Middlesbrough College Student and Parent Newsletter

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MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE

Student and Parent Newsletter Issue 2 2017/18

TOP IN THE TEES VALLEY

Hardworking staff and students at Middlesbrough College have proved themselves number-one in the Tees Valley.

The College is on top across a number of measures published by the Government, showing it is outperforming all general further education colleges in the area.

Department for Education data shows Middlesbrough College A Level students made the best progress of their regional peers. And for Level 2 technical and vocational qualifications and Level 3 vocational (applied general) qualifications, the College scores higher than any of its neighbours.

Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive of Middlesbrough College, said: “These results are a fantastic endorsement of the hard work of our staff and students.�

Head to our website for more information and to view our DfE tables. www.mbro.ac.uk

VOCATIONAL COURSES

STUDENTS CROWNED REGIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR Hair and Beauty students from Middlesbrough College wowed judges at the annual Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) National Finals. The team of 26 students competed in the North East heat and won best overall college of 2018, with students progressing to nationals and scooping a number of awards.

EMILY CELEBRATING OFFER TO STUDY AT TOP THEATRE SCHOOL

SPOTLIGHT ON

Performing Arts

Production Arts students are celebrating after receiving a string of offers from top theatre schools, including the world-renowned London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Middlesbrough College student Emily Baxter, 19, has been accepted to the prestigious theatre school – whose alumni include the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Emily said: “I loved the theatre but didn’t want to be on stage so when I heard about the Production Arts course it seemed like the perfect match. I’m really excited to start the Technical Production in Stage and Screen course at LAMDA.”

AMAZING FACILITIES Performance and Production Arts students have access to an on-site 156 seat commercial theatre with full sound and lighting capabilities plus many modern rehearsal rooms. Here, students will get the chance to develop their confidence and professionalism in one of our many productions across the year, either performing on stage or supporting with the staging, sound and music.

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Course Information 01642 333333

VOCATIONAL COURSES

TRIO ENCOURAGE OTHER YOUNG WOMEN TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION Three young women on course to make careers in the construction industry have encouraged others to follow suit. Ellie Jones, Adele Oliver and Paris Highfield are all aspiring to work in the painting and decorating industry on completion of their course. The trio, who are currently all studying painting and decorating courses are now calling on other young women to consider careers in construction – which is a key ambition of government to tackle the gender imbalance in the industry.

Adele commented: “The course is so creative, I especially enjoy creating my own patterns as you really have to pay attention to detail. I don’t understand why people would think this is a course for boys, it’s for both! All the tutors are really good and are very supportive.”

SPOTLIGHT ON

Construction

DEVELOPING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE MC Build is the only on campus outdoor construction yard in the region and gives students the opportunity to train in a real working environment. Many of our students have been offered apprenticeships as local employers frequently visit the yard and have been impressed with the quality and professionalism of the work!

SPOTLIGHT ON

Travel & Aviation

FANTASTIC

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES A group of travel and tourism students went on their annual trip to New York visiting famous landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

The students also experienced a unique flight with Virgin Atlantic to mark Virgin’s purchase of the plane from Air Berlin and celebrating International Women’s Day with an allfemale crew.

Email. courseinfo@mbro.ac.uk Web. www.mbro.ac.uk

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VOCATIONAL COURSES

STUDENTS PRAISED BY PATIENTS WHILST ON PLACEMENT Two health and care students have received a glowing report from staff at James Cook University Hospital following a successful stint working on a residential ward. Sophie Presley and Lucy Coles got to grips working on an elderly ward as part of a seven month work placement. The two students were able to shadow nursing staff working on the ward and provided much needed companionship to many of the patients.

Debi McKeown, Nursing Sister in Therapeutic Care at James Cook commented: “In the short time the students’ were on the ward they made a lasting impression. Both Sophie and Lucy were very caring and compassionate; one patient even commented that the girls had made their hospital stay!”

SPOTLIGHT ON

Health and Care

SPOTLIGHT ON

Engineering

TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD Engineering & Motor Vehicle students visited Berlin for 4 days. The students had a jam-packed itinerary including visiting the BMW Motorcycle factory tour, The German Technical Museum, the Statsi Museum, The DDR East German Museum, East Side Gallery, Berlin Zoo and The Brandenberg Gate!

FANTASTIC WORK PLACEMENTS Work experience is a compulsory feature of our health and care programmes and we have great employer links, allowing students to secure placements in a range of health and care settings. Our on-site health and care ward replicates a real hospital environment meaning students are able to develop practical experience in hygiene and patient care before they progress into the workplace.

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Course Information 01642 333333

APPRENTICESHIPS

CELEBRATING SUCCESS AT ANNUAL APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS CEREMONY Northern Skills Group, the apprenticeship and training arm of Middlesbrough College, has celebrated the exceptional performance of its apprentices over the past year at its first annual Apprentice Awards Evening. Numerous awards were presented during National Apprenticeship Week, which highlighted the achievements of apprentices across a range of sectors.

The evening culminated in an overall Apprentice of the Year Award winner which was scooped by 19 year-old Lyndon Davies. Lyndon, who also collected the IT and Digital Apprentice Award on the night, was commended on his outstanding performance and

the progress he has made with Trade Interchange Ltd. Despite being the youngest member of its software team, Lyndon is already writing code to test the company's technology. He is also ahead of target to complete his Level 3 IT Professional Apprenticeship.

Lyndon said: "I was very proud to win the IT award, but to win the overall Apprentice Award is amazing. The support I have received from Trade Interchange Ltd. and from Northern Skills Group has been brilliant. My apprenticeship is giving me the skills and experience I need for a career in the software industry and is proving to be the best route for me."

LOOKING FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP?

LOOKING TO HIRE AN APPRENTICE?

You can find all of our apprenticeship programmes, check out who’s hiring and sign up to our vacancy bulletin at northernskills.co.uk. Alternatively, if you know a local business willing to employ you as an apprentice, ask them to call 03453 40 40 40 and we’ll do the rest.

Many businesses across the UK see apprenticeships as a cost effective way to recruit new staff and incorporate it into their business growth strategy.

Apprenticeships not only increase productivity but also ensure your workforce is highly skilled and ahead of latest developments in the industry.

Northern Skills Group provide a full recruitment service and work with you to train your apprentice.

Links with over 2000 employers 82.7% Apprenticeship success rate Training over 2,500 Apprentices Email. courseinfo@mbro.ac.uk Web. www.mbro.ac.uk

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ACCESS TO HE

TORI ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO ENGINEER NEW CAREERS A Teesside mum-of-one is launching a new career for herself and now she’s encouraging other women to follow suit. Tori Stephenson received an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Engineering and is now in her final year of studying for a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Tori, a former bank worker, decided to retrain after having her daughter and relocating to the North East.

She explained: “Traditionally engineering is a male dominated field but there’s no reason that should be the case. If you’re considering returning to education as a mature student then I’d definitely recommend thinking about engineering, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!”.

FUNDING AN ACCESS DIPLOMA If you are aged 19-23 and this is your first full Level 3 course, then the course will be free! If you are 24 or over on the start date of your course, you will have to pay fees, but you will be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover these costs.

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This is easy to apply for, not means tested and the repayments only start when you are earning over £21,000. An Access Diploma costs approximately £3k which is considerably cheaper than a Year 0 course at university. Better still, if you progress to university and successfully complete your degree, the loan is not repayable.

SPOTLIGHT ON

Built Environment PREPARING YOU FOR WORK Access to Built Environment prepares students for careers in civil engineering, quantity surveying and architecture. The course covers a diverse range of modules including project management, sustainability, building regulations and design. A key focus of the course with be on maths and estimating as these skills are transferable within all modules.

Course Information 01642 333333

ACCESS TO HE

Student Success Ellie Young

Studied: Access to Health

WHAT IS AN ACCESS DIPLOMA? Access to Higher Education Diplomas offer an alternative route for people who want to go on to university but don’t have traditional qualifications.

The year-long courses equip students with the skills and know-how required for further study.

The College is the largest provider of Access Diplomas in the North East, offering the 15 subjects below, leading to a wide range of university level courses.

• • • • • • • • •

Access to Art & Design Access to Business Studies Access to Computing Access to Creative & Digital Industries Access to Health Access to Humanities & Social Sciences Access to Science Access to Social Work Studies Access to Sports Studies

The only College in the Tees Valley that offers: • Access to Music • Access to Performing Arts The only College in the North East that offers: • Access to Engineering • Access to Media • Access to Games Design • Access to Built Environment

Email. courseinfo@mbro.ac.uk Web. www.mbro.ac.uk

Ellie decided to pursue her dream career in midwifery by returning to education and enrolling on an Access course when her daughter started fulltime school.

“I have been out of education for a long time so it was daunting returning to College but the course has been amazing and the tutors were so supportive! Alongside my course, I volunteered at James Cook hospital which helped me to secure a Midwifery place at York University.

“Now I am a qualified midwife working at James Cook University which is the ideal profession for me as I love caring for people and making a difference to their lives.

“I’d recommend the Access course to anyone thinking of returning to education. It’s the perfect stepping stone to university study and I managed to do it with a husband and three kids!”

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HIGHER EDUCATION

OFFERING QUALITY DEGREES ON YOUR DOORSTEP Middlesbrough College offers a great selection of full and part-time university courses delivered on campus by experienced teaching staff. Having a top rated college on your doorstep – so you can still live at home while you study – can provide all sorts of benefits for students in addition to quality teaching, including huge savings on accommodation and travel expenses.

We are the only GFE College or university in the Tees Valley to secure gold status in the Teaching Excellence Standard Framework awards. This was based on our student facilities, quality of teaching and employment outcomes. This places us in the top 20% of higher education providers in the country!

See how our performance compares against other providers in the North: Middlesbrough College

Teesside University

Northumbria University

Leeds Beckett University

York St John University

Gold

Silver

Silver

Silver

Bronze

Teaching

87.1%

86.8%

86.2%

83.6%

86%

Assessment and Feedback

81.2%

76.3%

73.8%

69.4%

71.5%

Academic Support

88.3%

83.7%

83.5%

81%

83.5%

+5.3%

-7.6%

-1.6%

-4.1

-1.6

Teaching Excellence Framework Rating

National Student Survey Results

Full-time Graduates in Highly Skilled Employment or Further Study Against Benchmark

PARTNERS OF EXCELLENCE Most of the courses offered by Middlesbrough College are validated by The Open University. Established in 1964, the OU is a globally recognised brand and currently validates over 250 programmes working with colleges and employers across the country.

Our engineering programmes are validated by Pearson - the leading name for HNC/HND qualifications. Available at level 4 and 5, these specialist vocational qualifications teach learners the key concepts and practical skills for direct progression to, or within, employment.

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“88% OF FTSE 100 COMPANIES TRUST THE OPEN UNIVERSITY TO DEVELOP THEIR EMPLOYEES.” Course Information 01642 333333

CHOOSE TO STUDY A DEGREE WITH US AND YOU COULD SAVE UP TO £7,000!

3 YEAR FULL-TIME DEGREE WITH INTEGRATED FOUNDATION DEGREE*

Open University Degree at Middlesbrough College Duration Qualification Received Year 3 Year 2 Year 1

Other Institution

Cost £ Qualification Received

BSc or BA Honours 8,500 Degree (Top-up) Foundation Degree 6,125 N/A 6,125 Total Cost £ 20,750

BSc or BA Honours Degree (Top-up) Foundation Degree N/A

Cost £ 9,250 9,250 9,250 27,750

FULL-TIME PROGRAMMES

• Honours Degree/Top-up: £8,500 per year • Foundation Degree: £6,150 per year • Higher National Certificate/Diploma: £4,500 per year

PART-TIME PROGRAMMES

• • • •

Cert Ed./PGCE £1,975 per year Honours Degree Top-up: £4,000 per year Foundation Degree: £3,960 per year Higher National Certificate/Diploma: £2,250 per year

A LITTLE EXTRA FROM MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE

Students on a 3 year full degree programme will be eligible for a bursary scheme of £1000 across their first and second year of study. This is not means tested and is split into yearly instalments across the duration of the course. This can be used as you wish but can help with course books, equipment, travel and accommodation.

ON-CAMPUS UNIVERSITY CENTRE All of our university level courses are taught on-site at our Middlehaven campus where we offer a different experience to a traditional university, with smaller class sizes and more contact time with tutors. Our Higher Education Centre is a dedicated study area exclusively for our university level students. This fantastic new addition to the College provides fantastic teaching space and independent study areas as well as a social space.

JOB FOCUSED DEGREES Study for a degree with a strong employment focus and employment links!

Email. courseinfo@mbro.ac.uk Web. www.mbro.ac.uk

Our university level courses include: • Professional masterclasses • Visits to the workplace • Opportunities for work experience and internships • Work on live projects • Opportunities to exhibit work and professional events

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ENRICHMENT

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TEST BUSINESS IDEAS Budding entrepreneurs got a taste of what it’s like to run their own business thanks to a pop-up shop event at Middlesbrough College. Sponsored by Natwest’s Launchpad program, students from across the College were given the opportunity to set up a ‘pop-up shop’ and given free rein to come up with ideas for their businesses – as well as keep the profits.

Shops included One Stop Drink Shop, a milkshake bar, and Dainty Delights, a vintage-inspired tearoom selling homemade cupcakes. The winning pop-up was I Do Frames, run by Jade McMenanmin and Katelynn Newman. The pair were selling their range of personalised gifts and timed the launch of their new website to coincide with the event.

Jade said: “It’s been amazing, we’re hoping to turn I Do Frames into a fully-fledged business so this has been great experience.”

EMPLOYABILITY

AND ENTERPRISE

Our unique scheme called Advantage consists of a range of activities, sessions and workshops to help students develop the skills needed for successful progression onto university, an apprenticeship, employment or self-employment. There are four Advantage packages: Get that Job, Going to Uni, Business Start-Up and Life Essentials. Each package offers a range of engaging skills and development sessions.

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Andy Preston delivering a masterclass in social enterprise.

Student Success Michael Bulmer Studies: Level 3 Sport Exercise Science

Aspiring sportsman Michael started playing futsal for York City Academy and has also played football for Sunderland and Middlesbrough Academy. The talented sports student has trained at the England Camps and for England in Holland. Michael is part of the Football Academy and plays football for the College, he said the sport course and the academy is the reason he chose to study at Middlesbrough College.

Course Information 01642 333333

STUDENT SERVICES

HISTORIC WIN FOR STUDENT SERVICES Middlesbrough College’s Student Services Department have scooped the top award at the prestigious National Association for Managers of Student Services (NAMSS) Award Ceremony. In the most coveted award of the evening, Middlesbrough College won first prize for its Student Services Wellbeing Team. Sponsored by eSafe, the Overall Student Services Team Award represents the department who have made a positive impact on the student experience beyond the usual expectations. The judging panel commended the team’s overall ethos and approach of putting students first, noting an increase in the College’s mental health provision.

FREE TRAVEL FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS Travelling to and from College shouldn’t be an issue, which is why we have teamed up with the area’s biggest bus and train operators to offer students FREE weekday bus travel and REIMBURSED train travel to and from Middlesbrough College. Whether students live 15 or 50 minutes away, there are a number of bus and train routes available to make the journey that bit easier.

Check out our website for the full list of bus and train services.

Email. courseinfo@mbro.ac.uk Web. www.mbro.ac.uk

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALISE THEIR POTENTIAL WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION The Future Me Initiative aims to increase the awareness of higher education opportunities and progression pathways for young people at the College to help both them and their parents/ guardians understand what higher education opportunities are available in the North East and beyond. Students taking part will have access to a range of activities and events to support them in considering their future options and learning about educational pathways available to them.

To discuss the many opportunities available in higher education, book an appointment to speak to a Career Advisor in our newly opened Careers Hub. Call 01642 333257 or email careers@mbro.ac.uk.

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UPCOMING EVENTS 2018 GET THAT APPRENTICESHIP EVENT Come along to our apprenticeship open event and meet our specialist team, chat with industry experts and find out what you can do to stand out from the crowd and secure your dream apprenticeship.

SCHOOL LEAVER OPEN EVENING Discover our great range of A Levels, vocational courses and apprenticeships.

Perfect for Year 10 and 11 students. Visit direct.mbro.ac.uk/2018 to book your place.

26 JUN 3PM - 6PM

11 JUL 3PM - 6PM

NOT YET APPLIED TO MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE? You can do so by visiting our website and completing an application form. Alternatively, you can email our Admissions Team on admissions@mbro.ac.uk and request a free-post application form. If you would like to change or add a course to your application, please call the team on 01642 333601 and they will be happy to help you.

We are

RESULTS IN 5% THE TOP 2 GES OF COLLE LY* L A NATION

MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE CALL 01642 333800 OR TEXT ‘SCHOOLS’ TO 83123 *For A Level and Vocational Progress and Apprenticeship Achievement