COLLEGE VOICE News and updates from Langley, Strode’s and Windsor Colleges.
Issue 3 Spring 2020
Part of the
WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP
IT’S A ‘GOOD’ FROM OFSTED Welcome to the third edition of College Voice, our termly newsletter bringing you all the exciting news from across our group of colleges. What a great way to start 2020 with a ‘GOOD’ rating from Ofsted! In our first full inspection since the merger, our group of colleges impressed the Ofsted inspectors when they visited us in November. A team of 11 inspectors explored all aspects of teaching, learning, support and outcomes at each of the colleges. They delivered a resounding ‘GOOD’ rating across the board for overall effectiveness, quality, behaviour, personal development, leadership, education for young people, adult learning and apprenticeships. With the new Ofsted framework putting the learner experience at the heart of its inspection process, a proud Group Principal and CEO Kate Webb commented: ‘What is really meaningful about this result is that the inspectors reached their judgements by speaking directly with learners and therefore what is contained in the report is a true reflection of Langley, Strode’s and Windsor Colleges.’
PRAISE FROM OFSTED: LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Learners and apprentices benefit from a calm and respectful learning environment. Behaviour in lessons and across all college centres is very good and learners feel safe.
STRENGTH OF CAREERS GUIDANCE After good advice from staff, learners choose programmes that meet their needs well. Learners can study on vocational programmes alongside A Level courses.
QUALITY OF TEACHING Teachers sequence and deliver the curriculum in a logical and well-planned way.
SUPPORT AND ADDED-VALUE Learners value, and gain confidence from, the high levels of support and care from staff.
Take a look inside and find out what’s been happening at our colleges this term.
GUARANTEED APPLICANT STATUS
APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 We’re busy interviewing for places for September 2020, so if you have not yet applied there’s still time. Visit our website or contact admissions@windsor-forest.ac.uk if you have any questions.
We are delighted to offer pupils from our core feeder schools Guaranteed Applicant Status. This means we will fast track your application and interview. Check if your school is on the list at windsor-forest.ac.uk/support-services/ guaranteed-applicant
WHAT’S INSIDE: Langley College page 2
Strode’s College page 3
Windsor College page 4
AN EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM
STRODE’S HELPS UNIVERSITY PREPARATION
Ofsted said:
Ofsted said: Learners receive effective careers guidance. Most learners who intend to progress to higher education do so, often to their first-choice institution.
Learners and apprentices benefit from a calm and respectful learning environment.
FORMER STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL LEARNING AWARDS Former Langley College Access to Higher Education students have taken title honours in the national Laser Learning Awards 2020. Amber O’Brien, Access to Nursing and Health Professions student has won first prize in the Outstanding Academic Achievement category and fellow Access to Social Sciences student Louise Kettle was awarded runner up for the same category. Amber and Louise will be awarded a financial prize to go towards the cost of their studies.
OXBRIDGE SUCCESS
NEW GOVERNMENT FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR NURSING STUDENTS
LANGLEY TOP FUTSAL LEAGUE LEADER BOARD
There’s some great news from the government if you’re considering training for a career in nursing, midwifery or other allied health professions. From September 2020 students on these degree programmes will receive at least £5,000 a year, which they will not have to pay back!
Langley’s Sport students continue to put their best foot forward progressing well in the Association of Colleges Regional Futsal League. Comprehensive wins against Peter Symonds College, Chichester College and Merrist Wood College sees the squad at the top of the league leader board having played six, won five and lost one, by goal difference.
If you haven’t yet got the skills and qualifications required to progress to a nursing, midwifery programme or courses allied to medicine then take a look at Langley’s Nursing and Health Professions Access to Higher Education course. windsor-forest.ac.uk/courses
Strode’s College’s exclusive A*spire programme has once again delivered outstanding Oxbridge results with the news that five students are celebrating offers (pending final results) to study at the UK’s two most prestigious universities, Oxford and Cambridge. Students will be progressing to a variety of courses including Classics, English, Engineering, HSPS (Human, Social and Political Sciences) and Mathematics. A*spire is Strode’s enrichment programme designed to expand horizons, be challenging intellectually and provide support to assist students to become competitive candidates for the most prestigious courses and universities.
STRODE’S 1ST XI MEN’S FOOTBALL
APPRENTICESHIP SUCCESS UNDER NEW STANDARDS
Our first cohorts of Carpentry and Painting and Decorating apprentices are progressing extremely strongly and will be going through their End Point Assessment (EPA) later this year. By 31 July all our programmes will be to the new standards – visit the website for more information.
DIARY DATES Parents’ Evening Wednesday 25 March 2020 2 I COLLEGE VOICE Newsletter
Future Pathways Fair Wednesday 1 April 2020
It’s official – we really do have the best teachers! Eleanor Turner, our Course Leader for Dance at Strode’s College, has been shortlisted for the highly celebrated 2020 Tes FE Awards, Teacher of the Year. This much deserved shortlisting is in recognition of Eleanor’s exceptional results, her passion and knowledge and her partnership working and industry links. Her dedication has delivered outstanding results, which are in the top 25% nationally and seen recruitment to her courses increase by 40%. Winners will be announced on Friday 20 March.
After a superb 3–0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur’s college scheme side, Strode’s 1st XI Men’s Football team is just one win away from the National Cup quarter finals. The team were undaunted by the opponent’s premiership links putting in a terrific performance which saw them dominate possession from the off.
With the recent transition from frameworks to standards, we are delighted that many apprentices have successfully completed their programmes on a wide range of qualifications and levels. Many IT, Business Admin, Hairdressing and Motor Vehicle apprentices have achieved exceptional results including distinctions!
windsor-forest.ac.uk/becoming-an-apprentice
TES FE AWARDS, TEACHER OF THE YEAR
DISCOVER MORE AT LANGLEY OPEN DAY Thursday 12 March 2020 4.30pm – 7.00pm windsor-forest.ac.uk/opendays
DISCOVER MORE AT STRODE’S OPEN DAY DIARY DATES Future Pathways Fair Thursday 19 March 2020
Student Parliament Wednesday 25 March 2020
Thursday 2 July 2020 4.30pm – 7.00pm windsor-forest.ac.uk/opendays
WINDSOR TEACHERS ARE A HIGHLIGHT Ofsted said: Learners benefit from vocational staff who are industry professionals and academic staff who continue to develop their own subject knowledge through external study.
ENRICHING THE WINDSOR EXPERIENCE A ‘meaningful’ sixth form experience stands for more than top academics here at Windsor. A comprehensive programme of trips, workshops and expert speakers both enriches our students’ study experience but also serves as wider preparation for life after Windsor. During this first term of 2020 students have visited Tate Modern (Photography), Victoria and Albert Museum (Art and Design), UCL (Sociology), Keynote History Conference (History) and an animation workshop. The careers department have also been busy with external speakers and trips including an employability workshop from Waitrose and John Lewis, degree apprenticeships with the University of Portsmouth and a motivational speaker from Prison Me No Way!
STREET LAW CLINIC INSPIRES STRODE’S AND WINDSOR LAW STUDENTS An important part of our role is to provide both inspiration and guidance to enable students to make the right progression. A recent interactive Street Law Clinic for A Level Law students did just that by giving the inside track on law careers. The workshop, delivered by Royal Holloway, University of London’s Law Department, was designed to help students plan their futures with a focus on legal career paths and employability options, beyond the obvious solicitor or barrister route. Students saw that law can involve the police, paralegals, legal secretaries, academia, in-house lawyers and a lot more in between.
COMPETING FOR NATIONAL HONOURS A number of Windsor A Level Maths and Chemistry students have been bidding for national honours this term. Maths skills have been put to the test in the UK Senior Maths Challenge and Chemistry knowledge thoroughly quizzed in the Olympiad. Strong performances were delivered throughout and we are waiting for the official results to be announced!
DIARY DATES Student Parliament Wednesday 1 April 2020
Higher Education Fair Thursday 7 May 2020
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4 I COLLEGE VOICE Newsletter
DISCOVER MORE AT WINDSOR OPEN DAY Tuesday 23 June 2020 4.30pm – 7.00pm windsor-forest.ac.uk/opendays