Gardening students renovate customer garden

Six students studying the Level 1 Diploma in Landscape Gardening at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) spent half a day re-turfing a back garden for a real life customer.  The students spent half a day completing the job to a professional standard.

Nick Anderson, Lecturer in Landscape Gardening at NULC, said: "This was a great opportunity for the students to get a real hands-on experience."

To find out more about studying Landscape Gardening at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Businesses urged to donate gardening supplies

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College are calling upon the local construction industry to help them create a community garden.

Horticulture students have written to hundreds of local building suppliers, asking for donations in order to create a community garden at Newcastle Fire Station on Knutton Lane.

The students’ wish list includes timber for raised planting beds, trellis for climbing fruit and compost bins as well as a number of other items.

Nick Anderson, Lecturer in Horticulture at NULC, said: “The Horticulture students are dedicated to making the project a success, but in order to do that they need the support and donations of building supplies.  Donations no matter how big or small will be greatly received and help to provide a lasting community garden for the local children of Knutton and Newcastle-under-Lyme.”

The Horticulture students have designed the community garden and displayed their plan in the College’s Skills and Technology Centre.  The students aim to start work in April once they have managed to gather the materials needed.

The completed garden will be used as an outside space for local primary schools where children will have the opportunity to plant, watch things grow, learn about different plants and gain an interest in the attracted wildlife.

The garden will also include a wormery and a sand pit for the children to use. The area will be wheel chair friendly and include a paved area for the children to use as an outdoor classroom and community learning environment.

Nick added: “The garden will be open to the local community and provide a relaxing environment where youngsters will also be able to benefit from the educational opportunities provided through growing their own vegetables.”

The Level 1 qualification in Horticulture launched in September 2012 at the College and has gone from strength to strength with students gaining work placements at leading local visitor attractions including Biddulph Grange Gardens and the Dorothy Clive Gardens.

Nick added: “The vocational qualification in Horticulture complements the College’s existing construction provision and allows learners of all ages to gain a recognized qualification with skills in gardening, landscaping and issues effecting the environment.”

Anyone wishing to donate items for the community garden is asked to contact lecturer Nick Anderson at Newcastle-under-Lyme College on nick.anderson@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254208.

Horticulture students gain inspiration from Tatton Park

On Wednesday 5 December, students from NULC enjoyed a festive visit Tatton Park.

The BTEC Level 2 Floristry students and City and Guilds Level 2 Horticulture students, spent the day at Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire. The visit provided the students with the opportunity to  look around the extensive gardens of the estate and visit the mansion house, which was decorated using a Dickensian theme.

 
The horticultural students experienced winter planting themes, while the floristry students gained inspiration for large event floral decorations.

To find out more about studying Horticulture at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

New course helps students to grow community garden

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) have joined forces with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for a new community project.

Newcastle Community Fire Station has invited students from the College’s new Horticulture course to create a community garden at their new station opposite the College on Knutton Road.

The green fingered students will be putting their skills to use by creating a community garden using hard landscaping such as decking and paving as well as soft landscaping including planting.

Pete Hall, Neighbourhood Co-ordinator at Newcastle Community Fire Station, said: “The new Community Fire Stations are open to the public and they are fast becoming a hub for the community. Therefore we thought it a great idea to ask students from the College to get involved and create a lasting legacy in terms of a community garden.”

Once the garden is complete, youngsters from local primary schools will be invited to maintain the garden and continue planting throughout the year.

Nick Anderson, Lecturer in Horticulture at NULC, said: “This is a going to be a fantastic opportunity at the start of the new course for students to roll up their sleeves and put their new found skills to use.”

Talking about the course Nick added: “The new Horticulture courses complement our existing construction provision and provide a route for students wishing to move into landscape construction and maintenance.  The course is available part-time and full-time, with opportunities available to both young people and adults from across the area.”

Places are still available for people to sign up for the new Horticulture course. Students signing up for the new course will also 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.

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

NULC Celebration Event 2012

NULC hosted it's first Celebration Event on Wednesday 27 June.  The event brought together a wide range of learners from across the College in order to celebrate their achievements over the past academic year. 

Awards were given in 11 different categories which recognised academic achievement, personal achievement, services to the College and the community as well as sporting success. 

Award winners from the Faculty of Technology and Enterprise

Award winners from the Faculty of Technology and Enterprise pictured with Head of Faculty Dominic Whittaker (centre). 

• Learner Endeavour: Alex Higgins – Level 2 Practical Engineering

• Services to College: Damien Coady – L2 Apprentice in Painting and Decorating

• Apprentice of the year: Adam Heath – AAT level 4 Diploma WBL

• Young Achiever: Keiran Weller – Level 3 year 2 Business

• Adult Achiever: Michael Jones – Level 4 AAT

• Work experience / placement; Ryan Leadbetter – Level 2 Diploma in Practical Engineering 

• Return to Learning: Jill Trueman – L1 Diploma in Bench Joinery

Each award winner received a unique trophy designed by a team of learners from our art and design courses and was made on College premises in the Engineering department. Award winners were joined by parents and guests to celebrate their achievements.     

To see the full gallery of images from the day visit our Facebook Page here.

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.