Welcome

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Darlington 11-19 Practitioner Newsletter Issue 28, December 2018 © Darlington 11-19 Partnership

In This Issue…

The Big Project - Carmel College

World Mental Health Day - Wyvern Academy

Record Results - Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

Subsea - Darlington College

Island Escape and CSI Newcastle - Haughton Academy

Young Writers Award - Carmel College

Amy Bennett - Learning & Skills Service

Raising Aspirations - Haughton Academy

Freshers’ Fair - Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

Lourdes 2018 - Carmel College

GCSE Results - Darlington College

Higher Education - Haughton Academy

Joe’s Jazz Journey - Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

The Longfield Lion - Longfield Academy

U15 Pentathlon - Carmel College

Make Up Artist - Darlington College

Welcome to the December edition of the Darlington 11-19 Practitioner Newsletter. This edition again showcases all the events and activities taking place for the young people of Darlington. As you will see, the sheer diversity of the activities is a credit to the educational establishments in the town and also to the local authority, all of whom support events and take pride in the provision offered to our young people. Obviously educational outcomes feature strongly in this edition as September saw schools and colleges receive their results for the outgoing class of 2018.

Congratulations to all students on their results and a huge thank you to all staff for their hard work in supporting our young people to reach their potential, what you do really does make a difference to people’s futures!

It also gives me pleasure to read that great work is happening around the area of mental health and well-being. Education is doing all it can to highlight this area and put in early support for those in need. We all know how important mental well-being is to the success of our young people, now and in the future.

With the Christmas season well and truly upon us, it will soon be time for each school, academy and college to showcase their performing arts talents, togetherness and commitment to community, both in school and outside. This is a wonderful time of year and one that educational establishments rightly support in their own unique ways.

Best wishes for the festive season and Happy New Year.

James Keating

Executive Principal Hummersknott Academy Trust

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The Big Project

Congratulations to all students who have worked with Jacobs and the Endeavour Partnership on the Big Project. This annual competition gave over 100 students the opportunity to work in teams to solve problems through innovation, creativity, hard work and business planning. Mike Bowen, Jacobs and Louise Gilby, The Endeavour Partnership are Carmel’s Enterprise Advisers and they have supported the project throughout and are already planning next year’s project!

Students have thrived with the mentor support and challenges from engineers and lawyers, who have helped them develop and present their ideas. This employability project has enabled students to research ideas, collaborate and communicate with each other and develop their skills of reflection and resilience. Teams have met throughout the year to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges; each time plans were refined and developed to enable the final 3 teams to have a well crafted Big Project to present to Jacobs’ executives, The Endeavour Partnership and Carmel Directors. Prizes were awarded to all involved and the finalists have the opportunity to present their plans to the executive board at Jacobs in the Autumn.

The winning team (pictured) were Katie Rotherham, Joseph Sebastine, Joseph Macdonald, Matthew Van Mourik, Alex Gates and Nathan Diggle. Their Jacobs mentor was Neil Darby and Mr Roberts was the teacher who supported the team throughout the year. Steve Robbins won The Endeavour Law Prize.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day provided the backdrop for Wyvern Academy to promote their Student Welfare Ambassadors (SWA) to the whole school during a specially organised assembly. The SWA is a group of Year 11 students who want to raise awareness of mental health issues among children and young people. They aim to challenge the stigma and discrimination around mental health along with providing information on where to go for support and how individuals can help themselves through difficult times.

During the assembly, the group requested that their peers raised their hand if they supported them and want to make a change so they can work together to make a difference, the response was overwhelmingly positive. The whole project has been student led including the design of the T-shirts which were donated by Wyvern Academy Parent Teacher Association.

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Record Results

Students and staff at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College are celebrating record A Level results. Against the backdrop of a small fall in the national pass rate at A Level, this year students have achieved an astonishing 99.7%, the highest in the college’s history, with a high grade rate (A*, A, B) of 54%. 26 students attained 4 A*/A grades with a further 48 students being awarded 3 A*/As; an incredible achievement. Some exceptional individual performances underline the college’s success and that of its students.

Richard Kirkham from Richmond secured 4 A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics and is off to study Physics at Corpus Christi College in Oxford. Jessica Hindle from Darlington achieved A grades in English Literature, French and Spanish and an A* in the Extended Project and will be going to Hertford College Oxford to study Japanese. Joseph Momaghan from Leyburn achieved A*s in History, Maths and Physics and an A* in Further Maths, He will head to Durham to study Physics.

Thomas Horniman from Hurworth will study Law at St John’s College, Cambridge having gained A* grades in Geography and the Extended Project, and A grades in Law and Maths. Jessica Pearse from Ingleton, meanwhile, is looking forward to studying Psychology and Nutrition at Newcastle University, having gained 3 As in Psychology, Biology and PE and an A* in the Extended Project.

Principal, Tim Fisher, comments, “Year on year students from across the region come to QE and achieve amazing things. Their success is testament to their hard work and ambition and to support they receive from staff at the college. Each one of them can now look forward to a bright and exciting future and we wish them all the very best.”

An engineering student is on the crest of a wave after securing an apprenticeship in the fascinating subsea sector. Darlington College student Rosalyn Mitchell has been taken on by subsea specialists Supergrip, whose headquarters are in the town’s Coniscliffe Road, working four days a week in industry and one in the classroom.

The 19-year-old, of Catterick Garrison, who has completed a two year full-time extended diploma in engineering at the college, is already working on a pipeline project that will ensure the safety of gas workers in Malaysia.

She said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity. I always wanted to work in engineering, either in the air or below the sea, and at college hydraulics was my favourite subject. I was inspired on a school visit to the college when I was 14 and saw its subsea robot. I’m really enjoying the higher apprenticeship with Supergrip as I’m involved with real projects which are so varied.”

Supergrip director Gordon Conlon, of Newton Aycliffe, who also studied at Darlington College and now runs a company designing and engineering subsea products with co-director Darren Blackburn, said, “The apprenticeship scheme is a great way to study. It’s a tough sector but we trebled our turnover and profits last year and I wanted to take on someone as an apprentice to offer them a chance like I was given when I was young. Darlington College was brilliant at setting it all up and also introduced us to additional funding streams in the Tees Valley.”

Darlington College curriculum manager for engineering, science and automotive technology Neil Bowen said, “The apprenticeship scheme is a great way forward for students and employers. The student is paid to study and Rosalyn will come away with an HNC and the chance to gain an HND and B.Eng degree if she wants to continue her studies. The employer gains a motivated student whose knowledge is up to date with the very latest technology and practices. It’s great to see Rosalyn in engineering, an area where we are striving to break down stereotypical perceptions that it is a man’s world.”

Gordon added, “It has certainly worked well for us and it’s great to see Rosalyn working with our team on the subsea pipeline plug which will improve safety hugely for the maintenance engineers working on a gas line.”

For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.

Nine students were given the opportunity to attend a 3 day residential at St John’s University, York. Enjoying full days of seminars and lectures

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Subsea

Young Writers Award

Nine students were given the opportunity to attend a 3 day residential at St John’s University, York. Enjoying full days of seminars and lectures

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Island Escape and CSI Newcastle

A large number of Year 8 pupils from Haughton Academy took part in workshops held by Graduate Ambassadors from Newcastle University. During the “Island Escape” and “CSI Newcastle” workshops, pupils were able to work together to complete a number of challenging and engaging tasks such as cracking codes, identifying animal species, testing DNA and working to solve crimes.

These sessions incorporated a lot of the main subject areas including Science, Humanities, Engineering and Maths to help pupils gain a wider understanding of how these subjects are transferred to a variety of disciplines in the world of work.

The Newcastle University Graduate Ambassadors will be returning to the academy later in the year to complete workshops in everything from Business, Finance and Marketing to taking part in debates around current affairs and Social Science.

The workshops are a fantastic way to allow pupils to explore different subjects in detail whilst working alongside current students and graduates, and improving pupils’ motivation to excel in their studies and improve their confidence in their own abilities along the way.

Two talented Carmel students are finalists for the national competition run by hit stage show WICKED and, in June, they will visit the Apollo Theatre in London to meet the cast at a special prize giving ceremony.

The event will be attended by head judge Cressida Cowell, author of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, as well as the WICKED cast. James Evans and Oliver Dobson beat off competition from 4,000 young people entered this national creative writing competition.

Raising Aspirations

Nine students from Haughton Academy were given the opportunity to attend a 3 day residential at St John’s University, York.

The students experienced life in and out of university. They enjoyed full days of seminars and lectures and nights, getting involved in student union activities and societies. They mixed with schools from around the north east. A treasure hunt around York was lots of fun followed by the large group taking over the local Pizza Express.

Haughton Academy careers co-ordinator Caroline Larsen said: “The students’ confidence grew during their visit. In just three days they flourished, and their confidence absolute flew. They totally embraced the residential and did themselves and their school proud. I wanted them to realise that everything is accessible to them; there are no barriers except the ones they might create themselves.”

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Amy Bennett

Amy Bennett joined the Learning & Skills Service as a Business Support Apprentice in September 2017 after completing her GCSEs at Hurworth School, to pursue a career in Business Administration.

Amy has been a ‘star student’! Her attendance and punctuality, along with her attitude and work ethic have always been excellent. She demonstrates that she is a hard worker and a fast learner. Feedback from her tutors and work colleagues confirms that this hard work shines through in her work duties.

Ian Saunders, Learning & Skills Assistant Manager stated: "Amy started with us when she just turned 16 years old and has been fantastic from the first moment. She works brilliantly within the team and is always willing to help. Her work is incredible for someone of her age, and she has just completed her apprenticeship and is progressing to the new Level 3 Business Administrator standard with the Council. Amy is everything you would want in an member of staff - reliable, mature, helpful, meticulous and organised."

Students from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College were able to find out about the range of extra-curricular activities available, in addition to volunteering opportunities, when they visited the annual Freshers’ Fair.

The event, attended by local charities, organisations and services, provided students with the opportunity to enhance their employability skills by registering to volunteer within the local community or participate in the College’s enrichment programme.

Ali Ions, who represented World Challenge, commented; “It was great to meet students who are eager to step out of their comfort zone and get involved in World Challenge. This year’s expedition will see students travel to Uzbekistan and install a water pump to provide fresh, running water for rural villages and communities. Our next expedition, to Botswana in 2020, features a rhino conservation project, giving students the chance to make a real difference to the future of this wonderful animal”.

Ben Scott, from Durham Constabulary, adds; “All of the students we spoke to were interested in what we do in the local area and were very forthcoming with questions. It’s extremely encouraging to see so many young people wanting to know more about crime and safety in the local area”.

Nicola Naisbett, Learning Leader for Employability, concludes; “The event was a huge success. Students were positive and enthusiastic about what was on offer and they have been able to sign up to experiences that will enhance their skillset and learning beyond that of the curriculum. We have also been able to raise awareness of the fantastic work done by our local charities’.

For more information of the extra-curricular activities and enrichment programme offered at QESFC, please contact Theresa Amarawansa, Assistant Principal.

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Freshers’ Fair

Over 50 members of the Carmel College community took part in the 22nd annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The pastoral theme for this year’s pilgrimage was ‘You are Special’ and this allowed our young people to reflect on their own vocation in life, acknowledging that God has made us for a purpose; to bring light where there is darkness and joy where there is sadness.

Students were a credit to their parents, communities and themselves as they undertook every task with great love and enthusiasm. Students gathered each day for Mass, morning and evening prayer along with other special liturgies as a College Group.

This year, the students supported not only children from the North East region, but also children from groups in Wales, the Midlands and the South East. Highlights of the week included the Trust Mass, Blessed Sacrament Procession and the Marian Torchlight procession.

The pilgrimage continues to grow year on year and this is a great blessing to the College. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who generously donate to our Lourdes fund each year. Your kindness enables us to assist the thousands of children who benefit from this very special pilgrimage holiday with Our Lady. We now look forward to next year’s pilgrimage, with the hard task of fundraising just beginning!

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Lourdes 2018 - You are special

Students who struggled at school are celebrating college exam results, which will change their lives thanks to an innovative approach to learning that even involved a hypnotherapist.

English and maths lecturers at Darlington College were rewarded with GSCE results 25 and 16 per cent better than last year, respectively, after adopting a new approach with their students. The successful results came against a backdrop of being judged for the first time completely on examinations, with no reference to coursework, and a different marking regime replacing A*-G with grades 9-1.

Local hypnotherapist Jaime Kelly was used to counsel students helping them overcome potentially paralysing exam stress by offering training in breathing techniques and meditation. Many students not only passed their maths and English after failing up to twice at school but gained results as high as grades 5 and 6.

One student, who struggled to even pick up a pen and believed she would never get on the career ladder, successfully secured a university place to read business after studying at Darlington College. Students whose first language isn’t English also performed well despite being challenged with the intricacies of 19th century literature including Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

“Our solid team of dynamic lecturers have thrown everything at it this year and everyone is reaping the rewards,” said senior English lecturer Gemma Chapman.

Students who did not pass GCSE maths and English at school must study the subjects alongside their other college qualifications, ranging from sports science, health and social care and hairdressing to catering, business, construction and media, to name but a few. Maths and English lecturers work with students to develop their skills and build their self-belief in new-found abilities.

This year a cohort of more than 500 were taught using an innovative ‘2:1’ method. This comprises two hours of direct study, during which time lecturers identify those needing extra support, followed by an additional hour, in small groups or one to one, for those in need.

Visual and aural revision techniques are used and the college organised The Hub, a popular drop-in study centre offering support, masterclasses and incentives for those who struggled to learn at home including during the holidays. Students also had easy access to laptops, on-line revision guides, books and visual aids.

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GCSE Results

Higher Education

“A high quality, passionate staff really made a massive difference,” added Gemma.

Maths senior lecturer Sean Maguire added, “One student went from entry level to a grade 5 in both maths and English which was a fantastic achievement.”

Curriculum manager Lois Calvert said, “These are subjects many students did not enjoy at school and our job was to change that mind set and give them some self-belief. We start a journey with something negative and we see them develop to the point where they don’t even think about it, they just do it. We are so thrilled that the students have done so well.”

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GCSE Results continued...

Students have been dazzling mentors with their brilliance in an initiative designed to promote higher education. Year 7 and 8 students from Haughton Academy joined the Brilliant Club, an initiative aimed at encouraging them to consider university life.

Chosen from SATs tests that ranked them among the school’s most able and talented, 13 students worked with a Phd student and teachers Caroline Larsen, Laura Bliss and Kate Marsland for 3 months on a project linked to microbiology and the immune system.

Their work was assessed and marked as if it was degree standard and one student, Jorja Stewart, obtained a mark that would have been equivalent to a first.

Vocational curriculum lead Mrs Larsen said, “This scheme is designed to raise aspirations and standards of work and encourage children who are able but might not otherwise consider going to university. We will track them throughout the remainder of their time with us to ensure they do fulfil their potential.”

Student Gabriel Kaddoura said, “I have enjoyed my experience with Brilliant Club because I have learnt about writing essays in the future, which I know is a key skill to have.”

Classmate Annabelle Foulds added, “I have really enjoyed the Brilliant Club which covered so many interesting things about malaria and science. I would really recommend it.”

Former Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College student, Joe Williamson, has been crowned the winner of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year Competition.

The prestigious contest, which is open to all jazz musicians under the age 25 residing in Scotland, saw Joe travel to Aberdeen for the semi-final where he performed in front of a panel of judges and live audience at the renowned Blue Lamp venue.

The final took place on the opening night of the Glasgow Jazz Festival at Drygate Brewery with Joe once again showcasing his talent to a group of leading musicians and promoters before being declared the winner. His prize includes the opportunity to play at both the Glasgow and London Jazz Festivals in 2019, and he also performed live with his quartet on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Jazz Now’ show as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2018.

Reflecting upon his time at QE, Joe comments, “My time at QE was extremely valuable. The College gave me the space to flourish and develop my interests, and there was a very positive learning environment which motivated me to be the best I could be’. Steve McGarvie, teacher of Music who worked with Joe during his time at QE, adds: ‘During his time at QE, Joe’s incredible natural ability was matched only by his hard work and dedication. The North East of England has a vibrant jazz scene which Joe became a part of before moving to Scotland and studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It is wonderful to see him develop into a critically acclaimed guitarist on a national scale and we wish him every success in his musical career’.

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Joe’s Jazz Journey

Pupils at Longfield Academy have just published the second edition of their school newspaper The Longfield Lion. They have been working with Peter Barron former editor of the Northern Echo to cover all aspects of publishing a newspaper.

They have learned how to interview people, bid for advertising, and even held their own press conference. It has been an incredible experience for them and one they have thoroughly enjoyed.

They have worked hard to fill the pages of the newspaper with a variety of articles representing all aspects of school life, and have donated all money raised from the advertising in the first edition to MIND.

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The Longfield Lion

U15 Pentathlon

Both the girls and boys teams from Carmel College finished first in the U15 Pentathlon at the Durham County Schools’ Combined Events Championships, at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow. In the individual championships, Sarah Wilcock, Kiera Williams, Nat Bell and Isaac Ryans all finished in the top four and have been selected to represent the County at the Northern Championships.

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Makeup Artist—Sophie Peach

It may have started with a naked Barbie, a tin of grey paint and a shoebox, but a Yorkshire make-up blogger’s imagination and passion for art has led her to Los Angeles.

Former Darlington College fine art student Sophie Peach admits to being a little bit offended when her primary school teachers sniggered at her first attempt at staging a fashion shoot with monochrome Barbie and a cardboard catwalk, but undeterred, she is now breaking into the scene globally after picking up an international award.

She flew off to LA to collect a £10,000 prize, meet other make-up contest winners from around the world and be at the centre of a glittering award ceremony as she became this year’s ‘NYX face of Halloween’.

NYX Cosmetics, a subsidiary of L'Oréal, was founded in Los Angeles by Toni Ko in 1999. Named after Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night, by 2014 the company was selling products in 70 countries with yearly sales of $93m. Every year it stages a global talent competition, The Face Awards, to spot the very best make-up artists and develop them for the future.

“I kept seeing the Face Awards on the internet so looked into it,” recalls Sophie, 19, of Catterick Garrison, who left Darlington College with the top award of DDD* L3 BTEC in fine art.

“I saw that it was only one day to the deadline so I chucked a design together with face paint, using my face as a blank canvas, shot a tutorial on the look and got through to the last 20. More than 2,000 people had entered in this country, including people who had been blogging for years who had thousands of followers.”

The next round was ‘animal kingdom glam’ and Sophie used NYX products she had been sent and Worbla thermoplastic to fashion a beak, with spectacular results and a top 10 placing. Round three saw her using mixed base to produce ‘punk extravaganza”, which was considered by three judges and a public vote.

“One of the competitors has 58,000 followers whereas I only have 4,400 but we were allowed to campaign and my make-up video had 13,000 views,” she says. “I made the top five and was invited to London to meet the NYX team and talk about my ideas.”

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The next issue of the 11-19 Practitioner Newsletter will be published in February 2019. If you have anything

you would like to be featured in the next issue, please send text and photos to:

reshma.begum@darlington.gov.uk by Friday 25th January 2019.

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Makeup Artist—Sophie Peach

The final brief was the most difficult for being so broad. “We could do any look,” says Sophie. “I just sat in front of the mirror and slapped it on but I am very fussy. It took me from waking up to going to bed to come up with a design I was happy with. I also had to make a video of the process which I was pleased with. There was a lot of meaning behind it. The triangle in the middle represents natural beauty and what is around this is the extreme. It reflects my personality; normal on the inside with an explosive imagination inside. But I also had to be able to recreate it in just three hours in the London final. I have only been doing this for about a year so when I won the UK final I was so shocked, particularly as I knew the people I was up against. I wasn’t doing it for the money but to promote my work and get my name out there.”

Her success came as no surprise to her Darlington College tutor Donna Slyfield. “Sophie is staggeringly talented and thoroughly deserves this success,” she says. “When she came to college she wasn’t overly confident but flourished in her time with us. She remains humble as ever and everyone at college is incredibly proud of her achievements and excited to see where this NYX opportunity takes her. Her success is inspiring our current cohort of art students by showing them just what can be achieved if you have passion and commitment and are prepared to pursue your dreams.”

Sophie adds: “I loved art as a child and it was always the thing I turned to. I enjoyed the fine art work I put on canvas, particularly the attention to detail, but it did frustrate me that it took so long to complete. That’s why I started using my face and it became a cool obsession. I do feel sad washing it off but at least I have photographed it and that becomes the work of art which can be framed. Now I take this seriously and see my future in it. I also create outfits, female warriors, in my signature green and can’t wait to see what opportunities LA throws up so I can take my artform around the world. I want to be the best at what I do and known for my designs, not to be famous as such, but because I am so passionate about my art, which to me, shows that it is ok to be different as long as it makes you happy.” Sophie’s work can be seen at https://m.facebook.com/GothSpectrum/, https://www.instagram.com/goth_spectrum/, or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpmAa4xD8CsDIn7KpDCuYJg.