May 2024 - Page 2 of 2 - Capital City College Group

CONEL Student Library hosts World Book Night treasure hunt

Posted on May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

ESOL and Literacy and Numeracy students take part in an exciting literary adventure to mark World Book Night 2024

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) played host to a book-based treasure hunt to mark World Book Night, run by The Reading Agency which is an event aimed at inspiring people from all backgrounds to read more.

The Centenary Learning Centre at the college’s Tottenham Centre invited students from ESOL courses and Literacy and Numeracy courses to take part in a literary treasure hunt on 23 and 24 April. The event was organised and run by Pavla Jonasova from the ESOL Department, Nicky Evans and CONEL’s library team as part of the Reading Ahead Scheme, which encourages people to build confidence in their reading skills. The treasure hunt proved very popular, with over 275 students from both ESOL and Literacy and Numeracy courses taking part.

During the event, students followed a trail of puzzles, with each one leading them to a classic book or well-known author. The activities enabled them to develop problem-solving skills, work collaboratively and develop their knowledge of a range of literary titles and writers. Pavla, Nicky and the library team supported and encouraged students as they completed the challenges. Once the students had successfully completed all of the puzzles, they were able to claim their treasure, a free book from World Book Night’s Quick Read collection.

The treasure hunt reinforced the importance of both Literacy and Mathematics and offered a great introduction to the college’s library service, encouraging students to use the facilities as they develop their own reading practice.

@capitalccg
We recently held a World Book Night Treasure Hunt at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London’s library for ESOL and Functional Skills students! 🙌 Full news story to follow. #college #london #conel #tottenham #esol #books #lifeatcccg
♬ original sound – Capital City College Group

Kamila Buhajczuk, ESOL Curriculum Manager, said: “The treasure hunt was a fantastic event that our students thoroughly enjoyed. It provided great enrichment and an opportunity to develop problem-solving skills and collaborative work. Students were very happy to receive a book as a reward for their efforts. The event was very well organised and fun for all involved.”

Sibel Tancuay, ESOL Lecturer, said: “The treasure hunt organised was an absolute joy for the learners. The thrill of finding clues encouraged learners to participate in the journey. The clues were cleverly crafted requiring several different abilities and skills. The hunt tested different techniques and gave an opportunity for the learners to become friends with other groups. The experience was a celebration of literature, a test of wit and a chance to embark on a new adventure.”

Marie Scarlett Davis, Literacy Lecturer, said: “The Treasure Hunt was well organized and engaging. It was creative and well-crafted, bringing together maths, English, problem-solving and team-building skills for all levels. My students enjoyed the experience and had fun. They took part with great enthusiasm and are looking forward to the next one!”

If you are interested in developing your ESOL or Literacy and Numeracy skills, then why not take a look at our courses? We offer a range of flexible options for learners of all backgrounds and abilities, with courses that combine ESOL study with other subjects such as Accounting and Business or Childcare.

WestKing’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Team announced as finalists for 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards

Posted on May 14, 2024May 14, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

The Culinary Arts and Hospitality team from WestKing has been shortlisted for a popular national award, recognising their dedication to teaching and education.

The team from Westminster Kingsway College’s (WestKing) School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality has won a highly-prized place on the shortlist for the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards. The awards recognise the hard work of the school community, taking into account the efforts and achievements of the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality’s teaching and support staff.

The competition consists of 16 team and individual categories recognising educators across early years, primary, secondary and Further Education sectors. The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Team from WestKing has been selected as a finalist by the judges in the Further Education Team of the Year category.

The next stage of the competition involves judging visits, which will take place during April and May. Following announcements of Certificate, Bronze and Silver Winners on National Thank a Teacher Day on 19 June, the competition will culminate in November with the Pearson National Teaching Awards UK Ceremony as well as coverage on the BBC’s The One Show.

WestKing’s School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality is located at the college’s Victoria Centre and boasts a range of specialist facilities such as professional kitchens, a patisserie and a chocolate kitchen. Students also train and perfect their skills within the college’s highly regarded restaurant The Vincent Rooms, which consists of the AA top-rated dining venue The Escoffier Room and The Brasserie.

Paul Jervis, Head of Hospitality and Culinary Arts at WestKing, said: “We are delighted that our team has been shortlisted for the Further Education Team of the Year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards. The School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts has an exceptional team of teaching and support staff, and it’s their passion and dedication to their craft that makes Westminster Kingsway College one of the best places in the country to study Hospitality and Culinary Arts.”

Congratulations to everyone at the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality on being shortlisted for the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards!

Apply now for Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses!

CONEL students complete work experience with The British Red Cross

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

Students from CONEL win work experience placements at international humanitarian organisation and benefit from personal and professional growth.

A group of four students from The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) have completed work experience with The British Red Cross.

The British Red Cross which is known for its pioneering work and global humanitarian efforts across the globe, partnered with CONEL’s Creative Media and Computing and IT departments and invited students to apply for a work experience programme.

After undergoing a rigorous selection process which assessed their dedication, passion and aptitude for the humanitarian field, four students were selected to participate in a week-long British Red Cross work experience programme from 19 February to 23 February.

The four CONEL students who took part in the programme were:

Jasmine White, Creative Media Production – Level 3 Extended Diploma
Kehinde Ayomikun Ogunfowokan, IT – Level 1 Introductory Diploma
Luna Addae, IT – Level 1 Introductory Diploma
Iryna Buchynska, IT – Level 1 Introductory Diploma

During the work experience placement, the students immersed themselves in various roles within the organisation which included communications, media relations and community outreach. The programme took place both online and in person and was designed to provide them with hands-on experience that would enable them to create positive change within their communities.

Under the guidance of experienced professionals within the organisation, students took on new challenges, embraced learning opportunities and developed professional skills.

Jasmine White, who is currently studying Creative Media Production – Level 3 Extended Diploma, said: “Engaging in the Red Cross Work Experience Program has been an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional growth, thank you.”

Lune Addes, an IT – Level 1 Introductory Diploma student, said: “The Red Cross program helped me learn a lot and grow. Thank you!”

Kehinde Ayomikun Ogunfowokan, an IT – Level 1 Introductory Diploma student, said: “The Red Cross work experience taught me how to understand and engage with customers effectively.”

Upon completing their work experience, The British Red Cross awarded each student with a certificate acknowledging their commitment to humanitarian service and their contributions during their time with the organisation.

We work with a variety of organisations and employers to provide valuable work experience placements for all full-time students. These placements enable students to gain a deeper understanding of working life, develop transferable skills, make informed choices about their future careers and build their professional network.

Find out more about work experience placements here.

WestKing win the John Retallick Memorial Trophy after incredible success at International Salon Culiniare

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

After topping the medal table at the International Salon Culinaire, WestKing has taken home the John Retallick Memorial Trophy.

Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) students displayed exceptional skills and knowledge at the International Salon Culinaire in London, outshining colleges from across the UK to win the John Retallick Memorial Trophy.

The International Salon Culinaire is one of the most prestigious chef competitions in the world, providing a platform for chefs of all levels, from aspiring trainees to experienced and established professionals. The three-day event formed part of Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HRC), an enormous UK hospitality business event and exhibition which ran during Food, Drink and Hospitality Week at ExCel London.

This year’s International Salon Culinaire took place from 25 March to 27 March at ExCel London and included over 120 different competitions, giving chefs of varying levels of skills and experience the opportunity to showcase their talents.

The competitions fell into one of four different categories: Live Theatre, Salon Display, Skills Theatre and Sugarcraft.

Live Theatre featured eight fully equipped workstations where competitors participated in a series of thrilling live competitions
Salon Display incorporated a visually stunning array of competition pieces where participants demonstrated their culinary art skills using a variety of mediums. For this category, entrants brought their fully prepared finished dishes to the event for presentation
Skills Theatre featured the Salon’s Skills Competitions tailored to aspiring chefs and culinary students. These challenges offered less experienced chefs the perfect platform to showcase their talents and refine essential skills
Sugarcraft allowed skilled sugar and cake artisans to demonstrate their artistic flair in thrilling decorating competitions

Westminster Kingsway College’s (WestKing) School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality was incredibly well-represented at the International Salon Culinaire, with 102 students taking part and some students entering multiple classes. Students benefited by gaining competition experience as well as invaluable feedback from industry experts which will help guide them as they move into their careers. The event also gave students the opportunity to meet key figures, network with industry professionals and watch both their current classmates and former WestKing students in action.

The students who attended and competed came from a range of Culinary Arts and Hospitality courses including:

At the end of the competitions, the team from WestKing has amassed an impressive haul of medals which included 18 Gold medals, 58 Silver medals, 14 Bronze medals and 12 Certificate of Merits. As a result of their incredible success, the college was awarded The John Retallick Memorial Trophy, a unique award presented to the college that leads the medal table at the end of the International Salon Culinaire.

A lecturer from WestKing was also awarded the accolade of Outstanding Support Mentor. Steve Oram, who teaches the Apprenticeship and RACA (Royal Academy of Culinary Arts) courses, was recognised for his efforts in helping students develop their skills and expertise.

Sharon Barry, Head of School Culinary Arts Apprenticeships and Adults, said: “We are so proud of the achievements of all the learners who have participated in the HRC competition. The teaching team and the learners have put a huge amount of hard work into preparing for these and the results are an amazing achievement and representation of the hard work and continued progress and development of the learners.”

Paul Jervis, Head of Hospitality and Culinary Arts at WestKing said: “Competitions give our learners a unique opportunity to showcase their skills in a different and challenging environment. I am incredibly proud of the work both the staff and students put into The HRC show, and their efforts were reflected by the exceptional haul of medals and awards.”

We offer an exceptional range of Culinary Arts and Hospitality courses and Catering and Hospitality Apprenticeships. Apply Now and take the next step towards an exciting new course!

WestKing Performing Arts students take to the stage at the Donmar Warehouse

Posted on May 2, 2024May 2, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

Level 3 Performing Arts and Production Arts students from WestKing participate in the Donmar Warehouse Take the Stage programme.

A group of Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma have successfully completed the Donmar Warehouse Take the Stage programme.

The Donmar Warehouse is a West End theatre known for its exceptional productions of classic plays and innovative dramatic works. Their Take the Stage programme gives young people the opportunity to learn about Donmar Warehouse productions and work with theatre professionals to create their own pieces.

*Donmar sharing tahen at the Donmar Warehouse on the 22nd March 2024, London*

A group of 13 first-year WestKing Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma students took part in a series of workshops at the college’s King’s Cross Centre between January and March. Throughout eight sessions, they worked with a theatre professional from Donmar Warehouse to investigate the creative process and explore the themes of the theatre’s recent production of The Human Body, which starred Keeley Hawes and Jack Davenport. They also learned practical theatre skills and devised a performance piece in reaction to the play.

Following their college workshops, students attended a Masterclass Day at Donmar Warehouse followed by a matinee performance of The Human Body on 19 March. The Take the Stage programme culminated in an exclusive performance of the students’ own pieces at the Donmar Warehouse on 22 March. Performing alongside students from three other schools from across Camden and Westminster, students were able to take to the stage and perform in front of a live audience, which included the play’s stars Keeley Hawes and Jack Davenport.

The students drew many benefits from the programme. Ryan Saunders, a student on the Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma, said: “I really enjoyed the experience we had, especially as some of us have not been able to perform in a theatre. I feel like that was a really big push of confidence for all of us that were able to do that.”

Another student, Samuel Lima, said: “It really showed us how the industry really works and set our sights ahead. For most of us, I feel like it has made us want to work harder so that we can work in that industry.”

Sarah Slade, Lecturer in Performing Arts, said: “The Take the Stage programme was a fantastic experience for the students. They got to work with a professional director who took their ideas and helped shape them, resulting in a performance that they were really proud of. The experience of doing a technical run, a dress run and then performing to an audience on the Donmar stage was one that the students will never forget, and they were all buzzing afterwards. It’s a unique learning opportunity that will help inform their studies and future careers as performers.”

Whether you’re keen to tread the boards or have an interest in production, our Performing Arts courses will feed your creative passion and enable you to develop the skills needed to pursue your chosen pathway.

Many of our Performing Arts courses are accredited by the University of the Arts London (UAL).

Viral clip from CONEL student podcast sparks important conversation online

Posted on May 2, 2024May 2, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

Thought-provoking student-led podcast discussing young people’s attitudes to incarceration goes viral, gaining over 671k views on Instagram.

Students from The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) created a podcast which has been shared and viewed widely online, initiating an important debate about how young people view the criminal justice system.

The podcast was the first in a series created at CONEL’s new podcasting hub within the college’s Tottenham Centre. The hub allows students to create and host podcasts on real-world matters that affect them and their peers, giving them the opportunity to make their voices heard within their communities and beyond.

The first episode was hosted by student presenter Lorna Graham, a Music Performance and Production – Level 3 Diploma student, and features guest speaker Kevin Koffi, the founder and director of Khady’s Dream, an organisation that provides crime prevention workshops for young people.

During the podcast, Lorna and Kevin discussed the challenge of reducing youth crime in the UK, covering individual experiences, and current statistics and exploring the consequences of crime for young adults.

Kevin’s journey within the criminal system began when he was 13 and led him to spend around 6 years in various prisons across the UK. Since his release, Kevin has directed his attention towards preventing other young people from having similar experiences by sharing his story with them and highlighting the real-world repercussions of youth crime.

Kevin shared an example from a workshop he had run at a local school. He wanted to understand how money impacts young people in their decision-making process. In the clip, he said: “Out of 40 young people, we asked them – For £1000, would you go to prison for two years or more? Out of the 40 people aged between 13 to 21, 37 of them said ‘Yes’.”

The clip showed how a lack of robust support can negatively affect the mindset of young adults, leaving them vulnerable to coercion or grooming by criminal gangs. After being posted to @imjustbait, the clip received around 671k views on Instagram and sparked an important conversation online.

Watch the Instagram video here!

Lorna Graham, the Music Performance and Production – Level 3 Diploma student who hosted the podcast said: “Many people have identified some of the issues as problems affecting young people and their lack of support and understanding into financial matters and not understanding that a 1k financial gain is short term but a criminal record is long term. […] It also highlights the financial struggles that many of those young people must be facing especially now during the cost of living crisis. […] These young people need guidance back to reality and structured learning about financial literacy and accountability.”

Tamara Lesniewska, Curriculum Manager for Creative and Media at Tottenham College, said “I think the reason this snippet struck a chord with so many online is because it encapsulates a broader issue of societal inequalities and the real-life issues faced by vulnerable young people. The idea that someone would go to prison for two years over a relatively small sum of money highlights systemic issues in our society and sheds light on the many challenges faced in disadvantaged communities. It’s a stark reminder of how punitive decisions can disproportionately impact those already struggling, and I believe that’s why it resonated with so many.”

Kevin is returning to the Tottenham Centre for the second episode of the podcast on 3 May to continue his discussion about showing young people the real-world consequences of crime early on to increase awareness of the potential outcomes of their actions.

CONEL’s podcasting hub supports students in developing their technical broadcasting skills. Students receive individual support and personalised feedback during weekly sessions with experts from DJ&MC Academy, a youth arts organisation that provides innovative and practical workshops for young people and adults hoping to break into the music industry.

The college’s Creative Media department has also been running a short course in Podcast and Radio Production for students who want to expand their skill set and learn about the tools and techniques needed in this area.

If you have an interest in Digital Media courses or Music Production courses, why not take a look at our extensive range and apply now!

Culinary Arts Lecturer to take part in World Masters Athletics Championship 2024

Posted on May 2, 2024May 2, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

A Senior Lecturer in Culinary Arts from WestKing swaps chef’s whites for an athletics kit to compete in the World Masters Athletics Championship 2024 in Gothenburg.

Ashley Spencer, a Senior Lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College’s (WestKing) School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality, will compete in the World Masters Athletics Championship 2024 later this year. The World Masters Athletics Championships, which is due to take place between 13 August and 25 August, will welcome athletes from across the world to Gothenburg in Sweden.

World Masters Athletics promotes premier athletics events for athletes of all abilities aged 35 and over and has no upper age limit. The organisation encourages camaraderie amongst competitors as well as healthy competition and embraces participants to celebrate their achievements.

Ashley, who is a Senior Lecturer in Bakery and Pastry and Culinary Arts, will compete in throwing events in the M50 category against other male competitors aged between 50 and 54. He will take part in the shot put, discus, hammer and heavy short hammer competitions followed by the throws pentathlon event which features the previous disciplines and the javelin.

Ashley was inspired to enter The World Masters Championships after becoming an athletics coach himself. He started coaching to encourage his daughter in athletics and was soon coaching groups of young athletes. He now coaches Year 6 and Year 7 athletes for Bracknell Athletic Club as well as several older throw competitors.

His journey to competitive athletics came about by accident when he stepped in during a competition for a local team because their male throwers were unavailable. He won every event he entered and his enthusiasm for throwing grew from there.

Ashley enjoys the challenge of building on his skills in his chosen sports. He said: “Even at my age, I am still learning and developing. I love the technique and the skill involved. Everyone thinks ‘Oh it’s just a throw’ but it’s a lot more than that when you get the technique right.”

He also said: “The main inspiration for competing at the worlds are the kids I coach. I see them compete and, whether they come first or last, I tell them it doesn’t matter – but did they better their PB? The answer is usually ‘Yes!’.

In order to prepare for the competition, Ashley currently trains five times a week, spending hours on strength training and perfecting his technique for each discipline. Competing at the World Masters Athletics Championships is a significant personal endeavour that Ashley has been working towards for a number of years. Ashley suffers from Osteoarthritis, so training for and competing in these championships requires dedication, physical discipline and perseverance.

Ashley is looking forward to attending the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg. He said: “I am told the atmosphere is amazing – there is an opening ceremony and I might be carrying the flag.” To help cover his transportation and accommodation costs for the event, Ashley has started a crowdfunding project.

We wish you all the best at the World Masters Athletics Championships 2024!

Are you interested in athletics? Join the Athletics Academy! The academy provides free training, professional coaching and a variety of expertly tailored programmes for students aged 16-19 who are enrolled on a full-time course at one of our colleges.