Last week was College Sport Week , a national theme created by the Association of Colleges and British College of Sport to encourage colleges to be more active! Here at Leicester College we put on a range of activities from fast, furious Dodgeball to elegant and fun Chasamba. Over 80 learners took part in these activities during the course of the week across all three campuses , it was a great week . All the activities will continue until the end of term and with the weather brightening up what a great time to get involved.  Please click the link below for details of the sessions.

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This is following a compliance visit by UK Border Agency officials to the college in January 2013 to review the previous sponsorship rating.

The status is an essential government precondition for attracting non-EU based foreign students.

This means that Leicester College will continue to be listed on the UK Border Agency’s Register of Sponsors and offer courses at NQF level 3 and above.

Don Brooks, Deputy Principal, Quality, Planning and Corporate Services at Leicester College said: “We are absolutely delighted to have maintained our Highly Trusted Sponsor status by Border Agency.  It recognises Leicester College is fully compliant with the terms and conditions that apply to learners coming here from overseas to undertake courses.”

This picture by photography learner Jordan Deeney is part of the collection.

A partnership between Leicester College and Leicester Arts & Museums Service has been hailed a success for engaging people with contemporary art to have a meaningful impact on their lives.

Part of the ten-month project involved  the display of 148 portraits, 78 photos which were taken by learners from the Creative Arts, Media and Photography department at Leicester College as a part of their photography courses and 70 photos were taken by members of the public as part of the sandergram exhibition.

These were shown at Leicester People’s Photographic Gallery to celebrate the city’s creative responses to one the greatest photographers of the 20th century, German photographer August Sander.

These were on display at the gallery from 18th March to 12th April 2013.

21 pieces of those works have been selected to be part of the Arts & Museums permanent collection, including those of ten learners from Leicester College, and one lecturer.

Lisa Jacques, Learning Officer Contemporary Art, Leicester Arts & Museums Service, said: “The images selected provide us with a rich collection of Sander inspired portraits that will now become part of our permanent collection. The quality of the learners work is outstanding and both the learners and lecturers should be commended on all the hard work and commitment it has taken to achieve this.”

Paul Kinsley, Curriculum Area Manager for Creative Media and Photography, said it was a proud achievement for both staff and learners at Leicester College.

He said: We have formed an exciting partnership with Leicester Arts & Museums Learning. Through this project, our learners have been inspired by the work of August Sander and consequently raised the profile of photography in the city.

“Knowing that some of our learners’ works are part of Leicester Arts & Museums Service permanent collection is indeed a proud moment for Leicester College and helps to form a lasting legacy for the project.”

Leicester Arts and Museums Service have also funded two artists’ visits to Leicester College to give masterclass sessions to the learners.

Renowned photographer for The New York Times, Le Monde, and The Guardian Gareth McConnell and award-winning photographer Harry Borden have both visited learners at the St Margaret’s Campus. 

Their visits have been aimed to inspire learners with their own photography projects and provide unique insights in the professional field.

I’ve had outstanding support from my tutors and its helped to change my life for the better.

Chair of Governors Martin Ward with David Way, Executive Director of the National Apprenticeship Service and Verity Hancock, Leicester College Principal

Leicester College’s Annual General Meeting gave members of the public, staff and governors the opportunity to hear about the College’s successes and future plans.  However, the overriding theme of the evening was apprenticeships, their value in increasing the work readiness of young people and adults and their positive impact on businesses and the economy. 

The College welcomed David Way, the Executive Director of the National Apprenticeship Service to deliver the annual Alderman Sir Charles Keene Lecture on ‘The Future of Apprenticeships and Why They Matter.’ 

Throughout the opening addresses, Leicester College’s new Principal, Verity Hancock, and Chair of Governors, Martin Ward, spoke of the importance of the apprenticeship route and Leicester College’s support for apprenticeships.  Martin also talked about the College’s focus on ‘fostering links with businesses and local companies.’

Verity spoke about focusing on apprenticeships in the future.  She said she wanted to see ‘Leicester College continue to increase the number of apprenticeships’ and plans to work closely with the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) to achieve this.

David Way talked to the meeting about the rapidly growing reputation of apprenticeships and the breadth of industry sectors that these now cover.  He highlighted that now more than 85% of apprentices’ progress into employment with the businesses where they complete their apprenticeships and that we now have more female apprentices than ever before. 

Overall, it was a positive meeting, reviewing the numerous successes that the College enjoyed over 2011/12.  One key message was repeated again and again – apprenticeships are the future.

Tyrone Williams and Fraser Whittingham, both studying towards their Foundation Degree in Photography and Video, have been successful with the Ilford Harman Student Photographer of the Year.

Fraser was highly commended and awarded the Runner-up Inkjet Award and Tyrone received the Commended Inkjet Award. They were among two of 600 entries received in the competition.

Fraser Whittingham, who is dyslexic, says creative art was always where he felt most comfortable and able to express himself through his lens.

He explains: “My interest has always been in photography. My focus has always been the natural world. I prefer landscape photography rather than portraiture. It’s more appealing to me.

“I couldn’t believe that I was runner-up. It was the first time I had ever submitted anything.  I’ve seen my work improve whilst I’ve been on the course. We’ve all had great support from the staff and lecturers at Leicester College which has really helped.”

Tyrone and Fraser’s work was on display at ‘Focus On Imaging’ at the NEC Birmingham in March 2013, which is commonly known as Europe’s largest annual imaging show.

Adult learner David Hammersely, who’s also a Foundation Degree learner in Photography and Video, has recently exhibited his work at the 6×8 International Photography Exhibition, in Leicester.

David, who’s originally from South Ayrshire, said it’s a prestigious opportunity for him.

He said: “This year has been a big year for me. My work has already been displayed at The Leicester People’s Photographic Gallery and my second exhibition was at the 6×8 Project.

“It was a proud moment to see my work on display.”

Chris Gray, a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Photography learner, has had his work shortlisted by the Lisa Pritchard Agency, one of the UK’s prominent artists, management and shoot production agencies.

Paul O’Leary, Lecturer in Photography at Leicester College, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our learners to get involved in national and regional competitions.

“The learner’s work just isn’t college-centric. Projects and competitions outside of our college, as well as the assignments on their chosen courses, are designed to give our learners the confidence and opportunity to showcase their talents in the industry.

“Our ethos at Leicester College is to inspire our learners and I’d like to thank of our learners for taking part. I’m proud of their achievements and successes.”

The Level 2 Fitness Instructor Gym competition was won by Luke Jaynes

Two Fitness and Personal Trainer learners from Leicester College have reached the East Midland’s CYQ Fitness Trainer Competition final.

The learners competed in the Level 2 Fitness Instructor – Gym and Level 3 Personal Trainer competitions to be crowned East Midland winners.

The inaugural competition was held at Leicester College’s Freemen’s Park Campus, on Wednesday, 10 April, 2013.

The Level 2 Fitness Instructor – Gym competition was won by Luke Jaynes and the Level 3 Personal Trainer competition was won by Aaron Hebborn.

They are both enrolled on the NVQ Fitness Instructing and Exercise course at Leicester College.

The winners will now go onto compete in the National Finals during BCS College Sport Week 29th April – 3rd May, at St George’s Park, near Burton-upon-Trent.

The competition was designed to test their understanding of their discipline and innovation and responsiveness to their client’s requirements.

Luke Jaynes said he was delighted to win. He said: “I’m thrilled to reach the finals. It was really hard and tough, but I applied everything I’ve been taught on my course and put it into practice. “

The Level 3 Personal Trainer competition was won by Aaron Hebborn.Pictured with Claire Willis, Curriculum Area Manager for Hospitality and Leisure at Leicester College.

Aaron Hebborn added: “This is a boost to my CV. It was tough because we were given limited time and in real-life situations, we would probably have more time for our consultations.”

Claire Willis, Curriculum Area Manager for Hospitality and Leisure at Leicester College said: “Leicester College is proud to host the inaugural CYQ Fitness Trainer Competition. It provided an excellent learning curve for all our learners who took part and it also helps to inspire them.

“The certification gives them recognition received from their peers and external organisations, which is an excellent boost.”

The CYQ Fitness Trainer Competition is a brand new skills competition to reflect the knowledge and skills demanded by the active leisure sector.

The brainchild of awarding organisation CYQ and Burton & South Derbyshire College and delivered in collaboration with British College Sport (BCS), the competition seeks to recognise and celebrate the excellence of fitness instructors and personal trainers educated within further education colleges across the UK.

Leicester College learners are awarded their certificates with Judy Larder, Programme Area Manager for Continuing Studies.

A group of successful learners are the first to complete a ten week work skills programme, run in partnership with Job Centre Plus.  The course offers young adults with moderate learning difficulties the opportunity to brush up on their work skills.

 Nine learners received their Job Centre Plus Work Skills college certificate on Tuesday 19 March 2013.

 Learner Arran Cochrane, 21, said the course has helped him overcome social barriers that he faced before. He said: “Before I came on the course I couldn’t use the phone to apply for a job. This course has helped me to do that. I can now write a letter of application (reasons why I would be good for the job) and use the job description to help me. My social skills have improved and I have learnt to behave responsibly.”

Aiden Jasper, 18, said: “Before I came on the course I wasn’t able to travel on my own. Laura, my tutor, helped me to travel independently. It feels good to be able to get to places on my own. This will help me get to job interviews. I have always found it difficult to make eye contact, the course has helped me develop more confidence and it seems easier to look at people now when I’m talking to them.

 Judy Larder, Programme Area Manager for Continuing Studies, says the aim of the course is to make learners more confident and help build their skills.

 She explained: “Every student will have access to 1-2-1 tutorials, allowing them to complete work, apply for jobs, using the Universal Job Match website, and have a safe forum to deal with any personal issues that may affect their working life.

“The course is designed to allow individuals the chance to become more confident and assertive in a friendly and comfortable environment.”

 The ten-week course blocks is designed to help those on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) build their confidence with the help and support of their tutors,  They are taught the steps of what to do when they are made unemployed through to how to prepare for an interview.

Frankie Sharman with his self-portrait. Pic courtesy of Leicester Mercury

A stunning array of artworks and contemporary craft by artists from across the East Midlands, including work of two faculty members from Leicester College, is on display at an exhibition in Leicester.

The Open 24 exhibition showcases creative talent in the region with a wide selection of different art forms, from landscape painting to photography, illustration and sculpture, textiles and ceramics.

This year, it includes the works of Christine Johnson-Hulme and Sue Graham, both lecturers in Art at Leicester College.

A number of artist prizes were presented as part of Open 24, including the Attenborough Prize, £2000 to the winning artists.

Leicester College lecturer, Christine Johnson-Hulme won in the Printing Workshop Prize. Her paintings were based in Derry/Northern Ireland.

Lecturer Sue Graham was awarded Artist of the Year for her landscape oil painting of the Norfolk Coast.

A-Level learner Frankie Sharman also has two works on display at the exhibition. He is one of 243 artists who are exhibiting their works.

Christine said: “As an artist it’s always a proud moment to see your work on display, so it’s even better for me to have my work on display with my colleague’s and Frankie’s.

Lecturer Christine Johnson-Hulme with her landscape painting

“It just goes to show the array of talent we have at Leicester College. It’s a very proud moment for me.”

Frankie said: “Last year I won in the youth category, but this year will be the first time I’ve entered into the adult category.

“It was quite interesting to see my teachers submitting their own work.

“It makes me want to produce more of my work and get it out there for everyone to see. It makes me want to be even more creative.”

The exhibition has two categories, the main exhibition for artists aged 19+ and the Youth Category for artists 11 – 15 and 16 – 19 years all competing for range of artists prizes including the £2000 Attenborough Prize.

This year’s panel of selectors consisted of Deirdrie Figuerado, Director of Craftspace in Birmingham, Adel Al-Salloum, Director of The Spark Children’s Arts Festival in Leicester and Lucy Phillips, Director of the Leicester Print Workshop.

The free exhibition is open to view until April 7, 2013.