Skills Development
Certificate - NCFE
Certificate - NCFE
An exciting new secondary school offering vocational training alongside traditional academic qualifications has been given Government approval to open in Plymouth in September 2015.
The Plymouth Studio School was one of only four across the country to be given the go ahead by the Department of Education today. Studio schools are now an established feature in the UK’s education landscape with nearly 50 either open or approved to open across the UK for students of all abilities aged 14-19. Working in partnership with local employers the Plymouth Studio School will offer a range of academic, vocational and professional qualifications in line with the national curriculum to address the growing gap between what young people require to succeed in life and the skills and knowledge the current education system provides. In particular the Plymouth Studio School will pioneer a bold new approach to learning which includes teaching through enterprise projects and real work. This approach ensures students' learning is rooted in the real world and helps them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to flourish in life.
The Plymouth Studio School, which will be intentionally small and focussed, will foster a close-knit learning community specialising in sport, hospitality and tourism and leisure. The new school will be located on the University of St Mark & St John’s campus at Derriford. Once fully operational the Plymouth Studio School, which is a partnership between City College Plymouth, the University of St Mark & St John and businesses in the City, will have some 300 students, aged between 14 and 19, studying on a range of academic and vocational qualifications. The main difference with mainstream schools is that all subjects are taught through projects designed with employers and that they combine classroom teaching with work placements. At first, students will carry out work experience for four hours a week increasing to two days per week, often paid, when they turn 16.
Phil Davies, Principal of City College Plymouth and the lead sponsor of the new school, said of the news: “Our vision is to create a vibrant place of learning, staffed by a team of excellent learning and personal coaches that will equip each individual student with the skills and confidence they need to achieve their full potential. The School will open in September 2015 with 100 students – 60 students in year 10 and 40 in year 12.
“The School will provide another real educational alternative for local students and their parents: a unique curriculum offer in Plymouth which will provide a genuine opportunity to give students an education that will take them confidently into the workplace or on to higher education. By the very nature of its design the Plymouth Studio School will improve links to local communities and offer a dynamic learning environment for students and staff where learning is rigorous and creative, with real world application. As a result students will gain qualifications that have real currency in the working world.”
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, commented: “Plymouth City Council have made clear their commitment to more jobs and more homes in the City. We are proud of our diverse and high performing range of educational opportunities for young people and we recognise the skills they will need to take their place in a city that is growing economically. The Studio School brings a new opportunity to the table for young people and its links to City College Plymouth and the University of St Mark & St John will add to the City’s richness. With three higher education institutions and an excellent FE college no-one could say that Plymouth is not a fantastic city for education and future employment options.”
The specialist nature of the Plymouth Studio School will lead to careers within the lifestyle services and visitor economy, a critical sector of Plymouth’s and the UK’s economy and accounting for almost one in five jobs in the UK. The visitor economy in Plymouth contributes significantly to the City’s wealth, supporting over 8,000 jobs with significant further growth projected 2013-2031. Many local and national organisations have lent their support to the development, including Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Raiders, Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club, Plymouth City Council, Destination Plymouth, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Marine Aquarium, the National Trust, Plymouth Pavilions, the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Boringdon Hall Hotel, the Copthorne Hotel, the Holiday Inn and the Akkeron Group. All of these organisations feel that the studio school model, with the lifestyle services and the visitor economy as its focus, will be a great asset to the development of skills and recruitment in this area, providing a specialist education in a sector experiencing growth in our region.
Professor Cara Aitchison, Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Mark & St John, commented: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting new partnership designed to support education, employability and the sustainability of inward investment to the region in the sport, tourism and hospitality sectors. The new School will be housed in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility on the University of St Mark & St John campus with access to some of the best sporting and other education and training facilities in the South West.”
Professor Aitchison, who also is Chair of the UK Government’s panel that assesses the quality and funding of university research in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism as part of the Research Excellence Framework, commented that City College Plymouth and her University and colleagues had undertaken extensive and detailed research to inform the preparation and developmentof the Plymouth Studio School’s vision.
She said: “The initiative has been based on employer need, listening and responding to our employers’ views, studying the Studio School experience nationwide and taking on-board feedback from prospective parents and students to inform our development of this proposal. We will create a curriculumthat combines a strong mix of academic, vocational and sector-specific professional qualifications to maximise future progression opportunities, structured around core project based learning and work experience; a combined curriculum which is unavailable elsewhere in the City.”
The green light for the Studio School comes only a few weeks after City College Plymouth announced significant development plans for its Kings Road campus and the University of St Mark & St John announced plans to develop the scale and scope of the University, including expansion of teaching and research in sport and tourism. It is envisaged that many of the students in the new school will go on to further or higher education programmes at either City College Plymouth or the University of St Mark & St John thus retaining expertise and skills within the region to support the growing sport, tourism and hospitality sector of the economy.
16-19 Foundation - City & Guilds/ASDAN
City & Guilds
EDI
apt Entry level 3 award in using Employability Skills
apt Entry level 3 Award in Work Preparation
Award/Certificate - APT
City College Plymouth has launched its new part-time course guide for 2014/15. The guide provides information about the wide range of part-time courses on offer at the College – from management and leadership to welding, and plumbing and gas to marketing!
The College’s part-time courses are ideal for those who want to return to learn, improve their career opportunities, update their skills or develop a new interest.
As well as giving information on over 100 courses on offer, the guide includes details on the funding available to support students in paying their course fees, including the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans. The loans may enable those aged 24 or over to apply for a loan to cover their course fees if they are studying a level 3 or above course.
Furthermore, if a loan is taken out to cover the fees for an Access to Higher Education course, and a student progresses to complete a university-level (higher education) course, they will not have to pay back their 24+ Advanced Learning Loan at all!
Access to higher education courses are specifically designed for students without the necessary university entry requirements and provide a ‘second chance’ for those that perhaps did not benefit fully from their previous experiences of education.
For a FREE copy of the course guide call 01752 305300 or come along to the College’s Open Evening at Kings Road, Devonport on Thursday 28 August from 4.00pm to 7.00pm.
The College's successful business breakfast events are back!The next event will be taking place in the College’s PL1 Restaurant on Friday 12 September with special guest speaker, Alexis Bowater, award-winning journalist and presenter with nearly 20 years’ experience working within the media industry.
Business breakfast events are held termly and offer a great opportunity for business professionals to gain updates on College activities and topical insights into changes in the local business world.
The event welcomes members of the College’s Employer Endorsement Scheme – a scheme which partners businesses with the College, providing mutual benefits to both parties, as well as business professionals from all sectors in the Plymouth travel-to-work area.
Emma Taylor, Corporate Relations Officer at City College Plymouth, said: “The business breakfast is a great way for business professionals to hear from interesting guest speakers such as Alexis Bowater, as well as network with others. Alexis will be providing an insight into the media industry that isn’t readily available in the public domain and delegates will be able to gain a real understanding of this industry. With a relaxed and informal atmosphere and a delicious hot breakfast prepared and served by our very own hospitality students, the morning really will be a treat for all!.”
Alexis anchored the ITV evening news in the West Country for seven years and was Chief Executive of the national charity, Network for Surviving Stalking. Alexis will be speaking about her experience in the media industry and the challenges she faced and overcame.
Alexis said: “Within my 20 years of working as a journalist and presenter I experienced nearly every aspect of the fast-paced and challenging media industry - the good, the bad and the ugly.
“I am delighted to speak to delegates at the Business Breakfast at City College Plymouth and share my experiences of working within the media industry.”
Places cost just £15 per person (non-members). To book your place call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.
The College is ensuring that the young people of Plymouth still have the opportunity to pursue the career of their choice by extending its course enrolment window until the end of October.
Due to popular demand, courses across a wide variety of vocational areas are accepting late enrolments to give people the opportunity to make the right decision for their future.
Courses are available in a number of areas including: business; health and social care; science; gaming, IT and media; construction and engineering; the uniformed services; tourism and sport; performing arts; hospitality; hair and beauty.
Employability and Enterprise Manager, Mike Jones, said: “It is important that we are able to give young people the opportunity to achieve their career aspirations. Academic qualifications are not for everyone and we want to ensure our young people are able to change their mind if they feel they’ve made the wrong decision. By extending our enrolment period, we are giving them the best opportunity to choose the right course for them.”
For those who are still unsure of what and where to study, the College is offering free taster sessions in a range of subject areas.
For more information on how to enrol on a full-time course or to book a taster session, call 01752 305300.
On Friday 26 September, City College Plymouth will be celebrating the twinning of the College with the Human Technical Development Training Centre in Lira, a town in the North of Uganda.
The Principal of the Training Centre, Kalisto Agea Ogwang, is visiting City College for the first time, as part of a week-long visit, funded by the British Council. During the week, Kalisto will meet staff and students at the College in order to pick up on new skills and interests and to get a vision of what he wants to do for the future of the Training Centre.
The twinning ceremony will mark the continued friendship between the two establishments, which began in 2009.
Over the last five years, the College has been working with Engage South West and Emerge Poverty Free to ship out its unused equipment, such as electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and library books to Uganda, where it is put to good use at the Training Centre.
The equipment sent is used in education and for the benefit of the local community. This has helped the facilities at the Training Centre to improve, which has had a positive effect on the students it takes care of.
Ian Caunter, a co-ordinator of the project since the beginning, and a member of lecturing staff at the College, said: “Forging this strong link has allowed staff and students at the College to appreciate the needs and difficulties regarding skills and education in a country like Uganda. The visit by Kalisto will further strengthen this link and allow him to view methods employed within the College here, and get a flavour of what life in Plymouth is all about.”
To find out more about the range courses on offer at the College or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come to our Course Information Drop-in session on Wednesday 24 September from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.
Local employers including Babcock, the NHS and Rock City Stage Crew will be offering industry insight to Year 10 and 11 students during City College Plymouth’s week of free course taster sessions, during October half term. From Monday 27 to Friday 31 October, half day sessions will be run at the College, offering young people a chance to find out more about the courses on offer and ‘do it for real’.
Local employers from a variety of industries will be working with College staff to deliver interactive sessions that will inspire young people to think about where vocational courses such as live events, public services, engineering, media, performing arts, plastering and plumbing could take them.
Kathryn Nicholson, HR Recruitment Officer at Babcock International Group plc, said: “We are committed to encouraging young people within the City to learn about engineering and we are pleased to be able to speak to young people about careers in engineering at the College’s taster week.
“At the taster session, young people can really get to grips with what it is like to learn and work in an engineering environment and the opportunities available in Babcock when they complete their qualifications.”
Sam Selby, Youth Liaison Assistant at the College, added: “These taster sessions will give young people a feel for what it’s like to be a student at City College Plymouth and help them make the right choice for their future.”
To find out more information and to book on to a taster session visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/tasterweek or call 01752 856800.
On Friday 26 September, City College Plymouth celebrated the twinning of the College with the Human Technical Development Training Centre in Lira, a town in the North of Uganda.
The Principal of the Training Centre, Kalisto Agea Ogwang, visited City College for the first time as part of a week-long visit, funded by the British Council. During the week, Kalisto met staff and students at the College in order to share best practice and to help shape the future of the Training Centre.
The twinning ceremony marked the continued friendship between the two establishments, which began in 2009.
Kalisto said: “My visit to Plymouth has been a fantastic experience. Plymouth is a wonderful City and I’ve really learnt a lot on my visit to the College. I learnt something from every department that I visited, which I am looking forward to taking home with me and seeing how this information can be embedded within the Training Centre.
“I would like to thank City College Plymouth for making my visit a truly memorable one and I look forward to continuing this friendship over the coming years.”
Over the last six years, the College has been working with Engage South West and Emerge Poverty Free to send its unused equipment, such as electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and library books to Uganda, where it is put to good use at the Training Centre.
The equipment sent is used in education and for the benefit of the local community. This has helped the facilities at the Training Centre to improve, which has had a positive effect on the students it takes care of.
Ian Caunter, a co-ordinator of the project since the beginning, and a member of lecturing staff at the College, said: “Forging this strong link has allowed staff and students at the College to appreciate the needs and difficulties regarding skills and education in a country like Uganda. The visit by Kalisto will further strengthen this link and has allowed him to view methods employed within the College here, and get a flavour of what life in Plymouth is all about.”
For more information about courses on offer at the College, please call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk.
City College Plymouth has now come to the end of its fundraising for the year for the College’s nominated charity, St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.
Over the last 12 months, the College has raised a staggering £6,909.32 for the local charity, with students and staff getting involved in various activities from car washes to selling American sweets.
Talking about the charity, City College Plymouth Principal, Phil Davies, said: “St Luke’s is a local charity that many of our students and staff have been touched by and it’s astounding to see how much the College has raised over the last year.
“There has been a host of fundraising activity – often organised by the students themselves as part of their studies, but also run as a way of making a contribution to our local community and this year has been no exception.”
A cheque was presented to Lorna Damella, Corporate Fundraiser at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth on a recent visit to the College.
Lorna said: "This is an amazing achievement by the students and staff at City College that will help support the vital end of life care we provide to our patients at home, in hospital and at the hospice.
“I think what has really stood out for us over the last 12 months is how passionate and creative the students have been with some of their fundraising events. They really have taken fundraising to new levels of creativity and provided some really engaging activities. Thank you City College.”
For more information about courses on offer at the College, please call 01752 305300, orvisit www.cityplym.ac.uk.
On Tuesday 7 October, College students will be getting involved with a ‘Fit for Life’ event at Elspeth Sitters House on the Barbican. The event is being organised by Age UK Plymouth, in partnership with Plymouth City Council and will take place between 10.00am and 3.00pm.
The aim of the day is to offer people the opportunity to sample different activities and to access information to improve their health and well-being. Information on Winter Warmth and Energy Saving will also be available.
There will be entertainment, free refreshments and a rolling programme of events and activities throughout the day. This will include sessions of gentle exercise, delivered by the College’s sports students and hand massages will also be offered by several beauty students.
Sports Lecturer, Lisa Thompson, said of the event: “This a great opportunity for our students to mix with the older residents of the City, whilst delivering an activity that is pertinent to their study programmes.
“In so doing, students will develop their communication, customer service, team working skills and will be responsible for managing their own time, ensuring the scheduled times recorded on the programme of activities run smoothly.”
Sports student, Rhys Hannon, added: “I’m looking forward to delivering gentle exercise sessions at the ‘Fit for Life’ event. This will help me develop my leadership, coaching and communication skills and will also help me in the future by providing me with a positive experience to put on my CV, giving me additional employability skills.”
The event is free and everyone is welcome. For further information about the event, please contact Mary James on 01752 256020 or e-mail mary.james@ageukplymouth.org.uk.
The College is holding a week of free course taster sessions for Year 10 and 11 pupils (ages 14 to 16) from Monday 27 to Friday 31 October. For more information and to book on to a taster session visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/tasterweek or call 01752 856800.
On Tuesday 7 October, professional theatre company ‘Silly Boys’ will be coming to City College Plymouth to perform their version of The Elves and the Shoemaker and other stories.
Funded by Arts Council England and co-produced by Colchester Arts Centre, The Elves and The Shoemaker embarks on a national tour of the UK this autumn, before heading to Colchester for Christmas.
Academy Manager for Performing Arts at the College, Nicola Rosewarne, said:“We are really looking forward to having the ‘Silly Boys’ perform in our dance studio. The show is a great learning opportunity for our students but it is also open to the general public.
“This is a magical new show from the creators of The Tallest Horse on Earth. The Elves and The Shoemaker is a typically bonkers and heart-warming take on some of the world’s favourite fairy tales. Reimagined, using puppetry, live music and a huge dose of silliness. It’s the perfect treat for all the family!”
The performance starts at 7.00pm and tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite via www.eventbrite.co.uk.
The College is holding a week of free course taster sessions for Year 10 and 11 pupils (ages 14 to 16) from Monday 27 to Friday 31 October. For more information and to book on to a taster session visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/tasterweek or call 01752 856800.
If you’re considering your post-16 options, or are thinking about trying something new, retraining or improving your career prospects, this event is for you!
At this event you'll be able to:
Come along and take your next step towards your future.
If you’re considering your post-16 options, or are thinking about trying something new, retraining or improving your career prospects, this event is for you!
At this event you'll be able to:
Come along and take your next step towards your future.
