Carshalton College Learners

Beauty End of Year Awards Two Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented to learners who have been with the College for 3 years and are fantastic success stories. Sarah Knight, Team Leader for the Beauty Courses, describes their journey “Asma Khan and Kasia Kowal are two very unique students who have completed all their levels of Beauty Therapy (Level 1,2 & 3) here at Carshalton College. They enrolled at the College as ESOL students and achieved the qualifications to progress onto a vocational course. They have persevered when times have been extremely tough, never complained and stayed committed and focused throughout their course. They have both supported other students in all levels with practical assessments and have been totally selfless. They have both been an absolute pleasure to teach.”

Sutton Caregivers pass NVQ with flying colours There was a call for celebration at the Wallington–based care company, Home Instead Senior Care in May, as three caregivers have received outstanding results for the NVQ Level 2 qualification.

The trio of ‘caring’ students Alison Legg, Pauline Luke and Myrna Ward, are delighted to have passed their Health and Social Care NVQ with flying colours from Carshalton College. The course required working from home with support from tutors and the three are unanimous in their recommendation of the service provided by the College.

COSLP Best Learner 2011 Bolia Matundu was awarded the prestigious Best Learner Award at the House of Lords, on 18 May 2011.Carshalton College’s Student of the Year 2010, graduated from the Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology course in July 2010 and received the award for being an exceptional student and his enthusiasm and dedication.

Bolia came to this country from the Peoples Republic of Congo. He enrolled in 2008 and his tutors soon realised that his natural musical ability and talent was not being challenged and moved him up to the Level 3 BTEC Diploma.

100% attendance and high standard of work produced a final Distinction and Distinction Merit grade. Bolia received Additional Learner Support where he was always keen to improve his literacy skills.

Bolia was a class representative, helped set up equipment at events, designed publicity for the Music department and being very skilled at video production, had over 20,000 hits on YouTube over 2 days for one of his videos.

Bolia and two classmates formed a music group called DRT and were quickly signed up. Their track Get Mad Now! was chosen for a Specsavers nationwide advertising campaign. DRT pitched their tune which the Director felt was a perfect fit for the advert storyline.

Bolia is now studying for a degree in Music Production at Canterbury Christ Church University. DRT formed their record label Get Mad Records and are finishing their debut album.

Charity Art Auction Carshalton College raised over £900.00 at their Charity Art Auction and Sale on Wednesday 18 May. The free event welcomed the Mayor of Sutton Councillor Margaret Court and local residents to raise money for local charities, Croydon Carers and St Raphael’s Hospice.

The Sport Hall was transformed into an art exhibition with work on display from the College’s current art students and artwork donated from the charities. Students of all ages from the BTEC Art & Design Courses produced work under the title Life with a range of paintings, ceramics, illustrations, fashion pieces and graphics. The unique pieces of artwork were perfect decoration for offices and homes and the most generous donation was £150.00.

Four students from the BTEC Business Diploma courses were given the task of organising the event as part of their coursework. Dominik, Jodie, Jenny and Perry sent out invitations, set up the exhibition and helped manage the event on the night.

Young Chef Competition Carshalton College hosted the Sutton area regional competition for the RIBI Young Chef Competition on Saturday 15 January. Organised by the Rotary Club Sutton Nonsuch, the competition celebrates young and talented chefs who have to prepare, cook and present a 3 course meal. Congratulations to Carshalton College's first year catering student Aidan Brett who won 1st place in the heat. Aged 16, Aidan joined the College in September and has impressed tutors from the start with his ambition and creative cooking.

During 2010/2011 Catering and Hospitality students have provided catering demonstrations in Sutton High Street , at the St Helier Festival and the Local Farmers Market and held Hells Kitchen themed evenings at the in house training restaurant, Nightingales.

Sutton Carers Pampered Carshalton College helped reward young carers in Sutton for their hard work by organising a Pampering Day at the College. Emma Sarbutt, Senior Technician in Retail, arranged for the visit which included a 3 course lunch at the in house training restaurant, Nightingales followed by a wash and blow dry and then either a mini manicure or a mini pedicure in the Renaissance Hair and Beauty Salons on Monday 21 March. Emma organised for a number of young carers to come in and be pampered with a tasty meal and treatments performed by the students.

Student Awards 2010 Student of the Year Runner-Up Award Dale Brambley Sport & Exercise Science Course at Level 3 Dale received this award in recognition for his dedication and hard work. He is currently studying the Sport & Exercise Science Course at Level 3 after completing Levels 1 and 2 with a distinction. He has shown exemplary behaviour throughout his three years here with 95% attendance. As well as achieving or about to achieve the highest grade at each stage, he is also is part of the Sutton Leadership Academy and in classes he is one of the keenest and most dedicated learners. He is very hard working and shows amazing determination.

Apprentice of the Year Award Matt Champion IMI NVQ Level 2 Motor Vehicle Matthew was nominated for this award because of his outstanding attitude to the theory and his practical assignments required for his NVQ qualification. He also takes great care to cover all aspects of what is required, often prepared to help his peers when they require assistance with their course work. He is always polite and helpful when visited at his place of work, and makes sure he is always available to discuss any queries we have to resolve. His punctuality and attendance are exceptional and is a real credit to himself and his class.

Higher Education Award Julie Fraser FdA Supporting Teaching and Learning Julie demonstrated an exceptional ability to develop her academic skills and bring them into practice. She was able to reflect upon her learning journey within her different assignments and apply this knowledge in her workplace. Julie has also been working to a collaborative and professional standard in her group where she has been able to support her colleagues address their learning barriers. Throughout this course, Julie has developed academically, professionally and at a personal level.

Sports Students and Cyclethon Students from Carshalton College raised £100.00 for charity at their Cyclethon on Wednesday 10 November. Between 9.30am and 3.30pm students from the Sport Courses took over Reception with two exercise bikes and encouraged staff and students to take part in the fundraising event. People were asked to donate £1.00 and cycle as far as they could in two minutes. By the end of the day, participants had completed a distance of 10km with student Ben Clark winning a prize for cycling the furthest in 2 minutes. The College picked two charities to raise money for and will each receive £50.00. interAKtive are a local charity, based in Banstead, and national charity Youth Sport Trust.

Throughout the year Public Service and Sport Students have been actively involved volunteering at events with the National Boccia Finals and Paralympic Festival.

London’s Best Apprentice 2010 Jamie Weakner enrolled at Carshalton College in 2008 and completed an Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation. During the Apprenticeship, Jamie studied and worked at M & M Electrical Ltd, based in Wallington and Farringdon. After successful passing the course, Jamie, now 24, has remained with the company as a full time employee.

In November 2010, training company JTL held their National Awards ceremony honouring the top recently qualified Apprentices in England and Wales. Every year, the best electrical and plumbing apprentices have been presented with a prestigious accolade at the awards recognising apprentices' achievement throughout the various Advanced Apprenticeship disciplines offered at colleges such as Carshalton College.

Jamie was successfully chosen from 800 nominees to be named as London’s Best Apprentice at their awards presentation on 2 November, held at City Hall in London. He was awarded £700, a trophy and plaque. 2010 Koestler Trust Awards Two BTEC Media Graduates who studied through Carshalton College have been selected for Platinum and Gold Awards by legendary director Mike Leigh for their films on the justice system.

2009 and 2010 graduates, who studied the BTEC National Certificate in Media Production, entered their films into the 2010 Koestler Trust Awards, a trust which encourages people serving sentences in prison to practise artwork. The BTEC course is delivered through The Media House at HMP Downview and is a Media for Development project.

Based on information supplied by Maxine Alexander.