals in Construction too. This demonstrates that when it comes to apprenticeships and training we are in the premier league and giving young people in the region access to the careers of tomorrow.”
Designed by industry experts, the WorldSkills UK Competitions equip apprentices and students with the world-class skills needed to help UK businesses compete better globally. Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “At WorldSkills UK we work to accelerate the development of young people’s skills from national to world-class standards. We’re creating a new generation of high flyers that give UK employers a competitive edge.”
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP ACHIEVEMENTS CEREMONIES An Achievement Ceremony of Northamptonshire students celebrated the successes of more than 6,250 who passed through the doors of Tresham College campuses in Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough this year. The event held at Kettering Conference Centre featured entertainment by performing arts students and an inspirational speech by world famous Kinky Boots originator Steve Pateman. Steve, whose book Boss in Boots, started his career at the bottom of his family firm, studied at what used to be called a technical college, now the Tresham campus in Wellingborough, and progressed, because he said “yes” to becoming the subject of a BBC documentary, a film and now an award-winning musical.
“My advice to young people is to never say no, seize the opportunity and remember the power of yes.” Shortlisted for the Outstanding Tresham College Student were Kyra Joy who won national recognition as a Business Apprentice, Jordan Skeels who took part in the National Youth Theatre Group and the eventual winner: Ryan Kenyon who won a football scholarship at an American university.
The Student Participation Award went to Jazmine Cartwright who studied media. Professional Services Staff of the Year award went to Tasha Blades, Development and Quality Co-ordinator. Sponsors at the event were: CCF Ltd, Mindful Education, RS Components, Sharnbrook Academy Trust and Weetabix. Student prize sponsors were Aptech Ltd, Manners PR and The Recruitment Bar.
(L-R) Georgia Ager, Steve Pateman, Kyra Joy, Jordan Skeels and Ian Pryce CBE
ACHIEVEMENTS CEREMONIES Some of the best students were highlighted at the Bedford College Achievement Ceremony on Thursday 5th December.
The Inclusion Champion Award went to Student Experience and Progression Manager Will Sparrow.
Guest Speaker for the evening was TV ‘upcycler’ Max McMurdo, a Bedfordshire boy who went on to create a career for himself by following his passion for creating.
Staff Innovator Award went to Martin Johnson Desktop Technician in IT Services.
The Student Participation Award went to Simon Hooton who completed a Fish Management Level 3 course at Shuttleworth College, before winning a Shuttleworth Trust award to travel to Japan to study Koi Carp. Three students were nominated for the Outstanding Student of the Year; Caleb Oliver, Joe Chidwick and Eva Cringle. This year’s winner was Joe Chidwick of The Bedford Sixth Form. After studying Maths, Physics, Philosophy and Dance at A Level, Joe won a place at Cambridge University.
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Teacher of the Year was Helen Day an Advanced Practioner in Animal Science at Shuttleworth College. Gold Sponsors were BedfordBID which promotes the town centre under the Love Bedford
brand. Our Silver Sponsors were Commercial Interiors and Storage, The Harpur Trust, Innovation-site, Rosetta Publishing Ltd and the Sharnbrook Academy Federation. Student prize sponsors were Danielle Harrington Design, Dream Digital, Grewal Productions, Lockcraft Electrical Ltd, PRD Marketing and Manners PR.
NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP SINGING THE PRAISES OF FE Ian Pryce CBE is laying claim to being the longest on-going serving Principal and Chief Executive of a further education establishment. Others may have lasted longer in the previous century, but in today’s fast-changing environment, Ian’s 21 years+ in situ is looking like a record. “Loyalty and long-service are increasingly things of the past, but when you’ve got an opportunity to take a good College and make it great, then it’s worth sticking with that winning team,” said Ian, now 61 and hoping to stay until he collects his pension.
about various issues aimed at Government Ministers and more which are widely shared on social media. During his two decades, Ian has been a co-founder of the Collab Group and is a member of the Syndic of Cambridge University. In Bedford he was founder Chair of the very successful Bedford Free School, recently mentioned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, established the Bedford College Academies Trust which has brand new primary and secondary schools at Wixams, rescued the internationally known
Shuttleworth College and took over a “Hogwart’s style” private girls’ school site to establish a successful specialist Sixth Form. All are now flourishing. Ian added: “There is more I want to do and luckily I have an energetic young, but experienced, team around me who are stepping up to take on the new challenges. There is a generation of young people out there who need to be helped through the changes ahead. If I am able to complete 25 years as Principal and CEO I will consider myself to have had the best job not just in Bedford, but in the region.”
Having started at the Bedford College as Finance Director he was promoted to Principal and CEO in a slightly unusual step then of someone from a non-teaching background taking the helm. In fact, Ian making all the right money moves, has meant that his staff can concentrate on what he sees as the “important stuff” - providing the best service to students. That approach has seen the Group win teaching prizes at the Times Educational Supplement awards three years in a row, have staff who judge WorldSkills events (and students who compete) and a board room full of prizes for everything from a sword for Health and Safety to membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education. Ian continued: “The talents of our team members across all College services means that our students enjoy their experience with us, more than 90% would recommend us to others and there is no higher compliment. At a national FE level, Ian is known as the “Singing Chief Executive” having written tracks
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP OBE FOR ENGINEERING DAWN Leading female engineering educator Dawn Fitt has been awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours list. Dawn is Training Co-ordinator at the Bedford College Brunel Engineering Apprenticeships Centre, off Barker’s Lane, Bedford. She is a former Young Woman Engineer of the Year and is a Past President of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). Dawn has been encouraging girls to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) for more than a decade and has Chaired the Adjudicating Panel for The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Young Women Engineer of the Year Award. Following in the footsteps of her engineer father, Dawn did an electrical/electronic apprenticeship in her then home of Worcestershire before working her way through digital control systems and on to project management. “I did an apprenticeship and wanted to put something back by encouraging others to follow that path. As President of the Women’s Engineering Society I wanted to show how important the apprenticeship route is to encouraging people into the industry.” To that end she has established an Apprenticeship Conference for Women, chairing the inaugural meeting of the event in 2018 at the EEF Technology Centre in Birmingham and again in Bristol in 2019. Of being awarded an OBE, Dawn said: “It was such a shock, I am still getting over it!” “I have pushed to see female apprentices in Engineering enjoy the same access to networking and industry contacts as those enjoyed at university and on HE courses. There is no easy way for apprentices to access and be inspired by trail blazers in the industry. This conference is the start of that journey.
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Women in engineering can collaborate and share ideas which is vital to the new wave of horizontal innovation - putting techniques developed in one industry to work in another. An example is how innovations in Formula 1 racing were used in medicine.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Ian Pryce CBE, Principal said: “I’m delighted for Dawn and it is a very fitting honour. She is a very modest person but this is definitely a personal achievement. Her role in championing and promoting women in Engineering both nationally and locally has been exceptional.”
The Women’s Engineering Society was formed in 1919 by Dame Caroline Haslett and in 2019 that centenary was being celebrated on 23rd June with the National Day of Women in Engineering.
Until 1918 it was illegal for women to be engineers. That had to change when women stepped up to take over jobs in factories and more whilst the men were away fighting in the First World War.
NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP HIGH FLYERS IN TECHNOLOGY Two students at Bedford College have been given a flying start in careers in technology. Samuel Frankl and James Shelford studied Level 3 Electronic Engineering at Bedford College. Samuel had plans to go on to University in the Netherlands and James, who always had an interest in the military had no idea he could sign up in a civilian role – until the College received a visit from the Ministry of Defence. Stuart Albert, a member of the civilian Engineering Ops Team based at RAF Henlow, was tasked with a recruitment drive to seek out new talent and was invited to talk to Engineering students. Samuel and James were so impressed they applied for and won new roles as Network Design Engineers.
Samuel started his new job on 16th December 2019 and James this year on 6th January 2020. Once fully trained the pair will be able to work from locations across the world. As civilians the posts are not ‘front-line’ but they will provide a rapid specialist engineering support service to all three military services. Group Captain Darren Thorley is Deputy Head of the department overseeing Engineering Operations: “This is a new recruitment approach for us, seeking out new talent locally in addition to our national apprentice scheme. James and Samuel will each have a training plan created for them, allowing them to continue their studies whilst learning on the job.
Once they have gained security clearance they will be working with the very latest communications and cyber security technology and, if they wish, will be able to take opportunities to deploy to Military bases and Embassies all over the globe to carry out engineering tasks.” The partnership with Bedford College has been so successful the Engineering Ops team plan to return next year, looking for more potential recruits. Jo Baxter, Director of STEM said, “This a tremendous opportunity for us to introduce students to exciting careers in the forefront of technology. We look forward to developing this relationship further for the benefit of young people.”
Picture shows: James Shelford (left) and Samuel Frankl (right) at RAF Henlow.
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP CEREMONY AT TRESHAM COLLEGE’S WELLINGBOROUGH CAMPUS The £10 million re-launch of Tresham College’s Wellingborough campus reached a significant milestone on Tuesday 27th November with the first cladding panel being put in place. The fire-resistant, safety-first, covering will enhance the external appearance of the old tower block, which together with other buildings, will house 1,000 students and staff from September 2020. The re-launch of the Church Street campus, which has been partially open ONLY for motor vehicle students for several years, will see the reintroduction of fulltime courses including, carpentry, plumbing, business, brickwork, electrical as well as Access to Higher Education, early years and health & social care, and IT & computing which are currently taught at Croyland Hall nearby. Part-time courses in accountancy, counselling, Preparing to Teach (PTLLS) English and maths, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), HR (CIPD) and Management and Leadership (CMI) will also be available in the newlook campus.
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The Group was awarded £7.5million from SEMLEP following an application for funding through the Local Growth Fund. Ian Pryce CBE laid the first cladding panel (photo) with Project Manager, Mark Eustace. Said Ian: “We have added to the generous SEMLEP grant to complete this £10 million investment in new facilities and courses which will be a tremendous lift for education in Wellingborough and the wider region. Further, it will be a great boost for the town centre to have this influx of new customers of all ages. We are grateful to the Borough Council of Wellingborough and its members and officers for all their help and support in this interim period – including allowing us to use Croyland Hall as a temporary training centre.” Paul Thompson, Employment and Skills Manager at SEMLEP said: “Construction, education and health & social care are all fast-growing sectors in the SEMLEP area and ones in which
employers tell us that they face skills shortages, including those relating to digital technology and management. Tackling business constraints around local workforce skills and competencies is a strategic priority for SEMLEP’s investment programme. We’re pleased to work in partnership with The Bedford College Group which is responding head-on to the skills needs of employers.” Adrian Piper, Assistant Director at the Borough Council of Wellingborough added: “Once open the refurbished campus will not only significantly improve the area of town, but will provide first-rate education opportunities to all of our adult residents. We are delighted to be working with our partners SEMLEP and The Bedford College Group to deliver this project and look forward to seeing it take shape over the forthcoming months.”
NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP COLLEGE OF THE YEAR SHORT LIST The Bedford College Group has been shortlisted in the TES FE Awards 2020 - as College of the Year. These prestigious national awards showcase the best of British education via the famous Times Educational Supplement (TES) brand. At the same time the Group’s Building Services Team has been shortlisted in the TES Professional Team of the Year. Both entries highlight how the formation of the Group in 2017 led to improvements in service to students and their surroundings. In 2017 Judith Larsen won TES FE Teacher of the Year, in 2018 Keith Haynes was named TES FE Assessor of the Year and in 2019 Samantha Jones won TES FE Teacher of the Year. According to the latest DfE’s Overall Institution Achievement Rates Tables 2017-18 the College is first of providers based in the Eastern region with overall achievement at 89%. The Group is also above national average for achievement in GCSEs, English, maths and apprenticeships. In addition, 2019 recruitment for Tresham College exceeded targets by 15%, with 2,543 students enrolling against a target of 2,215 and overall Group recruitment for 2019 was 13,709. Since the creation of The Bedford College Group in 2017, the Buildings Projects Team has worked tirelessly
to deliver highly ambitious objectives ensuring the Group’s buildings and physical learning environments at over 20 sites meet the needs of the local community. Within two years, the small team of only five staff have managed the upgrading of several buildings, the opening of two Learning Centres in Northamptonshire and the creation of three brand new buildings on three different campuses, expanding the reach of the College’s provision and ensuring thousands of local people have access to high-quality resources. In 2018, the Building Projects Team delivered the College’s £5.2 million Buchanan Centre for advanced engineering at the riverside Bedford Campus which Hilary Chipping, SEMLEP Chief Executive said was: “giving students access to state-of-the-art equipment and training.” In 2019, the £3.65 million Zoological Education Centre at Shuttleworth, opened to animals and students, the first of its type developed closely with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
local community, which has three ‘Lower Super Output Areas’ within the 10% most deprived areas in England have access to highquality further education and social mobility opportunities. The Building Projects Team work particularly hard to ensure the College receives as much funding as possible from external stakeholders for new buildings. For the Buchanan Centre they secured £2.5 million from SEMLEP’s Local Growth Fund, £500,000 from HEFCE and £1 million from other organisations, and for the Wellingborough campus the Team secured £7.5 million of SEMLEP funding. Ian Pryce CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of said: “This is a small but professional team who quietly focus on delivering projects which have an immense and far-reaching impact on the communities we serve and for future generations.” The TES awards winners are announced at a Gala Dinner in at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 20th March.
The Team are now working on the £10 million redevelopment of the Wellingborough Campus, supported by SEMLEP through the Local Growth Fund, which is opening this September. The new look campus will ensure the
BEDFORD RIVER FESTIVAL The Bedford River Festival is returning on 18-19 July 2020 on the beautiful Embankment and surrounding area of Bedford. The festival has a multitude of events and attractions taking place over the weekend, including countless river activities, five live music and performance stages, raft and dragon boat races, the wonderful offerings of the continental market, a spectacular firework display, plus so much more. Dragon boat race entries for Bedford River Festival are now open and the Group would like to enter. The races are a great opportunity for team building and competitive fun. If you are interested in taking part of the Group’s entry, please email Olivia Morton on omorton@bedford.ac.uk
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP GOLD AWARD IN MARKETING The Group has won a Gold Award for its work in engaging with employers and influencers in Northamptonshire. Specialist marketing awards for FE, the FE First Awards saw the Group taking the prize in the College Marketing Network category for a stakeholder event which brought together key local influencers to find out more about what is on offer in terms of education and training by the Group with an extra focus on Northamptonshire. Councillors, advisors and business people heard first hand about courses and campus developments which are preparing young people for the modern world of work, and how continuing professional development is available to those seeking promotion and advancement.
The event was staged by the Corporate Communications and Events Team which now helps promote the Group across the region to potential students, their parents, employers and local authorities. Meanwhile, thanks to the modern marketing skills of The Bedford College Group, full-time students at Tresham have now increased thanks to the enrolment in 2019 of 2,543 - 15% above the target set by the Group For this, the Group was Highly Commended in the Targeted Recruitment Campaign. Director of Sales and Marketing Sarah Baxter said: “We have been very grateful for the welcome we, The Bedford College Group, have
received in Northamptonshire from everyone. We hope that our forward-thinking approach to education and training will support the continued success of the county and help us in our quest to grow the talent of tomorrow across the South East Midlands region.” The latest on-going development for the Group is the £10 Million refurbishment of the old Wellingborough town centre campus into a centre in which 1,000 staff and students can flourish when it opens in September. For this project, £7.5 Million was made available to the Group from SEMLEP through the Local Growth Fund.
Picture shows: (L-R) Lisa Seccombe, Luke Cresswell, Olivia Morton and Ian Pryce CBE
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NEWS FROM THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP A GREAT END TO 2019 FOR SARAH AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE DAVID SMITH MBE Sarah Nolan, Head of Health, Care & Early Years in Tresham has been working with David Smith MBE since 2011. David is a Professional athlete who is a World Champion and London 2012 Gold Medallist. David is also a Coach, Speaker and Writer. In the last season of 2019, he completed the season on a high. He started in Zagreb whereby he was only entered to complete with the team. There weren’t at full strength with one member needing to attend his twin brothers wedding and a new player took his place.
This consisted of seven events and eight medals for Boccia UK. The team felt they needed to hand out song sheets for the National Anthem because seven of those medals were Gold. Now Sarah didn’t go this time – Ofsted called! So just one more competition to go for the year – World Open in Povoa, Portugal. David has now lost just two of his last fifty matches. The two defeats in Hong Kong, and one from Montreal 2018 have been
avenged as David won all his matches with style and again – won Gold. He retains his World Ranking No. 1. Now the team didn’t do as well here but have finished the season ranked 7th in the World. They have qualified for Tokyo. The year for David and Sarah finished on a another high with a VIP invite to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony (SPOTY).
However, they did well against lower sides and gained Gold. He started his individual campaign in May in Hong Kong with his worst competition result at 5th having medalled in every competition since 2010. So, this was a tough start but David being David he managed to work through this, learn from the loss and worked hard on what stopped him getting further. In June we went to the British Championships in Northern Ireland and he gained his 16th title. The next one was in Seville, Spain in August which was the big ranking point competition of the year – European Regional Championships. Not only did it have the best ranking points but also if you gained a Gold medal you automatically qualified for the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020. David – did, of course, get Gold. Two months prior to this there was a change of coach for the Team event – which is a team of BC1 and BC2 athletes, David being a BC1 so Sarah was asked to take this role on. At the start of the year the team were ranked 13th in the World and only the top 10 get the opportunity to compete in Tokyo. In Seville they got Bronze. Nymburk, Czech Republic was next a Regional Open.
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EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans History Month in February celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the dangers of homophobic, bi-phobic, transphobic and sexist language and bullying.
The Bedford College Group is a Stonewall School champion and February offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the diversity
For resources, go to lgbthistorymonth.org.uk or the E&D pages on Connect (Sexual orientation and Trans)
LGBT+ SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS The support is provided by volunteers who can discuss students’ questions in relation to LGBT+ identity. To make a referral, send a message to the email address for the relevant campus: •
For Bedford College (Cauldwell campus) LGBTsupport@bedford.ac.uk
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For Shuttleworth LGBTsupport@shuttleworth.ac.uk
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For The Bedford Sixth Form LGBTsupport@bedfordsixthform.ac.uk
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For Corby and Kettering LGBTsupportTresham@bedford.ac.uk
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS IN FEBRUARY The Inter Faith Network website has a more detailed list of religious festivals with short descriptions. 1st FEBRUARY - IMBOLC (PAGAN) 8th OR 15th FEBRUARY - PARNIRVANA DAY (BUDDHIST) 21st FEBRUARY - MAHASHIVRATRI [GREAT SHIVA NIGHT] (HINDU) 26th FEBRUARY – 11th - APRIL LENT (CHRISTIAN)
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LGBT+ AWARENESS TRAINING FOR STAFF A one-hour refresher for new members of staff or those who did not complete the training in 2018-19. Update your knowledge through thought-provoking discussions, case studies and videos, and get the Celebrating Diversity badge. To make a training request, please email staff names to professionaldevelopment@bedford.ac.uk
LGBT+ STAFF FORUM The forum is a working group that provides support to LGBT+ people and advice and guidance on LGBT+ issues to the College’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. It seeks to encourage changes that would improve the experiences of LGBT+ people in the College community. The LGBT+ forum is an inclusive group which is available to all members of staff with an interest in LGBT+ issues, regardless of their own sexual orientation or gender identity. This is an open group and staff are invited to join in at any time. If you are interested in joining the forum, please contact Anastassia Parsons on anparsons@bedford.ac.uk so that you can be added to the circulation list for the forum.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND ITS IMPACT ON OUTCOMES Traditionally, it has been thought that discrimination is conscious and can be eliminated simply by raising understanding. Research shows that people sometimes make choices that discriminate without even realising it. What can influence our attitudes, choices and behaviours are the unconscious biases we all have. For instance, teachers may make more time for/show more interest in students who are from a similar background, have higher expectations for some students based on stereotypes (looks ‘brainy’ or from a ‘model minority’ ethnic background), or have different levels of tolerance towards students mistakes. Such
biases are likely to be reflected in students retention, achievement and progression paths. Bias comes in numerous forms: ethnicity, gender identity, religion, class, disability, sexual orientation, body shape Belonging to a group does not make people less biased towards the members of that group e.g. women in interview panels can have a prejudice against women candidates. The more we know about our own attitudes and beliefs, the more we can manage our behaviours, and avoid unconscious bias and being prejudiced. The unconscious bias that certain groups of students are perceived as less cooperative
and a likely source of trouble might affect the teacher’s day-to-day behaviour in the classroom which may lead to self-fulfilling prophesies, e.g. a disproportionate disciplining of students from a specific gender or ethnicity. It’s important to reflect on our behaviour and judgements and be honest as to whether our decisions are based on genuine evidence of an individual’s skills/ behaviour or our biases. We may have the best of intentions to treat people as individuals, however, by focusing on the outcomes of our actions we’re more likely to achieve some equity for all in our care.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK It’s the biggest week in the calendar for apprentices and their providers – and we’re going all out for it!
Visit www.bit.ly/NAWschedule for a full schedule of drop-in session times and locations.
The Group are celebrating this year’s National Apprenticeship Week 2020 which runs from 3rd-7th February with a series of events and initiatives aimed at showcasing all the incredible opportunities doing an apprenticeship can bring.
We have a series of visitors coming to Bedford College, Cauldwell Street Campus to speak to students about a range of things including interview tips, CV writing, working in the local services and much more. This gives students a fantastic opportunity to engage with professionals who can give them the best tips and tricks so please do encourage them to take a trip to the main College reception and optimise this great opportunity.
If you have family or friends who are interested in Apprenticeships, we have a series of drop-in sessions running throughout the whole week.
A full schedule can be found below: The Jobs Hub Tuesday 4th February 10.00am - 12pm Workpays Wednesday 5th February 9.00am -11.00am Peak Production Wednesday 5th February 2.00pm – 4.00pm Beds Fire & Rescue Thursday 6th February 10.00am – 2.00pm
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YOUR PICTURES Every month you send the Marketing Team wonderful images from our different campuses that they post on to our social media channels. Here are some of the highlights from the past few months.
Over the festive month of December, Brooks were running Christmas Nail Art competitions. Pictured is the winning design by Alanya Fearnley who is studying on a Foundation Beauty Therapy course.
Our Level 3 Agriculture students held a cake sale in December raising £35.60 for Children in Need.
At the end of 2019, our Level 3 Outdoor Adventure students took a trip to the Lake District.
Performing Arts students at Tresham were on the stage performing The Addams Family musical which also coincided with Creativity Month.
Safer Northants set up with a stand at the Corby Campus to support Dry January and our students were able to try out a ‘Drink Spin’ game which tested their knowledge on excessive drinking.
Our first year A-level students studying Sport had the opportunity to attend a School Games Marker Conference at the University of Bedfordshire and they even got the chance to meet Olympic athlete Montell Douglas.
Former air cabin crew Malin Andersson who also appeared on ITV’s Love Island visited Bedford College to speak to students about how she dealt with mental health issues and domestic abuse. The visit was arranged by our Travel & Tourism Students.
Dan Welling, Technical Sales Representative and Tim Wright, Digital Marketing Manager at Farécla visited Level 2 Vehicle Body Repair & Paint students at Bedford College earlier this month. Dan spent time during the visit demonstrating polishing and finishing techniques and products with our students.
16 February 2020
SPOTLIGHT ON ESTATES & FACILITIES: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT DO? The department is essential in the overall running of the College, from opening up in the morning to closing the buildings at night. We have to ensure that the buildings are clean, safe, maintained and heated to allow the core business to operate with minimal interruption whereever possible. The Group wide Estates & Facilities department services 21 sites comprising of 53 buildings with a total floor area of c95,000m2 and a site area of 130ha (320 acres). It is a specialist section in its own right that supports the core business of the College and we constantly evolve accordingly to the demands placed upon it to assure that a high quality of service is delivered for the best possible value.
ESTATES & FACILITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR: Providing a safe and welcoming environment for students, staff and visitors. We maintain the physical security of buildings and property, and provide a high level of security across campuses including the completion of patrolling and regular ID checks. We ensure that cleaning and housekeeping levels are to a high standard throughout all College facilities, and that our recycling levels are maximised, with zero landfill waste. Other duties include portering, deliveries and office moves. Providing well maintained working environments. Duties include reactive maintenance requests from the online system, statutory tasks to ensure the buildings are safe for all, and proactive condition checking of all buildings to improve the environments provided for our customers. In addition, the team are responsible for the upkeep of all of the grounds and with the areas involved at Corby and Kettering, this is a huge task. Statutory compliance Including fire management, risk assessments, emergency procedures and fire strategy for the organisation. Management of all systems and procedures associated with asbestos and legionella.
Contracts management Includes management of the cleaning, window cleaning, waste, utilities, maintenance agreements for all plant and equipment, fire alarms, intruder alarms and CCTV.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED? We have Estates & Facilities team members based at the Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough campuses.
WHAT ROLES DOES EACH TEAM MEMBER HAVE? Diane Gamble – Director of Estates & Facilities Margot Sauntson – Head of Estates & Facilities Leanne Sperling – Estates & Facilities Team Leader Laurence Shone – Estates & Facilities Co-ordinator Alan Northern – Estates & Facilities Co-ordinator Vince Chong, James Holtby, Curtis Harewood, Ian Johnson, Darren Rathbone, George Coffey, Joe McLaughlin, David Daniels – Estates & Facilities Assistants Due to the retirement of Mark Beecroft in the summer of 2019, there have been some significant changes within the management structure of the department. Margot Sauntson now works across the Group as Head of Estates & Facilities and splits her time between Bedford and Kettering. Leanne Sperling is now in place as Estates & Facilities Team Leader, with support from Laurence Shone and Alan Northern in the roles of Estates & Facilities Co-ordinators.
WHAT CHALLENGES WILL YOU FACE THIS YEAR? To ensure that we provide an extensive support service and to achieve statutory compliance with restrictions on budget and limited resource. With budget and resource limitations in place it is a challenge to ensure that buildings safe and sound for both staff and students to work in. To work more efficiently, smarter, and proactively whilst developing the team and running all campuses to the best of our ability.
The refurbishment of the Wellingborough Church Street campus, with the site planned to be operational from September 2020.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? No two days are the same, continuously busy – we never know what issues will arise and the team have to be extremely flexible in their approach and are very resilient. We have a great department with lots of camaraderie and different characters, no day is ever boring!
ANY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE IN THE TEAM? Diane Gamble – Loves all things horticultural and has an allotment. Adores Christmas and enjoys jazz, going to the theatre and reading, Formula 1 and rugby union. Also a qualified upholsterer. Margot Sauntson – Loves holidays, weekends away, socialising with friends and family and lets off steam by doing Clubbercise and just started C25K again (in the winter). Leanne Sperling - Enjoys holidays and socialising, and sampling different flavours of gin. Laurence Shone – Is a school governor at Higham Ferrers Junior School and has been since 2013. He is currently the Chair of the Premises Committee for the school. Laurence is famous within the team for his infectious laugh and big wave! Alan Northern – Served 10 years in the Police force and a brown belt in judo. Vince Chong – Enjoys travelling and recently met up with family members in Hong Kong he didn’t know existed. Loves food and cooking. James Holtby – Regularly trains in JKD martial arts and plays basketball. James studies psychology and is learning to play the guitar. He loves the outdoors and hiking. Curtis Harewood – Supports Manchester United and loves football. He likes to read about quantum physics and about the universe. Ian Johnson – Enjoys socialising with friends, holidays and travelling and going for long walks.
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SPOTLIGHT ON Darren Rathbone – Likes gardening, holidays, playing pool and listening to music. George Coffey - Used to be a plasterer by trade, and played darts to county level – he even carried his darts with him on his wedding day, just in case he had time for a game! David Daniels - Enjoys spending time with his friends, family and grandchildren. He is currently building an extension to his home and has a keen interest in horses and farming.
(L-R) Diane Gamble and Margot Sauntson
Joe McLaughlin – Used to be in the military, is football mad, supports Glasgow Celtic and co-manages a football team in Corby, Weldon United. The rest of his free time is spent with his family.
(L-R) David Daniels, Joe McLaughlin, George Coffey and Laurence Shone
Corby Campus
Bottom row: (L-R) James Holtby, Curtis Harewood, Vince Chong Middle row: (L-R) Margot Sauntson and Leanne Sperling Kettering Campus
Top row: (L-R) Alan Northern
Wellingborough Campus
(L-R) Ian Johnson and Darren Rathbone
18 February 2020