College News
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08/03/2010 - College Open Event Bigger and Better than Last Event03/03/2010 - College Leads the Way with its Use of Short Messaging Service (SMS)26/02/2010 - Samantha's Cracking 'Easter' Design Comes Out Tops23/02/2010 - Michelin Star Chef Thanks Former College16/02/2010 - Capoeira Expert Highlights Why Performing Arts Course is Top Notch15/02/2010 - YCC Student Saskia Moved by Tom's Plight03/02/2010 - College Celebrates 100% Success with Apprentices03/02/2010 - Professor Khan on Sabbatical02/02/2010 - A New Route to a Career in Beauty28/01/2010 - YCC Students Turn Up the Heat for Community Event
Click here to view our news archive15 and 16 year old students from across the region are invited to see what exciting career opportunities Yorkshire Coast College can offer them when they leave school.
The event, which will take place on Thursday 18 March between 5pm and 8pm, will show students why now is a fantastic time to enrol on one of the many courses available at the college. It will feature lots of vocationally related activities for potential new recruits to try their hand at.
Stephanie Bartram, Marketing Manager, says "Gone are the days of an Open Evening being about waiting to talk to one teacher at a desk in the college library! We don't do it that way here! All of our curriculum areas will be open and students will be able to experience how we learn in a 'hands on' way. There will be a range of activities at both Lady Edith's Drive and Westwood campuses, including magicians and musicians, joinery displays and cooking demonstrations. From Childcare to Sport, to Engineering, there is something for everyone. School was never like this!"
She adds "We would urge all school students to submit their applications as soon as possible to guarantee themselves a place on their chosen course, to enable them to study right on their own doorstep."
Information, advice & guidance will also be available at the event as well as tours of the extensive facilities. Free transport will also be available with bus services running from Whitby, Filey, Eastfield, Pickering and Malton. There will also be a shuttle bus service between Lady Edith's Drive Campus and Westwood, where the college's Creative Arts courses take place.
For full details and times, visit www.yorkshirecoastcollege.ac.uk and click college, then events or call 01723 372105.
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Yorkshire Coast College has been recognised for its excellent work on the use of its Short Message Service (SMS) by the Learning & Skills Improvement Service's Excellence Gateway (an online service which shares good practice in the educational system).
YCC's method of communicating with its learners has been highlighted as 'very effective', with relation to important issues such as safeguarding and student welfare. The system provides a simple mechanism that enables the College to be more responsive to students' needs and has improved the services and experiences offered to its students.
With the growth of mobile phone use amongst students, the College's ILT Development & E Learning Manager, Mick Mullane, was keen to explore this method of communicating to enhance the College's communications systems.
Mick said "SMS is working very effectively at YCC. It is an opt-in service, but nearly all our students have been keen to sign up for it. The minimal cost of a text hasn't been a barrier - you often find students want a two-way dialogue. We are now able to provide them with an up to date information service as well as support if required."
He added "We've used it for many things, like informing students of changes to bus services during the snowy weather, and for some students to get in touch with a mentor if they need support. It's great that YCC has been recognised for this initiative which is an ongoing and developing process. It means other colleges can now learn from our example."
Pictured: Mick Mullane, Yorkshire Coast College's ILT Development & E-Learning Manager.
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First year Yorkshire Coast College Media Design students are proving why they made the right decision to study graphic design, after being offered an opportunity to test their creative thinking and design skills by college lecturers.
The students were presented with a brief to come up with a name followed by an eye-catching poster to promote the College's Performing Arts students' latest show. They were able to put their creative and design skills into practice which they have learned already since September.
Samantha Bayes' design 'The Easter Scramble' was chosen over other students' designs as it captured the mood of the production with its vibrant and colourful composition.
Samantha, 17, who is in her first year of studying the National Diploma Art & Design (Interactive Media) course, said "It was great to get involved with this project so soon after starting my course. It has given me an insight of what it would be like working in the industry - we had to work to a tight deadline. I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do when I left school but am so pleased I chose graphic design - the course is brilliant and I definitely want to be a graphic designer."
The poster will be used to promote 'The Easter Scramble', a variety show, which will be performed by the College's Performing Arts students at its Westwood campus on 18 and 19 March 2010 at 7.30pm, as part of their repertoire of shows for the academic year.
Maggie Slaughter, Performing Arts Lecturer, said "Working with the design students has added a whole new dimension to our latest show. All the posters were of a very high standard but Samantha's just had that little bit extra - we were all thrilled with her design which reflected everything about our show."
Nigel Hogg, Graphic Design Lecturer, said "We always aim to provide our students with plenty of opportunities to use their skills in a simulated work environment, using the latest technology. This helps prepare them for the world of work right from the very beginning of their course - it's straight in at the deep end."
Pictured: Samantha Bayes putting the finishing touches to her 'Easter Scramble' poster design.
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A former Yorkshire Coast College student whose restaurant has just been awarded its first Michelin Star has thanked his former college for providing him with the appropriate training and skills, which have helped him on the road to becoming so successful.
James McKenzie, 34, owner and head chef of The Pipe & Glass, South Dalton, Beverley, is still reeling at receiving the prestigious Michelin star, which is one of the first restaurants in East Yorkshire to be given such an award.
James said "If someone had said this was going to happen at the beginning of my career I wouldn't have believed them. I'm so pleased I chose the Catering & Hospitality profession - it's been incredibly hard work, but it is definitely worth it to get to such a high standard in something which I love doing - creating great food."
He added "Yorkshire Coast College has a great training restaurant and kitchens in which students can learn and develop new skills. I would say to any young person who is passionate about food to seriously consider studying at YCC - it certainly gave me a solid foundation on which to work from."
James recently visited the college and gave a cooking demonstration to a group of catering & hospitality students. He will be returning in the near future to inspire other young budding chefs, imparting his expert skills and knowledge.
The College is holding an Open Event on 18 March, 5-8pm and this year's school leavers are being encouraged to go along and see how vocational courses can lead to great careers. For further details, please call the College on 0800 7317410.
Pictured: James McKenzie pictured during a recent autumnal cooking demonstration at Yorkshire Coast College's training kitchen.
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Yorkshire Coast College's Westwood students are illustrating why studying at the local college means students get a very wide range of skills, and learn in a very practical way. They recently engaged a very successful dance practitioner to show them the difficult and unusual dance, Capoeira. Garry Benjamin, Director of Dance Physics, London, visited the College's Westwood Campus recently to spend a day challenging Performing Arts Students with technical moves from this Brazilian mixture of dance and martial arts.
Sian Harrison, Curriculum Manager at Westwood Campus said: "Our students come here to learn a wide range of theatre and dance techniques. We don't just teach them the theory of dance styles, we let them experience it firsthand. This way, we produce some amazing performers who go on to great careers in the industry. This is part of our Urban Dance unit."
Tim Tubbs, Creative Director at UK Foundation for Dance, situated at Woodend Creative workspace, worked with the College to ensure a top professional was engaged to pass on his expert experience. By the end of the session, students could perform a series of steps and movements and also they had chance to investigate and discuss the origins of Capoeira.
Jordan Lonsdale, 2nd year student said: "The Capoeira workshop was fantastic and really challenging. The opportunities of getting to work with top professionals is awesome. Garry was brilliant and he gave us a real insight into the dance and its associated movements."
Pictured: Yorkshire Coast College students studying National Diploma in Musical Theatre pictured with Garry Benjamin, Director of Dance Physics, London, during his workshop at the Westwood campus.
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A student who knows the family of Scarborough soldier, Tom Davis-Lawlor, 19, was so moved by his plight that she decided to raise money for the Help the Heroes charity - Tom has recently lost both his legs in an explosion while on foot patrol in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
Saskia Walker, 17, is currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in Travel & Tourism (Level 3) at Yorkshire Coast College rallied the support of her fellow students to get involved with the event, which consisted of two sessions of collecting donations throughout the college using collection buckets. The students managed to raise £115 which they will donate to the appeal.
The students invited Scarborough's Mayor, Bill Chatt, and his consort to talk about the appeal, which he is involved with and thanked the students for their support.
Saskia Walker, said "I know Tom's mum and brother - we wanted to help in whatever way we could - Tom is 'our Scarborough Hero' and is going through so much at only 19 as well. It was great that The Mayor Bill Chatt, managed to find time to visit and thank us for our fund raising activity."
Paul Pearson, Travel & Tourism Lecturer, said "Our students are continually trying to help national as well as local charities by arranging fund raising activities. The Travel & Tourism students were so pleased to get involved in whatever way they could especially through the family connection."
Pictured: BTEC National Diploma in Travel & Tourism (Level 3) and First Diploma students pictured with Scarborough's Mayor, Bill Chatt, and his consort during the recent fund raising session for Help for Heroes appeal.
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Yorkshire Coast College is celebrating Apprenticeship Week having enjoyed a 100% success rate last year in its Engineering Apprenticeships programme.
The college currently has 50 Engineering apprentices studying at its Lady Edith's Drive campus across Levels 2 and 3 one day per week, but also offers an apprenticeship programmes in Motor Vehicle, Construction trades and Accounting.
There are also 28 Young Engineering Apprentices (aged 14-16 years) who attend college two days a week. Four former Young Apprentices have recently secured themselves a job working in the local Engineering sector having just started their Apprenticeships with their original work placements.
Aaron Cook, 16, who is an apprentice fitter with TG Power Limited based at RAF Fylingdales, says "I knew I wanted to work into the Engineering industry from a very early age. The Young Apprenticeship programme helped me to realise my potential and gave me sound knowledge and skills which has helped me with my Apprenticeship." Aaron was a joint winner of the NYBEP Award 2009 (North Yorkshire Business Enterprise Partnership) with Isaac Gale, JC Fabrication Limited, Whitby.
Young Apprentices are given the opportunity of going on educational excursions and have visited Drax Power Station, Perry Slingsby Systems Limited, Humber Bridge, Autosport Show and Scarborough Lifeboat station to look at different types of engineering and careers within the industry.
Andy Eaton, Curriculum & Quality Manager, says "Apprenticeships are as relevant today as they have ever been. Not only are individuals able to learn a trade while earning but the employer also reaps benefits too from having a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce. We have very strong links with local firms not only in Engineering but also in the Motor Vehicle industry too."
The College is also experiencing more and more females pursuing a career in the Engineering industry. Tina Impey, 35, who will be completing her Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in July with Hunprenco, Hunmanby, says "It's truly my vocation to work in the Engineering sector - I love it. I would like to teach Engineering part time at some point in the future, having recently completed a Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector (PTLLS) course at YCC too."
Paul Allsop,18, says "Having initially taken the academic route, I decided it wasn't for me. I am now working as an Engineering Apprentice at Unison. It''s the best move I've made as I'm definitely more suited to a practical way of working. I am continually learning on the job as well as at college."
The College will be offering a Level 2 Specialised Diploma in Engineering from September 2010 which is aimed at 14-16 year olds with opportunities to progress further. The Diploma is equivalent to seven GCSEs A* to C. YCC is also offering six Young Apprenticeship cohorts in Motor Vehicle, Engineering and Catering & Hospitality. For further details on these or any of our courses, please call the Admissions team on 0800 7317410.
Pictured: Yorkshire Coast College Engineering Apprentices Tony Cervone and Allister France pictured using their skills in the College's Engineering machinery workshop.
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Professor Daniel Khan OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education has successfully led the Institute since 2001 in its pursuit of business growth and excellence.
After nine years at the helm he has decided to leave the Institute to pursue other professional interests.
As a result of an arrangement previously agreed with the governors, he will be taking a short sabbatical from 1st February.
We thank him for his contribution and efforts in helping to bring about transformational change in the Institute and in the local community, and wish him well for the future.
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Young people who are interested in a creative and fulfilling career will have the opportunity of attending an After School Club course, designed to offer them an insight into how vocational learning can lead to a great career.
Yorkshire Coast College has organised a six session club in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy. The first starts on Wednesday 21 April, 4-5pm. Ten free places will be available for each course aimed at Years 10 and 11 students from local secondary schools. Once the first club programme ends, the next will start the following week for ten more students.
Sharon Hornby, Curriculum & Quality Manager, says "We are offering these free courses to help school leavers make an informed choice on a career in the hair & beauty industry. Former students have done exceptionally well for themselves after training in these professions - some have opened their own businesses, worked on cruise ships and in the film and theatre industry as make-up artists. There is a lot of scope out there."
William Hall, 22, is currently training to be a hairdresser and has a one day work placement at Hair Razors, Queen Street, Scarborough, which is owned and run by Mags Hutchings, a Hairdressing teacher at Yorkshire Coast College. Mags says "William gets involved in the salon's hair demonstrations and shows to gain even more experience. He is also taking part in the regional heat of the Association of Hair & Therapists (AHT) Competition after his hair creation was a winner in the local heat. Will has got creative flair and passion - he'll definitely go a long way."
William says "I went down the academic route after school and decided it wasn't for me. I am now training to be a hairdresser which I absolutely love and wished I done it sooner - the After School Clubs are ideal - I wish this type of thing had been available when I was at school."
He added "After I get my Level 3 qualification I would like to go onto a trainee programme with an organisation like Toni and Guy. I would eventually like to style hair for magazine photo shoots and catwalk fashion models."
For further details on the Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy After School Clubs, please call Sharon Hornby on 01723 372105. The College is also holding an Open event on Thursday 18 March, 5 8pm when tours will be available of the College's Inspirations Hair & Beauty Salons.
Pictured: William Hall, Yorkshire Coast College trainee hairdresser, styling a client's hair while being observed by Mags Hutchings, YCC Hairdressing Lecturer, at the College's Inspirations Hair & Beauty Salon.
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Scarborough's Pancake Olympics will be going upmarket this year as students are making 125 special pancakes designed to last for the duration of the traditional community event.
Since the New Year, a class of twenty Yorkshire Coast College Catering & Hospitality students have been making heavy duty pancakes, in between their studies, and freezing them in readiness for the event, which will be taking place on Tuesday 16 February at Scarborough's South Bay.
James North, 17, said "We've used about 4 kilos of plain flour, 6 litres of milk and 24 eggs so far - that's a lot of ingredients and a lot of pancakes. It's been great fun. We had to devise a special recipe to make sure the mixture was thick enough so that they don't break easily when they are being used at the event."
Margaret Calver, Catering & Hospitality Lecturer, said "It's great to get involved with such a traditional event - I don't think there are many places in the UK that celebrate Shrove Tuesday in such a big way. Our students have put a lot of effort into this project to help the local community have a fun day. We're normally creating high quality meals in our public restaurant so this is a bit of a change."
If you would like to find out about vocational catering & hospitality courses which lead to great careers, the College is holding an Open event on Thursday 18 March, 5-8pm - everyone is welcome.
Pictured left to right : Yorkshire Coast College's Catering & Hospitality students Stephen Witty (39), James North (17) and Kayleigh Fenn (17) during a pancake making session in the College's production kitchen.
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