PRESS RELEASES AND NEWS STORIES
June 2023:
PROJECT SEARCH SUCCESS
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that two of our learners have become the FIRST in the country to graduate from a police internship at Lancashire Constabulary for young adults with learning disabilities.
Jack Hamilton, from Penwortham and Luke Williams, from Burscough both completed a year-long supported internship.
Gary Bartlett, a tutor at Preston College, says: “It was great to see how far Luke and Jack have come, as they have both made massive leaps in terms of confidence and work skills”.
Both men will be staying in employment with the force as they progress on to the police staff apprenticeship scheme, with Jack set to apprentice in ICT and Luke in organisational development.
We’re still taking applicants for this year’s intake – please contact the College for more information.
Read the full story below:
https://lnkd.in/eY3zuyZ8
March 2023:
OFSTED: “PRESTON COLLEGE IS A COLLEGE OF SANCTUARY.”
Ofsted: “Preston is a designated city of sanctuary and for these learners, Preston College is a college of sanctuary.”
At Preston College we can be proud of many things, particularly our most recent Ofsted inspection where we were graded ‘Good’ in all areas and received the top assessment of ‘strong’ for our contribution to meeting Local Skills needs.*
And one of our proudest moments within the inspection was Ofsted recognising that Preston College is a ‘college of sanctuary’.
Ofsted reported, “Learners and apprentices feel safe in college. They are confident in talking to teachers and support staff about any problems they encounter.
“[Learners] appreciate that teachers take matters seriously and are quick to tackle inappropriate behaviour.”
“Leaders and staff at all levels have developed a culture of safeguarding. They have put in place a range of safeguarding policies to ensure that staff know how to keep learners and apprentices safe.”
They add: “The safeguarding team uses a range of agencies and referral organisations to support learners and monitor all vulnerable learners, such as children who are looked after and unaccompanied asylum seekers, to ensure they are safe.”
In addition, Ofsted inspectors expressed that:
- leaders at our college have a very well established approach to supporting our learners who are not in education, employment or training
- our partner links with the likes of The Princes Trust and The Red Cross provide programmes to help young people re-engage in learning, move into work and to support some of the most disadvantaged groups [in the community]
- Preston College provides extensive support to looked after children and care leavers
- the College works extensively to provide programmes for asylum seekers to develop their English skills.
Interim Principal and Chief Executive, Simon Nixon says, “I could not be prouder of our college and the supportive culture we promote in creating a safe and secure place to study.”
Simon adds: “We have a huge responsibility to our learners. For many, our college is a place of refuge and our college-wide teams ensure that we uphold our pledge to safeguard our learners so they feel safe and well protected. For Ofsted to recognise this makes us very proud.”
*This makes Preston College the first in Lancashire to achieve the highest skills judgement within Ofsted’s newly enhanced inspection framework.
March 2023:
PRESTON COLLEGE LEARNER, AVA, MAKES MAJOR FASHION BREAKTHROUGH WITH GEORGE AT ASDA.
17 March 2023
Preston College’s Access Foundation Learning Art Design and Media learner, Ava, makes major fashion breakthrough with George at ASDA.
In a supermarket first, 16 year-old award-winning deaf and blind artist Ava Joliffe has helped develop a 24-piece kidswear collection which comprises of trend-led items, created to suit particular needs.
Ava, who studies at Preston College from Sir Tom Finney School, has been working with supermarket fashion brand George at ASDA to help launch its adapted clothing range, designed specifically to support self-dressing for young people and children with disabilities.
Vicki Radford, George’s buying manager says: “It was really important to Ava that we designed our adapted collection in line with the main kidswear range, so children with disabilities can wear the same as their friends… and it was really important to us that these pieces remain competitively priced and affordable to all our customers.”
The collection, which is available online and in ASDA stores across the UK, was designed with the help of Ava, who assisted on the range’s accessibility and design. She was able to bring an insight into the adaptations needed to ensure products were practical for young disabled people, whilst ensuring the collection was in line with the mainline kidswear range.
Laura Fenton, Quality Practitioner at Preston College for Visual Performing Arts and Digital says: “We are absolutely blown away by what Ava has achieved. She is just inspirational, as are all the staff who work with her. Ava is only 16 years of age and to be working in collaboration with one the UK’s big four supermarkets to adapt their clothing range in a supermarket-first is incredible!”
The collection, which has been created for age ranges 3-16 years, has been made with both functionality and affordability in mind, but most importantly to follow fashion. Clothing has been adapted to work around feeding tubes, for example, and all waistbands have been designed to be super-soft and comfortable for the wearer, while hidden hook and loop fasteners on necklines make slipping sweatshirts and tees on and off more comfortable.
Laura adds: “The level of detail that Ava has developed for this collection is admirable. The clothing has been well thought out but also follows fashion! Well Done Ava – we are all super proud of you.”
Preston College would like to extend our congratulations to you, Ava – we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!
CREATIVE MEDIA FOUNDATION SKILLS LEARNERS REACH THE WORLDSKILLS UK FINAL!
30 September 2022:
Sean and Tysha, both currently studying on the Creative Media Foundation Skills programme at Preston College, have secured their place in the WorldSkills UK final, taking place in Cardiff in November 2022.
Successfully progressing through the online qualifiers and semi-finals, which saw them re-design and market a chocolate bar, the pair now join over 500 finalists competing for gold, silver and bronze at the event.
The 2022 WorldSkills UK competition will take place in venues that span the four corners of the UK, with Sean and Tysha flying the flag for Preston as the only two competitors from the College to reach the grand finals.
Designed to boost skills and confidence, the WorldSkills UK platform also presents additional opportunities for competitors who impress to represent the UK at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in France in 2024.
Ben Blackledge, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills UK said:
“I want to offer my congratulations to everyone who registered for our competitions this year, especially those who are now going on to compete in November’s finals. We are really excited to be taking the show on the road again this year with finals hosted by colleges across the UK.
Our competitions and competition-based development programmes equip apprentices and students with the lifelong, world-class skills that will help increase UK productivity and competitiveness.”
Fiona Birtchet-Sharpe, Head of School and WorldSkills UK Project Lead at Preston College commented:
“Reaching the final of the WorldSkills UK competition is a brilliant achievement for our learners. To have their work, skills and commitment recognised, alongside the opportunity to compete on a national stage is a unique opportunity, which really adds value to their continued learning.
As a provider, we are proud to be working with the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence to enhance our teaching and innovation and provide our learners with high quality technical skills and exposure to real-life work environments.”
The overall winners will make a trip to Channel 4 on Friday 25th November 2022, to meet former apprentice and TV journalist, Steph McGovern, who will hand out medals from her ‘Packed Lunch’ studio.
Good luck to all competitors, but of course – that extra little bit of ‘good luck’ goes to our two finalists, Sean and Tysha!
June 2022:
BOWKER APPRENTICE FROM IRAQ WINS PRESTON COLLEGE APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
A young apprentice, originally from Iraq, has been confirmed as the Preston College Apprentice of the Year.
Didar is in his second year of the automotive technologies course whilst working for Bowker Ribble Valley in Osbaldeston. Didar came to the UK from Iraq six years ago. Unable to speak any English, he enrolled onto the Preston College ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ course.
Working from Entry 2 to Entry 3, he then enrolled onto the Level 1 Automotive programme. He started his Level 3 apprenticeship with Bowker Ribble Valley earlier this year. Didar will continue his studies at Preston College for another year. Away from work, Didar is a keen footballer and supports Manchester City.
Preston College Apprentice of the Year, Didar Hussain, said: “I was very surprised and proud to win the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award. When I enrolled at Preston college I could barely say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’. But everything has taken off since then. I chose automotive technology because I hoped it would offer me important transferable skills.
“I am studying a practical course. The support I enjoy at Preston college helps. But it makes a big difference when you combine it with the first-hand experience at Bowker. It is a great way to develop my learning by watching and speaking to colleagues too.”
Earlier this year Bowker Motor Group entered into a long-term partnership with Lancashire further education provider, Preston College. The new automotive technologies partnership will help apprentices learn a breadth of knowledge, skills and behaviours in their specific area.
The partnership with Bowker Motor Group has already led to apprenticeship opportunities within customer service and various automotive pathways within their prestigious dealerships.
For Bowker, Richard Rawlings said: “Congratulations to Didar. Bowker Motor Group have dedicated their time to involve learners in valuable work placement opportunities, with the potential to move to an apprenticeship programme.
“The development of our partnership enables learners to capture and experience industry, combined with underpinning knowledge, skills and behaviours. Students are getting a fantastic opportunity to learn bespoke engines to help with their understanding of the automotive industry. Didar is a great example of the difference our partnership can make.”
Preston College is currently the largest apprenticeship provider in its local area.
Bowker Motor Group’s automotive retail franchise portfolio includes BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad and Porsche, with centres in Preston and Blackburn. The group also operates Bowker Ribble Valley in Osbaldeston.