PDF Edition - Riverside College

November 2015
Outstanding results
for the Class of 2015!
College News
23
OUTSTANDING RESULTS
Students Celebrate Outstanding
Results
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Literature Students Receive
a Perfect Score
Cronton students, Hannah Ryan
and Tom Scott were among nine
English Literature students who
achieved an A* at Cronton Sixth
Form this year, but these two
talented students had a double
celebration when they realised
that they had actually scored a
perfect 100% on the exam.
Hannah who has just progressed
to the University of Newcastle to
study Literature and History said,
“I was speechless when I received
the result, it still hasn’t sunk in
properly, I felt that the exam went
well but I wasn’t expecting 100%!
With the help of my teacher at
Cronton I really enjoyed and was
inspired by English Literature,
she helped and encouraged me
to exceed my potential. I am now
looking forward to university
would love to become a writer in
the future.”
Students, parents and teachers
have celebrated another year
of outstanding results with an
overall 99.3% pass rate at A Level
and 79% high grades and 100%
pass rate for Vocational courses
with 93% high grades.
30 A Level subjects boasted
an impressive 100% pass rate,
including core and STEM
subjects. Vocational students
achieved fantastic results with
77% gaining triple Distinctions
and Distinction* grades
(equivalent to 3 A Level s at
grade A) and 46% achieved triple
Distinction* grades. These results
are well above the national
averages.
Mary Murphy, College Principal
said, “We are absolutely delighted
with the outstanding results our
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students have achieved this year,
especially the increased number
of students who have achieved A*
and Distinction*.
Many of them have now started
their degree courses at some of the
top universities in the country and
we wish them every success.”
Tom Scott, who is also a member
of the Warrington Youth Council
said, “I had worked out what I
needed in the exam in order to get
an A* so when I saw my results I
knew I must have gained a high
score. I was extremely pleased.
My love for the subject has a lot
to do with the class and tutor at
Cronton and I have been inspired
to study English Literature further
when I go to university.”
Stephanie Power, English
Literature tutor at Cronton
Sixth Form said, “I could not be
more proud of the outstanding
achievements of our 2015 English
Literature students. The nine A*
students worked incredibly hard,
including Hannah Ryan and Tom
Scott who achieved full marks in
their final exam, but I am equally
proud of the dedication and
commitment demonstrated by
all. Not only have they become
excellent academics, but they have
left Cronton Sixth Form College
as thoughtful and considerate
young adults with a genuine
passion for Literature. They have
been a privilege to teach and I
have no doubt that each of them
will continue to thrive in Higher
Education and be an asset to the
Universities they attend.”
College News
03
HIGHER EDUCATION
Higher Education & Access Students
Celebrated at Graduation
On Wednesday 21st October,
successful students from Riverside
College’s Higher Education and
Access courses were honoured at
the annual Graduation and Awards
Ceremony.
The event took place at St Paul’s
Church in Widnes and celebrated
the success of graduates from
the College’s degree level courses
and students who had achieved
their Access to Higher Education
qualifications.
Business before progressing onto
a top-up Degree in Business at
Edge Hill University. She returned
to Riverside College in September
2013 to start her Post Graduate
Certificate Education, where she
demonstrated great enthusiasm
and passion for teaching. She
is now permanently employed
as a teacher of Business at
Riverside College and is a fantastic
ambassador for Higher Education
and lifelong learning.
Special congratulations went to
Rebecca Moorhead from Widnes
who was presented with the
Higher Education Student of the
Year Award after achieving her
Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector (at postgraduate
level).
Attending the event were the
Mayor of Halton Councillor Ellen
Cargill, Reverend Greg Sharples
and Chair of Governors Alan
Bennett. They were joined at St
Paul’s Church by College Principal
Mary Murphy, staff and students
from Riverside College and their
family and friends.
Rebecca’s journey to become a
teacher began back in 2010 at
Riverside College. She successfully
completed a Foundation Degree in
Mary Murphy, Riverside College
Principal said, “The annual
graduation ceremony is one of the
key events in the College calendar
Higher Education Graduates Foundation Degree in
HNC Business
Becky Ivatt, Maria Guilfoyle, Kirsty
Hayden, Donna Marie Lauder,
Natasha Powell-Hjort, Steven
Whitfield, Michelle Wynn
HND Business (Management)
which celebrates the hard work,
achievements and determination
of our students. It also affirms the
College’s commitment to providing
opportunities for local people
to gain access to higher level
qualifications.”
Helen London, Head of Teacher
Development and Higher
Education at Riverside College
said, “I am very proud of all of our
students graduating this year.
They have worked really very hard
to achieve their qualifications.
It was a delight to celebrate the
achievements of both pre- university
Access and Higher Education
students at this truly prestigious
event.
“There are so many reasons to
choose Riverside College for both
Access to Higher Education and
Higher Education courses. We are
delighted that so many students
have decided to stay local to obtain
their HND, foundation degree and
for the very first time this year full
honours degrees.”
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Jamie Cole, Sarah Leslie, Warren
Lewis, Abbie Wilson
HNC Health and Social Care
Sarah Crompton, Danielle Myers,
Julie Sheridan, Jackie Thain
HND Health and Social Care
Maura Dorrian, Frank Horrigan,
Suzanne Mason, Nicole Myers
HND Advanced Practice in
Working with Children and
Families
Linda Bowman, Hayley Clear,
Joanne Galloway, Christine
Heffernan, Stacey King, Carys
Moss, Katie Scutt, Megan Thomas,
Lisa Marie Tudor
HND Computing & Systems
Development
Daniel Ackerley, Leanne Bromiley,
Adam Flaherty, Calum Hankinson,
Lauren Jones, Arkadiusz Pniewski,
Deanna Wheatcroft
Diploma in Teaching in the
Lifelong Learning Sector
(Post Graduate Certificate
in Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector)
Alexandra Bate, Claire Brownbill,
Rebecca Moorhead, Barry Morris,
Joanne Pitt, Linda Vichos
Counselling
Lesley Barlow, Janette Boynes,
Rachel Cade, Sharon Clark, Lisa
Marie Cole, Louise Delooze,
Sandra Duffy, Olivia Edwardson,
Linda Fitzpatrick, Carrie Foster,
Kathryn Jenkins, Gael Keller,
Kate Knight, Gail Marie Knowles,
Victoria Samlofski, Philip Sheriton,
Ashley Smith, Kate Tobin,
Cheryl Warburton
BSc (Hons) Counselling
Louise Allen, Donna Annesley,
Jenna Connor, Marion Doyle,
Debbie Fairhurst, Hazel Hunt,
Tracey Tilston, Louise Warren,
Zoe Whittle
Kerry Jenkinson, Matthew O'Brien,
Rebecca Ruane, Laura Walmesley
Access to Higher Education
(Allied Health)
Gemma Baker, Lucy Cartledge,
Leah Gorry, Daniel Litherland,
Gareth Ujvari, Joe Unsworth
Access to Higher Education
(Humanities)
Rebecca Connaughton, Jamie Lee
Purnell, Haley Roach, Kenneth
Rushworth, Kieran Sprung, Jamie
Viggers
Access to Higher Education
(Social Science)
Amy Wright
Emma Clayton, Emily Davidson,
Collette Dowd, Chloe Gaffney,
Emma Gillan, Sarah Millett, Paul
Quinn, Laura Reavey, Emma
Taylor, Sintija Ziraka
Higher Education Student of
The Year Award
Access to Higher Education
(Primary Teaching)
Rebecca Moorhead (Post Graduate
Certificate in Teaching in the
Lifelong Learning Sector)
Helen Owen
Access to Higher
Education Awards
Paul Quinn
BA (Hons) Sport Coaching
and Sport Development
Access Student of the Year
Award
Access to Higher Education
(Business)
Catherine Smith, Joseph Stafford,
Neil Worthington
Access to Higher Education
(Nursing & Midwifery)
Victoria Allen, Amanda Banks,
Jennifer Boyd, Nichola Davidson,
College News
05
SCIENCE & MATHS
TRIPS & VISITS
Students Attend Nuffield
Celebration Event
Cronton Students Attend
Oxbridge Event
Students have been preparing for their
university applications with visits to
university open days and information
events.
Students who are part of the Prestigious
Universities Programme at Cronton
attended an Oxbridge event at the
Belvedere Academy in Liverpool to help
them with the application process for
prestigious universities and courses.
PE Students Trip to Horton
Students studying PE A Level have recently returned from a three
day practical expedition to Horton, North Yorkshire. As part of the
practical expedition the students had to complete a 50 mile walk,
which included conquering the three peaks in the Yorkshire Dales.
Performing Arts Students see Phantom
of the Opera
Centre of Excellence in Performing Arts
students travelled to London to watch an
amazing performance of Phantom of the
Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.
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10
Talented students from the Centre of
Excellence in Science and Maths at
Cronton who completed a research
placement over the summer as part
of the prestigious Nuffield Research
Project Scheme have impressed
visitors at the University of Liverpool
when they presented their findings
at a presentation evening for the
scheme.
Laith Alshukri, Amber Turton,
James Greer and Michael Cook all
spent an amazing four weeks of
the summer break completing the
research projects at the University
of Liverpool alongside professional
scientists, technologists, engineers
and mathematicians. The students
worked on projects including
Mathematical and Group Theory and
for the Surface Science Research
Centre in Liverpool University.
The students where all invited to a
Nuffield Celebration Event at the
University of Liverpool in October
where they had the opportunity
to display posters demonstrating
their achievements during their
placement and discuss their findings
with other students, supervisors and
guests from the science, technology
and engineering sector.
Amber, previously from Penketh
High School completed her project
on ‘Number Theory’, Michael,
previously from Halewood Academy
researched the ‘The prevalence
of Isodisomy in clinically and His
Pathologically High Risk Uveal
Melanoma Tumours’, Laith,
also from Halewood Academy
researched ‘Group Theory’ and
James, previously from Wade
Deacon High School worked with the
‘Surface Science Research Centre’
All of the students enjoyed the
experience which has given then
invaluable industry experience.
College News
07
SUTTON TRUST PROGRAMME
HIGHER EDUCATION
Thumbs Up for Room D4
from HE Students!
Cronton Students Experience Life at
Top Universities in the UK...
Three students from Cronton
Sixth Form have had the
opportunity to spend time at one
of the top universities in the UK
as part of the prestigious Sutton
Trust Scheme.
Michael Cook, Jodie Keillar and
Chloe Birmingham all recently
spent a week at an elite university
studying their future specialist
subject and learning more about
applications to prestigious
universities after being accepted
onto the scheme earlier in the
year.
The students were able to
experience life at one of the
top universities in the UK.
Michael Cook, previously from
Halewood Academy went to
The University of Nottingham
to study Medicine, Jodie Keillar,
previously from Wade Deacon
High School went to Durham
University to study Maths and
Chloe Birmingham also from
Wade Deacon High School went
to Kings College London to study
Politics, Philosophy and Law.
Chloe said, “It was really exciting,
I had only been to London a
couple of times before so it was an
amazing opportunity and such an
amazing university, I also really
enjoyed spending time in London
and the visit to the Supreme
Court was really interesting. I am
definitely going to apply there this
year.”
Foundation Degree Counselling
students are delighted that they
have the use of a dedicated
Higher Education Study Room.
“Nice and bright and quiet”. Great
for study! You can concentrate on
getting assignments done”.
Chloe Birmingham
Each year the Sutton Trust
Scheme provides successful
students with the opportunity
to focus on a chosen subject and
attend lectures and seminars
during a residential stay at one of
the Russell Group universities as
well as visiting places of interest
around the university and
enjoying a wide range of social
activities during their stay.
...and the USA!the UK...
Emma Humphries
Emma Humphries recently had
the opportunity to attend a top
American university as part of
the scheme. Emma, previously
from Wade Deacon High School
fought off tough competition to
be selected for the Sutton Trust
US Scheme after 3700 people
originally applied to take part.
She was 1 of 150 sixth form
students who headed over to
New Haven, Connecticut to the
Ivy League, Yale University for a
week in the summer.
After flying into JFK airport,
Emma had the fantastic
opportunity to spend a few days
at Yale and also visit other Ivy
League universities including,
Harvard, Princeton and Columbia
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10
University gaining an insight into
the American university system
and application process, she said,
“When I first heard I had been
accepted on the programme I was
shocked because I knew how many
people had applied. I know how
lucky I am to have this opportunity
and the trip was an amazing
experience. I know I want to
study in the US and as part of the
scheme I now have a mentor to
help me apply. The process is very
different to the UK system and
now I have a great head start.”
“Good area to work. You can
spread out and discuss work with
peers and use the computers at
the same time”.
Room ‘D4’ is based on the top
floor of our Kingsway Campus
and is available for Higher
Education students to use
throughout the day for private
study. It’s a real peace haven
for completing course work and
assignments.
Access Students Visit
Hope University
Access students visited Hope
University recently, where they
were given a tour of the campus
and attended taster lectures.
Social Science students attended
a lecture on Eyewitness
testimony, Business students
went to a lecture on fair trade
and Teaching/Humanities
students went to a lecture on the
work of Thomas Hardy.
All of the students found the trip
interesting and informative as
they were given the opportunity
to learn about University life .
College News
09
ENGINEERING
Engineering Students Gain Insight
into World of 3D Printing
After forming a partnership with
LPW Technology, market leaders
in the supply of products used
in the additive manufacturing
industry, Riverside College
and LPW gave students the
opportunity to gain insight
into the world of 3D printing
with a trip to the TCT Show +
Personalize ‘Inspired Minds’
education project in Birmingham.
TCT Show + Personalize is an
annual event dedicated to the
world of 3D printing, additive
manufacturing and product
development, which showcases
over 200 exhibitors and dozens of
industry speakers.
22 students studying graphics
and engineering at the
College took part in the trip
which included informative
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presentations on 3D and Additive
Manufacturing technologies. A
two hour practical workshop also
took place where students were
tasked with designing a variety
of products. The task was won by
graphics student David Hughes,
from Runcorn, who produced
folding headphones.
Riverside College Head of Skills
and Enterprise, Jayne Smith said
“The trip has been invaluable for
our students; they have gained
a lot of insight and first-hand
experience into the impact of
3D printing which now affects
all aspects of modern life. The
knowledge gained will also provide
our students with possible future
career options in this new industry.
It is great to be working with a
market leader such as LPW to
support our expertise in this area.”
www.riverside.ac.uk
OLYMPIC SUCCESS
Robert Wright wins gold at the Special
Olympics World Games!
Robert Wright, a Foundation
studies student at Riverside
College, has achieved the
incredible feat of winning a
golfing gold medal at the Special
Olympics World Games in Los
Angeles.
Robert came from behind
after two days of the four-day
tournament, which was covered
by world sports broadcaster
ESPN. He eventually built a lead
of 13 shots in the competition to
sail to victory. His family watched
in amazement as he overcame
the intense LA heat to claim the
gold medal.
After his incredible performance
at the games, Robert has been
selected to compete in the
Special Olympics Summer Games
in Sheffield in August, 2017. He
is training at Sutton Fields in
Runcorn and practises at Mersey
Valley Golf Club almost every
day.
He is coached by his father
Robert Sr and his amazing win
comes after only starting to play
golf in 2010. His playing career
began at Ashley School where
his natural talent was spotted by
staff who informed his parents
there was a bright future ahead
for Robert.
The Special Olympics World
Games are an international
sporting competition for athletes
with intellectual disabilities,
organized by Special Olympics.
Robert, who has autism, was one
of four chosen to represent Team
GB’s golfers in the City Of Angels.
He was competing with 7,000
athletes from 177 countries in
front of 500,000 spectators.
College News
11
SCIENCE
Tomorrow's Scientists Achieve Silver
CREST Awards
PERFORMANCE & DANCE
Dance Tutor Performs at
the Hi Seoul Festival
Professional Dance tutor
Benjamin Musa recently
performed as part of 'The Wired
Aerial Theatre’ company at the
opening and closing events of the
Hi Seoul Festival in South Korea.
The show is called 'As The World
Tipped’ and is the largest aerial
show in the UK.
Twelve students studying science
at Cronton Sixth Form - Luke
Baker, Sophie Cameron, Michael
Cooke, Rebekah Hanrey, Sarah
Hockenhall, Amy Littler, Gareth
Maher, Amy Milne, Anastasia
Rybina, Sophie Shaw, Connor
Simpson and Jade Griffith
Williams - are celebrating after
receiving Silver CREST Awards
(Creativity in Science and
Technology).
The Silver CREST Awards are
highly respected within the
scientific community and are
designed to provide curriculum
enhancement. They are typically
open to students able to
complete around 30 hours of
research on a scientific project of
their choosing.
The talented students
each researched an area of
microbiology that has relevance
to modern life in the twenty first
century, and gives an insight on
the role of effective antiseptics
in medicine and the importance
of hygiene in prevention of the
spread of infection.
bacterial colonies on the fingers
following handwashing.
Some of the projects chosen
by the students included;
a comparison on the effect
of hand sanitisers with and
without alcohol on the colonies
of bacteria swabbed from the
hand, a comparison of the effect
of an antiseptic and herbal
mouth wash on the growth of
M.luteus, and a comparison of
the effectiveness of hand drying
methods on the numbers of
John Hatton, Head of The Centre
of Excellence for Science and
Maths at Cronton, commented,
“We are extremely proud of
our students for their hard
work in the CREST awards. An
outstanding level of commitment
was demonstrated throughout
the projects, as they were carried
out in addition to their studies at
college.”
22
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www.riverside.ac.uk
The students presented their
findings as a biological report
at the College’s brand new
science facilities and wrote a
presentation for the rest of the
group.
also suspended on the wall and
worked as a counter balance for
the performers.
Over the past 4 years the
Liverpool based company
have toured in South Korea,
France, Germany, Las Palmas,
Spain, Australia, Holland and
are currently booking shows in
Dubai, Mexico and New Zealand.
The performance took place on
a steel wall suspended 50 feet in
the air by a crane and doubled
up as a giant projector screen
which set the scene for the
show. Performers dangled from
vertical lines attached to the wall
via a harness underneath their
costume and each performer was
attached to 'Climbers' who were
Acting and Performance Workshop
Level 3 BTEC Acting and
Performance students recently
had a workshop with Lindsey
Brocklebank from Maelstrom
Theatre and University of
Bolton. Lindsey is an acclaimed
international performer and
maker of theatre with extensive
experience in both traditional
dance performance and Physical
Theatre.
strong role model for the kind of
discipline and creativity required
to devise professional theatre.
She hopes to be able to return
later in the year to develop
the ideas that the students
began to explore and to forge
She spent three hours with the
links between Cronton and
Level 3 students exploring the
Viewpoints system of improvising the University of Bolton’s new
Theatre degree, which is taught
movement and performance.
in association with Bolton
It was an intense workshop
Octagon theatre.
at times, and Lindsey was a
CollegeNews
News
College
13
23
OPEN EVENING
Cronton Opens its Doors to
Prospective Students
Yet again, the Cronton Sixth Form Open
Evenings in October had a record numbers
of students coming to have a look around
the College for September 2016 courses.
A big thank you to all of the staff and
students who helped make the evening a
huge success, we had excellent feedback
from the events.
14 www.riverside.ac.uk
College News
15
COLLEGE BAKE OFF
BEAUTY & MEDIA MAKEUP
Gold & Silver for Riverside Students at
WorldSkills UK Competition
Students studying on the Beauty
and Media Makeup courses have
been celebrating after placing
first and second in the heats of
the WorldSkills UK competition,
gaining gold and silver awards.
Lauren Smith, from St Helens,
was thrilled when she came first
in the makeup category. The
talented student, who has just
completed the Level 3 Media
Makeup course, amazed the
judges with her fantastic work.
Katy Sullivan, from Widnes,
competed in the Nail Art
competition. She achieved an
impressive silver award for her
designs. Tasked with the theme
of Ancient Civilisations, Katy
based her nail designs on a geisha
theme.
Media Makeup student Toni
Anwyll also took part in the
makeup competition, while
students Laura O’Neill and Olyvia
Elverson competed in the Beauty
competition.
Winner of the "Great College
Bake Off" Crowned
The ‘Great College Bake Off’,
Riverside College’s version of the
popular BBC baking show, took
place on the 25th of September
with staff and students creating
beautiful cakes and savouries as
part of the national Macmillan
Coffee Morning.
The cakes were judged against
strict criteria of taste, texture,
creativity and presentation by
Stephen Parkinson; Head of the
Centre of Excellence in Catering
and Hospitality, catering tutor
Maureen Nicholls and last year’s
winner; Business Administration
apprentice Jessica Rodon.
After coming second place in
three previous college bake
offs, first place went to Carol
Walker, Placement Coordinator
at Riverside, who impressed the
judges with her fantastic take on
‘Afternoon Tea’.
She commented, “What a lovely
event to take part in, raising money
for such a great cause and a lot of
fun. Consistent 2nd place is good,
but I am over the moon to be the
winner. Mary Berry, eat your heart
out!”
Following the competition the
cakes went on sale at the College
with a fantastic £321.43 made on
the morning which will be donated
to Macmillan Cancer Support.
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www.riverside.ac.uk
College News
17
ROBOT WARS
Cronton Hosts the MerseySTEM
Robotics Challenge
The full day event, sponsored
by Sigmatex Systems Runcorn,
saw teams of pupils from Wade
Deacon High School, Ormiston
Chadwick Academy, Ormiston
Bolingbroke Academy and St
Chad’s High School each creating
a robot with full support from
MerseySTEM to help with the
build. Once complete, the teams
then put their machines to the
test against each other in arena
battles.
After a close and hard fought
competition, it was Ormiston
Chadwick Academy who beat
out the competition to earn their
place in the Liverpool City Region
Grand Final to compete against
schools across Merseyside region.
On the 8th of October, Cronton
Sixth Form and MerseySTEM
hosted the Halton heats of the
‘Robotics Challenge’, a robot
build and battle tournament
pitting local schools against each
other. The challenge aims to help
pupils develop team building and
problem solving skills as well as
develop their understanding of
engineering, science and design
principles.
18 www.riverside.ac.uk
For winning the heats, Ormiston
Chadwick Academy received a
‘VEX Competition Lab Kit’ which
is worth over £750. The school
will also receive support from
VEX Robotics and will have the
opportunity to enter another
competition with the Grand Final
being at Big Bang North West
2016.
GIRL NEXT DOOR
Talented Cronton Student Appears
on X-Factor after Signing Contract
Britani Humphries, an A Level
student at Cronton Sixth Form
College, has enjoyed the
incredible experience of signing
a five year contract with former
Take-That manager Nigel MartinSmith and appearing on the
popular ITV show The X Factor.
Britani, from Widnes, has been
musical from an early age. She
regularly sung at school and in
local competitions, along with
writing her own songs.
The former Wade Deacon
High School student saw an
advertisement for a new four
member all-girl group that the
famous manager Nigel MartinSmith was looking to form and
applied. She said, “Hundreds
of girls around the country had
applied for the position so I wasn’t
expecting to hear back, but I was
called in for an audition. It went
really well, I was recalled for
another audition and shortlisted
to the final 20 applicants. We
then took part in vocal coach
workshops and I was told we
would hear back within six weeks
to find out if I was successful.
Amazingly, I received the news
just 3 days later that I had made it
into the band, I was thrilled!
“I met the rest of the girls in the
group - Katie, Saskia and Alex we clicked really quickly. Soon
after, we applied for the X Factor
and made it through to the arena
auditions in front of the Judges.
to the second stage and the final
90 artists. We got some really
positive feedback from the judges
about our performance and our
look, but sadly we didn’t make it
through to the next stage of the
competition.”
“It was very surreal singing in front
of people you have seen on TV! We
were the first girl group to audition
on the day and I was quite nervous
as I had never sung in front of such
a big audience. We met Olly Murs
and Caroline Flack who were really
encouraging.”
The former Wade Deacon student
said about the experience, “I have
auditioned for things in the past
but have never been recalled, so
this has been unbelievable. We met
so many big names in the industry
and received lots of positive
comments which have been a big
confidence booster.”
Despite the group being
together just 5 weeks, the girls
impressed judges Simon Cowell,
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Nick
Grimshaw and Rita Ora with an
acapella version of Clean Bandit’s
song Rather Be, and made it
through to ‘Bootcamp’ with four
yeses.
Britani has made a very positive
start to life at college, and has
made sure to concentrate on her
studies despite the excitement
of her music career. She
commented, “I’m currently doing
A Levels at Cronton College in
Law, History and Sociology which
I am really enjoying.’’
“Bootcamp was a great
experience; we went through lots
of challenges. We made it through
The girls G.N.D (Girl Next Door)
have a bright future ahead of
them.
College News
19
AWARDS
WIDNES VIKINGS
Awards Success for Life
Skills Students
New Partnership with
Widnes Vikings
to be working in partnership with
Riverside College on the Vikings
Learning Centre. It no doubt
provides a great opportunity for
young people to come and learn in
a different way with the Vikings.
We have a fantastic belief that
the power of sport can change
lives and we look forward to
welcoming our first set of students
in October.”
Mary Murphy, Riverside College
Principal said: “This is a fantastic
project to provide opportunities for
our young people in an excellent
learning environment which will
appeal to students who prefer to
learn in a non-traditional way.
We are looking forward to working
in partnership with Widnes
Vikings to provide a high quality
educational experience with a
difference.”
Riverside College announced a
new partnership with Widnes
Vikings to offer a fantastic range
of education programmes for 1618 years olds in Halton.
non-accredited qualifications for
local people. Young people aged
16 – 18 are now invited to register
their interest for the Level 1
Sports Study Programme.
Together with the College, The
Vikings Learning Centre will
offer a variety of accredited and
Richard Munson, Widnes Vikings
Community Integrated Director
said: “We are absolutely delighted
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In recognition of the importance
of this new partnership and the
innovative way in which the
Club and the College will be
working together, the Riverside
College logo will appear on the
chest of the Widnes Vikings
players’ jerseys for the 2016
season and the players will be
proud wear the new tops as
they take to the field.
Riverside College celebrated
the learning and volunteering
achievements of their Life Skills
and ESOL (English for speakers
of other languages) students, at
the annual Adult Skills for Life
Awards Evening.
Thalia Bell, Vice Principal, and
Rachel Clarke, Head of Skills for
Life, welcomed the audience
of students, family and friends
before almost fifty awards were
presented.
The ceremony was held at the
College’s Centre Stage Theatre,
with students recognised for
accomplishments including
Recognition of Learning, 100%
Attendance, Volunteering in the
Classroom, and Volunteering at
Speke Hall.
There were also special
recognition awards presented
to students who have displayed
exceptional performance
throughout the year.
Chelsey Murdoch, Skills for Life
Programme Area leader, said,
“It was a successful evening and
students were genuinely delighted
to receive their certificates and
awards. The evening was in
recognition of learning goals and
a celebration of achievements,
which our learners had made
throughout the year. It was
a delight to celebrate these
successes with the learners, their
family and their friends.”
ESOL Award Winners
• Izabela Borecka Kuik Progression Student of the Year
• Selma Duman - Inspirational
Student of the Year
• Anna Rak - Motivational
Student of the Year
• Nattikarn McLaughlin - Student
of the Year
Skills for Life Award Winners
• Cara Swan - Progression
Student of the Year
• Jasmine Locke - Inspirational
Student of the Year
• Sharon Mcgregor - Motivational
Student of the Year
• Alex Scott - Student of the Year
College News
21
ONE WORLD WEEK
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
Riverside Student Campaigns to End
Mental Health Discrimination
Students Attend One World
Week Events
Emma Blackall, a Riverside
student studying on the Level 3
BTEC Diploma in Health & Social
Care at Riverside College, is
campaigning for Time to Change,
an anti-stigma campaign run
by the leading mental health
charities MIND and Rethink
Mental Illness.
Emma, along with her sister,
were chosen to feature in a video
discussing mental health issues
and the care and support they
provide their father who suffers
from post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
Gary Skyner with students
Students and staff at Riverside
and Cronton have been
celebrating One World Week
with a series of workshops
and projects including a visit
from popular comedian and
motivational speaker Gary Skyner
and Alan Tomlinson from the
Anthony Nolan Foundation.
Gary, who was the second person
in the UK to be born physically
disabled due to the drug
Thalidomide, spoke to groups of
students about the challenges in
his life and encouraged them to
believe in themselves in order to
achieve their potential.
Gary said, “The visit to both of
the Colleges has been absolutely
fantastic.The students were great
and really attentive to the story
of my life. I was really flattered by
all of the students who wanted to
shake my hand and take pictures
at the end of the talk. They were
all able to draw a comparison
between expectation and hard
work and realised that they could
apply everything that I talked
about to their own life in order to
reach their own potential.”
Alan Tomlinson from Anthony
Nolan spoke to students about
the importance of blood, bone
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Alan Tomlinson from
Anthony Nolan
marrow and organ donation and
how it can help to save a life.
At the end of the presentation,
students were given the
opportunity to sign up as a blood
or organ donor with NHS Blood
and Transplant (NHSBT) or as a
stem cell donor with Anthony
Nolan.
One World Week is a global
celebration which takes place
each year, aiming to bring people
from all backgrounds together, to
help to understand each other’s
perspectives and learn about
global justice.
The video was filmed across
Anfield Stadium and Stanley
Park and aims to encourage
sufferers of mental health issues
to not be afraid to discuss their
experiences.
Emma also had the opportunity
to visit Harrow College in North
West London on World Mental
Health Day at a MIND event
where young people - ‘Time
to Change champions’ - were
able to talk about stigma and
discrimination in mental health.
both, I was mesmerised to meet
a real life princess. Prince William
commented that it was great how
we are supporting each other as a
family.
If you would like to take part in
the campaign and discover some
of the small things you can do,
or share some of your own, visit
www.time-to-change.org.uk
Attending the event were
The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, Prince William and
Kate Middleton, who Emma was
able to meet. She said, “It was an
amazing experience to meet them
“I feel it’s very important to share
our experience and help people
become aware of mental health
discrimination, even if it helps just
one person it will have been worth
taking part.”
To watch the watch Emma’s
video, see here: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=_
Jmuv2rffgA
#smallthings
College News
23
LETTERS
ENRICHMENT
Freshers Fair 2015
Students attended this year’s
Fresher’s Fair in their hundreds
making 2015 the best attended
event yet.
Over 400 students visited the
various stands at Riverside and
Cronton which took place in
the first week of term, inviting
them to enhance their time
spent at College with lots of
different activities from sports
to volunteering all designed
to offer the students a variety
of extra skills which alongside
their qualification with help
them secure a great career after
College.
This year students were able to
speak to a selection of companies
and teams including, Young
Add Action, Kingsway Gym,
PURE Gym, the Halton Health
Improvement Team, the Police
and Fire Services, as well as sign
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up to the enrichment activities
across both Colleges. The most
popular activities included the
new Kingsway football team
and an amazing 300 staff and
students signed up to run the
‘Race for Life’ event in April.
Joe Clements, Enrichment
Coordinator said, “The event was
highly successful and the students
were all very enthusiastic.”
College News
25
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College News
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