College launches exciting new courses in Animal Care, Floristry and Horticulture

Students applying to study at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) from September 2012 can now choose from three brand new subject areas.

The College is launching new courses in Small Animal Care, Floristry and Horticulture to help meet local demand.

Alex Ellis, Director for Curriculum Innovation at NULC said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch this new range of courses to further enhance the range of education and training opportunities available to both young people and adults in North Staffordshire.”

Alex added: “We continually review our curriculum to ensure we’re providing courses that meet local needs and we felt that there was a gap in the market for this type of provision.

“We’re expecting the courses to prove popular and we’d encourage people to apply as soon as possible to secure their place on a course.”

NULC is the only college in North Staffordshire to provide Small Animal Care as a full-time course at Level 1 and Level 2. During the course, students will have the chance to visit a variety of organisations that specialise in caring for small animals, as well as undertaking work placements in animal care environments, such as vets’ practices and rescue centres.

Floristry has been introduced as a full-time course at Level 2 and Level 3 to meet the demand from people wishing to enter the floristry business. It will have a commercial-focus, and run alongside the College’s successful Transform Hair, Beauty and Holistic Therapy Salon and Spa. Part-time courses in Floristry will also be on offer from September 2012.

Picture of NULC Greenhouse

Other new courses include Horticulture (Landscaping and Gardening) at Level 1, which is available both full-time and part-time.

Alex added: “Horticulture complements our existing construction provision and provides a route for students wishing to move into landscape construction and maintenance.”

The College’s Horticulture students will be able to make use of the new gardening facilities at its Skills and Technology Centre, which include greenhouses and space to develop hard-landscaping skills. Tutors also hope to engage with high profile local gardens and visitor attractions to offer work experience opportunities and placements for students.

NULC is currently home to 3,500 full-time students and 1,600 adult learners. The College offers a wide range of courses including A/AS Levels, vocational courses and Apprenticeships as well as a range of courses for adults delivered within workplaces, at community venues and at the College.

It also offers an expanding range of degree-level courses including Foundation degrees and HNC/Ds from its bespoke University Centre, in partnership with Staffordshire University.

To find out more about the new courses available at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/newcourses2012 or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Skills Squad medal success at regional competitions

Three students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) are celebrating after winning medals at regional skills competitions.

The medal winners are Jennifer Hulme, aged 19 from Basford, who won Gold in Health and Social Care, Damien Coadey, aged 25 from Kidsgrove, who won Gold in Painting and Decorating and Luke Jones, aged 19 from Halmerend, who won Silver in Brickwork.

The students are all part of the NULC Skills Squad, which was launched in September 2011 to inspire vocational students to achieve national recognition amongst their peers. The Skills Squad is made up of students from Construction, Hair and Beauty and Health and Social Care who have excelled in their course and demonstrated great potential. Skills Squad students receive additional support from the College to enable them to compete at regional, national and international level.

Alex Ellis , Director of Curriculum Innovation at NULC, said: “We’re immensely proud of our students’ success in the skills competitions, especially as this is the first time we as a college have entered. It is testament to the hard work of staff and the commitment of our students, who often put in hours of extra training and practice, and I congratulate them on their achievements.”

Damien, who is studying an NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting, competed against 10 other tradesmen in the South Birmingham Skillbuild on 26 April. Judges awarded him with the Gold medal and commended his attention to detail and strong technical skills. Damien will now go on to represent NULC at the Regional Finals of the Skillbuild 2012 competition and if successful will secure a place in the UK team for the World Skills Competition, due to be held in Germany in 2014.

Luke is a Brickwork Apprentice at NULC and competed in the junior category of the Nottingham Skillbuild, where he had to showcase his construction skills by building a competition model in a designated time. Luke was one of only two competitors to finish on time and was awarded with a Silver medal. Luke will now be training for the Senior Skillbuild competitions which will take place in 2013.

In 2011 the College gained high levels of achievement on vocational courses, where pass rates place the College amongst the top performing colleges in the country. 106 students achieved a triple distinction on advanced vocational courses, equivalent to three As at A Level and attracting the same number of UCAS points.

To find out more about the range of vocational courses available at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.