Hannah Fenton, Author at Capital City College Group

Students Overcome ‘Toughest Year’ to Achieve High Grades in GCSE English and maths Results

Posted on August 20, 2020February 27, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

Students are celebrating high grades in this year’s GCSE results despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) saw 33 per cent of students pass with 9-4 grades in English and 34 per cent in maths. This year’s results were based on the calculated assessment grades (CAGs) awarded by schools and colleges, after exams were cancelled due to Covid-19. Lessons continued virtually during lockdown so students could complete their course and will be taught through a mixture of on-site and online learning from September.

CONEL’s high achievers

CONEL’s high achievers included Yusuf Korkmaz, 18, who achieved a grade 9 in maths and is going to study an IT Level 3 Diploma and for a GCSE in English at CONEL.

He said: “This makes me so happy. It’s perfect. The online teaching was good. I’d have preferred to go to college, but I managed to learn everything the teachers taught me.

My teacher was very good. If you didn’t understand a topic, he would go through it again and made sure you wouldn’t forget what you’d learnt.

He was also really supportive. If there was something wrong on your course or in your life, he would always give you advice.”

Yusuf Korkmaz, 18, achieved a grade 9 in maths

Leopoldo Luccardi

Also among this year’s top performers Leopoldo Luccardi, 51, who gained a grade 8 in maths and a grade 5 in English.

Leopoldo took the course after becoming concerned about his career in the aerospace industry and was recently furloughed.

He said: “I am very pleased with my grades. I did not expect these results, and it just shows the hard work I put in. I cannot believe it! It’s amazing and wonderful.

“Online learning was strange at the beginning but became more normal. The teachers were fantastic and they provided a lot of material and information.”

Fiorentina Agachi,

Fiorentina Agachi, 33, is going to study an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Biosciences at CONEL’s sister college, City and Islington College, after achieving a grade 7 in English and maths.

She quit her job as a dental practice manager to return to college and hopes to go to university next year to study dentistry.

Fiorentina said: “After all the A Level results I wasn’t sure what to believe. I was feeling anxious and tried not to worry about it, but it was a nice surprise this morning.

“Learning online wasn’t much different to being in the classroom. The teachers were all very professional and had a lot of experience. They were very patient with us and explained what they had to well, and I would like to thank them in person some time.”

Fiorentina Agachi, 33, achieved a grade 7 in English and maths.

CONEL offers GCSEs in English, Maths and Combined Science as well as functional skills and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses.

CONEL Principal Kurt Hintz said: “This has been one of the toughest years I have known in education, and I want to praise our students for their hard work, commitment and resilience to keep on learning throughout lockdown.

I congratulate them all on their achievements and wish them the very best of luck as they progress to the next stage in their lives, whether they are continuing their education or starting a career.”

Click here to Enrol Now for English, Maths and ESOL courses.

WestKing Students Receive Their A Level Grades in a ‘Unique Year’

Posted on August 13, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

Over 1,000 young people at Westminster Kingsway College – one of central London’s largest colleges – have today received their A Level and vocational course grades, in what has been a unique and very challenging year for them and their teachers.

Since the college had to close in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the students – who have been taking a wide range of A Level subjects, as well as many who have been studying on practical, vocational courses with exam boards such as BTEC, UAL and City and Guilds – have completed their studies online.

For the first time ever, students were unable to sit A Level exams in May. Instead, their grades were assessed by their teachers and submitted to exam boards, which then standardised the grades for each subject.

Victoria Howarth, Curriculum Director for A Levels, Engineering and Science at WestKing, said: “We are always proud of our students’ achievements, but I am particularly proud of them this year, as it has been an exceptionally difficult one for them. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to shut our doors in March and teach all lessons online, the students responded magnificently and have really buckled-down to complete their studies.

Our Students’ Stories

Nikola Banton is 18 and is celebrating achieving As in Business Studies, Sociology and Media Studies – better grades than she needed for her place at the University of Essex where she will study Social Work.

She had been confused about how the grading process would work, but after she’d spoken to her teachers about it, they helped her to understand it. Nikola is full of praise for her teachers, telling us: “The teaching was good, especially sociology. As soon as we went to remote lessons, the teachers were quick to provide the resources for us to revise just in case we couldn’t access online lessons.  And on my Media course we were ahead of schedule when we went into lockdown, which helped too.

Like thousands of young people today, Nikola was nervous before she got her results email from us. “I was OK until this morning, but woke up feeling anxious and nervous.  Now I’ve had my grades, it’s a relief. My mum was happy and has been calling everyone!!”

Mykhaylo Koshutskyy is one of our older A Level students. Aged 22, he’s taken two 1-year A Level Intensives and achieved an A* in Mathematics and an A in Physics. He’s hoping to go to Cambridge University to study Engineering.

Like many students, Mykhaylo had been concerned about the grading process, but was expecting the grades that he got. He told us: “I knew I did well in Maths and that Physics would be moderated, and I had been reading about the grade changes in Scotland, as well as the information released by Ofqual.

“I had a brilliant teacher in Maths who has a very personal approach with every student, treating everyone as an individuals which was fantastic. Teaching was well planned too.”

“I’ve worked hard. I did 12 hours studying a day and it was worth it despite my grades because of the knowledge I gained – for me, the grades don’t matter as much as what I have learned.”

Pawa Shakir achieved A* grades in Politics and Sociology, and an A in Law. She’s off to study Politics at City University in London. She told us: “My grades were as I expected. My mock exam grades were As and Bs.

Pawa is really happy with the support she received from the college through the lockdown. “I found studying online quite difficult, but we had great support from the college. It was a difficult time; we were in the middle of a pandemic and I missed my friends. I prefer face to face classes and the classroom environment.

“Two weeks before we went into lockdown the college started preparing us. They provided everything that we needed, from papers to applications. They made sure that we had all downloaded Microsoft Teams and knew how to use it. By the time we went into lockdown we were fully prepared. They were very supportive.

The unique way that students’ grades have been assessed this year has created uncertainty for many students. Victoria Howarth said: “We are an improving college and this year’s A Level results reflect the significant progress that we’ve made. We are delighted that more of our students received A*-C grades this year and we feel that WestKing is a really good choice for students who are looking to take A Levels or vocational courses in a large and vibrant sixth form in the heart of London.

“While we are pleased with this year’s results, it would be fair to say that the grading and standardisation process has been a controversial one. But regardless of this, our primary task is now to ensure that all our students can move on positively this year – whether that’s into another course with us, to university, or into a job or an apprenticeship.

“That’s why we have had staff available online today and tomorrow to speak or live chat to any of our students who have questions or concerns about what their next steps might be.”

The college also has a strong reputation for its vocational (work-related) qualifications, with thousands of students studying for qualifications across a wide range of subjects, from Applied Science and Engineering, to Hospitality, Performing Arts, Digital and Creative Media to Health and Social Care. Some students have already received their results, while others will be getting theirs over the next couple of weeks.

But for our A Level students at least, the worrying and waiting about what their grades might be is over and many are in the mood for celebrating. As Pawa Shakir said: “I’m going to celebrate with cake!”

More Information…

If you are a WestKing student and have concerns or questions about your grades, or if you want to contact us about your results, please visit our special results webpage.

Note: this article was updated in late August, to reflect changes to students’ grades following the Government’s decision to accept Centre Assessed Grades.

CANDI Students Praise Teachers’ Support in ‘Most Challenging Year’ on A Level Results Day

Posted on August 13, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

Students at City and Islington College are celebrating their A Level results after overcoming the ‘most challenging year’ in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s results have been estimated after exams were cancelled due to Covid-19. Many of our students achieved A*-C grades and have gained places at many of the country’s top universities including Cambridge, Durham, UCL, Exeter and King’s College London.

Among this year’s top performing students was Alex Stanley, 17, who attained A*s in all three subjects History, Politics and English Literature, and is heading to the University of Exeter to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He said: “Personally, I’m delighted. In my assignments I was getting A* and A, so it was what I expected but there has been so much negativity in the news.

“Many students have been downgraded this year and a lot of my friends haven’t got the results they expected, so it’s a bittersweet feeling. I am one of the lucky ones. When lockdown started it was difficult adapting to online lessons and having to do more independent work than essays, but in a strange way it has been good preparation for what university will be like. My teachers have been brilliant. They’ve been so helpful and supportive. In December I was looking at a C in History, but they pushed me and now I have an A* which is fantastic. They really care about the students, and that is all you can ask from a teacher.”

Megan Oldham, 18, is going to Durham University to study Biosciences after attaining an A* in Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and an A in Maths. She said: “Not all of my results were quite what I expected, but I got the grades to get into my first choice. It feels good to have somewhere secure to go for the next few years.

“I was happy at the start of the grading process, but then was more worried with centre weighting and the thought my grades would be affected. It felt like an eternity waiting for the results. Studying during lockdown was fine. I found remote learning with video calls really helpful, as I was able to ask questions and get answers from my tutors straightaway. The teaching was really good and we finished our Biology course really early, which gave me more time to revise.”

Mohammed Radwan, 18, gained three A*s in Computing, Maths and Further Maths and a A in Physics and is going to Kings College London to study Computer Science. He said: “Overall, I am happy with my grades. I had an extended holiday, which gave me time to relax and not stress too much. But when it finally came round to getting my results, I was a bit nervous because there was a lot of uncertainty about how the grades would be given.

“Online lessons changed the learning experience and I struggled to adapt at first, but by the end I was more engaged and used to it. The teachers were professional and well prepared in all departments for each subject, and had a plan to make sure we made good progress.”

Throughout lockdown teachers have been giving lessons online and providing a range of help and guidance for students including mental health support.

Earlier this week several students appeared in reports for the BBC News and Evening Standard and shared their hopes and fears in the run up to results day.

Principal Kurt Hintz said: “I am enormously proud of the perseverance shown by our students in continuing their studies online throughout lockdown. In this most challenging year, they have demonstrated their resilience and maturity. There will always be students who didn’t get the grades they were hoping for, and we have staff on hand, both in person and online, for any students who would like advice and guidance or want to discuss their results.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff and congratulate our students on their A Level results and wish them every success for the future.”

Note: this article was updated in late August, to reflect changes to students’ grades following the Government’s decision to accept Centre Assessed Grades.

Qualification Results 2020 – Important Information

Posted on August 12, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

Update: 19 August 2020

Our A Level students have now been sent a copy of their Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs) via email.

Our GCSE students will receive their results tomorrow via email, reflecting the new guidance from the government.

We have been advised this afternoon by Pearson (the Awarding Body for BTECs) that they will be reviewing and regrading many Level 1 and Level 2 BTEC qualifications, as well as some at Level 3. We’re sorry, but we cannot issue any results for these BTECs until we have received new grades from Pearson. In the meantime, Pearson have asked schools and colleges not to issue results to students for the above qualifications. More detail is in Pearson’s statement here.

Here you can find some key information you may need to go alongside the results.

TRANSCRIPTION OF VIDEO

Welcome to the Capital City College Group briefing about the summer 2020 results. My name is David Dangana, I am the Director of Quality at CCCG which is the group name for City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London and I want to use this opportunity to explain the support we are going to be providing you, our current students with regards to your results.

We understand how unsettling the last few months may have been for you, since the college was closed and exams were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you are aware, your results are based on centre assessed grades and standardisation by the Awarding Organisations under the guidance of Ofqual. For more information about how the results you received were reached, please refer to the Ofqual Student Handbook which gives you information about that and what you can do next and you will find on this webpage.

As a college, we are here to support you to the next stage of your life – further or higher education, training or work. I will use this briefing to explain what you can do after you receive your results. In the event that you have not yet received your results, please contact the exams department at your college. All A Level and level 3 qualifications should be released on the 13 August 2020 and GCSE and level 2 qualification on the 20 August 2020. A lot of the other qualifications are being released on a daily basis and we will ensure that you receive your results as soon as possible.

As a college, if we feel that the awarding organisations have made a procedural or administrative error in producing the results of our own current students, I want you to be rest assured that we shall be appealing those results. For students of schools or colleges not in the CCCG you should speak to your own college or school.

Advice and Guidance: For our students, I want to use this opportunity to ask you to contact the Advice and Guidance Teams so they can support you with your next steps. They will also be able to support you if you are unhappy with your results and sign post you to the right support channels. However, if you studied at another school or college you can also access our Advice and Guidance team, as enrolling at one of our colleges may be an option for you.

Current students can also use the CCCG Exams Results Helpline by calling them free on 0800 100 900. They can provide information on appeals, complaints, or what your next steps may be once you’ve received your results

Appeals: Once you have received your results, you are free to appeal the grade. However, your appeal will need to be based on administrative errors, procedural errors, claims of bias or discrimination.

Please send your appeals to ResultsAppeal2020@capitalccg.ac.uk stating your grounds for appeal and which subject/unit/or module grade you are appealing. You should also send in a copy of your results slip for verification. You should get a response within 5 days of putting in an appeal with an outcome and information about what happens next. If your appeal is successful, we shall appeal to the Awarding Organisation on your behalf.

Subject Access Request (SAR): All of our students have the right to make a subject access request which enables them to get information about their grades and rankings amongst other information which we hold about the student.

If you require more than just the grades and ranking, you will need to complete the CCCG SAR template and send it to dataprotection@capitalccg.ac.uk. We shall endeavour to respond to your request within 30 working days.

Autumn examination: There is an opportunity to retake your GCSE and A level examinations in the autumn. All CCCG students who want to writetake the autumn examinations should do so by sending their requests to the dedicated email address – postresults@capitalccg.ac.uk. You can apply to retake the exams regardless of the outcome of your appeal or even if you did not appeal. The college will pay for your exam fees. All requests to retake A Level subjects must be made before the 28 August 2020 and for GCSE before the 4 September so we can meet the Awarding Organisation deadlines.

Complaints: If you are a CCCG student, do feel free to lodge a complaint if you have one, at any point, if you are unhappy with the service that you are receiving from us. All complaints will be managed using the normal complaints processes.

Mock examinations: We are aware of the last minute change in government policy about the use of mock examination results. We are awaiting further information and will act upon it once we get clearer guidance from Ofqual and the Awarding Organisations.

If you are unhappy about the grades you have received, please do not contact your teacher – please see below for further information:

Appeals

This year, results were provided based on the guidelines provided by the government’s ‘exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020’. You will be able to appeal if you wish. The grounds for appeal under these circumstances are restricted to:

administrative errors in processing your grades, or
procedural error

In the event that you want appeal, please send your appeals to ResultsAppeal2020@capitalccg.ac.uk accompanied with your results, stating your student ID, course of study and the grounds of your appeal within 5 days of tomorrow. Please remember to send your results slip or we will be unable to process your appeal.

We aim to get back to you within 5 days of receiving your appeal with an outcome detailing the next steps.

Exams

You will still have the opportunity to sit exams in Autumn 2020. You will not have to pay examination fees as we will pay the fees for you. The higher of the grades achieved in either the exam or estimated grade will be the final outcome.

If you wish to sit the Autumn exams, please register your interest by emailing postresults@capitalccg.ac.uk with your full name, student ID number and the subject(s) you wish to sit before 28 August 2020.

Advice and Guidance

If you are looking for further advice and support about what to do next, please contact us – you can also get in touch using our Live Chat (bottom right of this page) or our Facebook page.

Paper Results Slips

All WestKing students will receive their results in the morning of results day by email. If you have applied to university through UCAS, your results will also have been sent to UCAS.

We will be posting a physical paper copy of your results to your home address as soon as possible, but this will be delayed due to social distancing and reduced numbers of staff in our college buildings – please ensure you use your attached digital results slip in the meantime. We can confirm your grades to a third party if needed.

Certificates

Awarding bodies will issue certificates, as usual, in the autumn. These are usually processed by late October and we plan to send certificates to home addresses as soon as we receive them from the awarding bodies.

Quick Links

Student Guide To Post-16 Exam Results
Student Guide to Appeals, Malpractice and Maladministration Complaints
National Careers Exams Results Helpline: 0800 100 900
Appeals: ResultsAppeal2020@capitalccg.ac.uk
Autumn Exams: postresults@capitalccg.ac.uk
Data Protection Policy

CCCG Offers Hundreds of Free Courses to Fight the Impact of Covid-19

Posted on August 10, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

Capital City College Group and its three colleges – City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College, and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London – are offering hundreds of free online courses in response to the social and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Students will be able to study for free up to Level 3, the equivalent of studying an A Level, regardless of their background, income or experience.

The move comes in light of the Covid-19 crisis and follows the success us becoming London’s First Free College, offering free full-time and short courses up to Level 2. Our sister colleges, City and Islington College and Westminster Kingway College will also offer all of its full-time courses from Entry Level to Level 2 for free from this September.

Thousands of people have signed up for free short courses at CONEL and 48 per cent of students progressed to full-time study in the first year of the campaign.

Tim Mansfield, 38, decided to train for a new career as a plumber after working in the printing business for more than two decades. He studied a free short course at CONEL and progressed to a free full-time Level 2 diploma.

He said: “I’ve spent 22 years in printing and the demand for paper-based products has been decreasing. I was concerned about my job situation, and thought it was time to make the jump,

“CONEL’s free short courses were exactly what I needed. They gave me the opportunity to try different trades without having to overcommit until I knew what I wanted to pursue more seriously. If they hadn’t been free, I’m not sure I would have taken the chance.

“The teachers are well-qualified and approachable, and always on hand with advice and support. I’ve made some great friends at CONEL and learnt some great skills that I fully intend to build upon in my future career. I’m excited about starting a new chapter.”

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic

Research by the Learning and Work Institute shows that young people, women and those with low level qualifications are at greater risk from the impact of Covid-19.

It further revealed regions with low levels of employment before the crisis are facing the highest risk of job losses, leading to wider regional inequalities and reducing social mobility. Read the full report here

According to The Edge Foundation unemployment is set to rise further and faster than during any recession on record despite government measures to protect jobs. Read the full report here

Our response to the social and economic impact

CCCG is the largest provider of further education in London and the South East, with three colleges and an apprenticeship and training provider, Capital City College Training.

Roy O’Shaughnessy, CEO of CCCG, said: “The impact of Covid-19 has produced many challenges for London communities, but it has also offered a unique time for radical change within the education sector.

“The need for an education and training system that is better aligned with the local economic and social needs of our communities is more apparent than ever before. This is why we have developed a broad portfolio of flexible, part time, relevant courses to meet the changing demands of the local and regional economy.

“CCCG has now become the first college group to offer free courses up to Level 3, fulfilling the needs of communities all too often impacted by social inequalities.

“Our mission to transform lives means removing potential barriers to that transformation. Financial barriers often stand in the way of communities progressing to better paid employment with better prospects. CCCG has swiftly and without unnecessary bureaucracy, removed that barrier.”

The courses will be taught through online and blended learning and enable CCCG to reach a much wider cohort. Staff have been teaching using online technology since lockdown was announced in March.

Roy added: “Staff teams from all three colleges have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of online teaching, and their commitment to their students, especially those most vulnerable, has been unquestionable.

“As the country begins its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, some industries may never be the same again. These courses are designed with career transition in mind, enabling students to start training for new careers either because they were furloughed or have concerns about their future employment. CCCG is integral to the local and regional economic recovery.”

Find out more and see all free short courses on offer – more will be added throughout the year.

From CANDI Sixth Form College to Government Economics

Posted on August 9, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

Lucia Slater studied at our Sixth Form College from 2012-14. After graduating from the University of Birmingham to study Economics, she is now working at the Department for International Trade as an Economist. We sat down with her to find out all about her time at the College, working in economics and her advice to our students.

What did you study at CANDI?

I studied A Levels in Economics, Philosophy and Sociology.

Why did you choose CANDI?

I was drawn to CANDI because of the vast range of subjects on offer. A lot of sixth forms around London didn’t offer the subjects I wanted to take. It also offered lots of careers and higher education support. That really appealed to me as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do post-college. It looked like a diverse, fun and exciting college, and I was proved right. I thoroughly enjoyed my years there.

What was your college experience like?

My experience was everything I could have hoped for. I made amazing friends, got along well with the teachers and really enjoyed the college lifestyle.

What did you do after college?

I achieved A*, A and B grades in my A Levels and went on to study Economics at the University of Birmingham.

What are you doing now?

I’m working for the UK Government at the Department for International Trade as an Economist where carry out analysis of data to provide strong evidence for developing public policy. I started this role straight after my undergraduate degree. My role is on a graduate scheme called the Civil Service Fast Stream. This means that I get to try out many different roles in government within my first three years, giving me a better understanding of how government works, increase my skillset and find out which role I’m best suited to. Another benefit of joining a graduate scheme is that you start working on quite a good salary straight out of university and have a lot of responsibility from the outset.

What do you typically do day to day in your role?

I work in the office of the Chief Economist. I support and advise him on the UK’s economic strategy for trade policy and brief him on meetings. I also discuss policy with academics from universities. My role has a mixture of independent working, collaborative projects and meetings. It is very varied, which is what I love about it.

My previous role was quite different had more typical duties for an economist. I worked in policy analysis; analysing investment data to feed into free trade negotiations for the UK and recommending which sectors the UK should be focusing on in negotiations for investment. I also worked with different government departments to discuss which investment treaties the UK government should be pursuing.

Do you feel CANDI helped with your career path?

CANDI really helped me through their careers service, university outreach and regular emails with opportunities about careers.

What advice would you give to students?

Take advantage of opportunities the college gives you. This stage in your life is the best time to try and get work experience through internships or volunteering. This gives you the opportunity to find out what you may be interested in and make connections with firms and industries for when you go on to further study or are looking for a job.

Think about what you want to do post-college, keep an eye out on the careers emails the college sends and chat with the college’s careers advisers. Be proactive, create a LinkedIn account and reach out to employers in industries you are interested in. This can open up opportunities to shadow people or get work experience.

Get in touch with organisations such as SEO London, Rare Recruitment and Bright Network, who connect young people, particularly those from working class backgrounds or ethnic minorities, with employers from competitive industries such as finance, law and accounting. Through these organisations, I was offered work experience, given interview advice and got to meet representatives from a countless number of firms. This helped me get to where I am today, and I don’t know whether I would have got here without them.

WestKing’s Chef and Hospitality Training Restaurants Among Top 10% Worldwide

Posted on August 6, 2020February 27, 2024 by Hannah Fenton

Westminster Kingsway College’s chef and hospitality training restaurants The Vincent Rooms have been named among the best restaurants in the world.

Travel review website Tripadvisor announced the restaurants were among the winners of its Travellers’ Choice 2020 awards on Twitter.

The win places The Vincent Rooms in the top 10 per cent of restaurants worldwide.

The Vincent Rooms at the Victoria Centre include the Brasserie and the more exclusive Escoffier Room. Both the kitchens and front of house are staffed by hospitality and culinary arts students.

Each year Tripadvisor pulls together reviews and ratings from travellers around the world to determine the best hotels, restaurants, attractions, airlines, destinations and experiences.

The Vincent Rooms have received 300 reviews and an average score of 4.5 out of five on Tripadvisor, with the restaurants currently ranked 114th out of 16,757 in London

One impressed diner described the food as “absolutely delicious and beautifully presented” adding “all the students who served us were very professional and attentive”.

Others have described the restaurants as “a real gem” and a “really perfect dining experience”.

One wrote: “If our tasting menu in the Escoffier Room was anything to go by, the college attracts real talent – and trains it beautifully, so plaudits to the teaching staff as well as the students.”

WestKing offers a wide range of vocational courses, apprenticeships and degrees in all aspects of hospitality and culinary arts, including its renowned Grand Escoffier Diploma.

Many famous and established chefs have learned their craft at the College including Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott, Antony Worrall Thompson, Sophie Wright and Ben Murphy.

Hospitality lecturer Marc Whitley said: “I’m extremely proud of the hard work and dedication the students have put in to achieve such an outstanding accolade, especially for a college restaurant.

“This award is fantastic because it’s essentially voted on by the guests that eat at our restaurants and will help us continue to prepare students well for the hospitality industry. It’s also a real inspiration for our students and team as we head into the new academic year.”

Gary Hunter, Interim Principal of Westminster Kingsway College, himself a trained chef, said: “For the past six years we have received awards from Tripadvisor, but this is absolutely brilliant. To be in the top 10 per cent of restaurants globally is a huge achievement.

Apply Now for Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses and apprenticeships.

English Literature Student wins Coveted Writing Prize

Posted on August 6, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

A City and Islington English Literature student has scooped the Orwell Youth Prize for her ‘powerful’ and ‘well-balanced’ article on knife crime.

Jessica Tunks, 17, who is studying A Levels at City and Islington College, drew on her own personal experience and shared her thoughts on knife crime in her winning piece called Knifepoint. She was one of seven winners, chosen from 1,200 written compositions by young writers from across the UK, who took part in the competition run by The Orwell Foundation.

Jessica, from Walthamstow, east London, said: “I’m studying Orwell’s novel 1984 in my English Literature course. I’m really honoured to have been one of the winners of a prize in his name. I never expected this to happen, so I’m glad I chose to take the chance and enter.

“The issue I wrote about is really important to me and I’m glad that my thoughts on it will get a wider audience. I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to write the piece in the first place, especially considering all the support I had with my writing.”

Read Jessica’s winning article Knifepoint and more about her inspiration for it here.

Jessica attended a Writing Wrongs Project, a series of workshops run over four weeks to help students prepare for the Orwell Youth Prize, where they were asked to submit an article.

She was chosen as the winner by investigative reporter Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi for her article Pencils, Parties and Prison Sentences, focusing on young offenders, school expulsions and prisons.

The seven winning entries in the Orwell Youth Prize included short stories, journalistic essays and poetry, and were judged by writer Kerry Hudson and poet Kayo Chingonyi – read about the competition here

On Jessica’s entry, Kayo said: “This is a well-balanced piece written with emotion, structure, and backed by research which includes speaking to those directly affected by the themes under discussion. There is an overall sense of someone writing with an affinity for what they write about which lends the piece a moral authority that, coupled with the technical assurance evidenced across the piece as a whole, made Knifepoint stand out.”

The article was also praised by Rachel Sylvester, a political columnist for The Times, who helped shortlist the entries.

She said: “This is such a powerful piece about knife crime, written from personal experience. The author describes brilliantly the problems in the system and vividly sets out how early trauma can lead to the behaviour that triggers exclusion.”

The Orwell Youth Prize is a political writing competition for 12-18s and aims to give young people an opportunity to discuss and communicate their own ideas and thoughts on society today, and stems from George Orwell’s own political motivation for writing.

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy also commended Jessica’s article, and said: “To write with such passion about knife crime and its impact is to be a voice that makes a difference; someone who isn’t beaten by injustice but is using their platform to call for us all to address it. In doing so, this essay embodies the relationship Orwell described so powerfully between independence of mind and changing the world.”

Click here to Apply Now for our A Level courses.

Studying at CANDI is in ‘Vogue’

Posted on August 5, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

City and Islington College students took part in a fashion photoshoot with two top designer brands and later featured in glossy magazine Vogue.

The group of 25 A Level students were photographed modelling clothes and jewellery they had created as part of a four-day workshop with labels Hillier Bartley and Aries.

Hillier Bartley, famous for its trademark paperclip earring, has recently collaborated with Aries and wanted to celebrate this partnership by supporting arts education in Britain.

The students took part in various creative activities at the college, including T-shirt printing, jewellery making and photography, before posing for acclaimed photographer Clare Shilland.

Student Jessica Tunks said: “The opportunity gave us a really in depth insight into the industry as we explored all the different areas of it.

“We were given the chance to explore the planning, experimentation, designing, photographing, modelling, and advertising stages of the process. Having the chance to engage in such a practical way was really beneficial and unlike any opportunity I’ve seen anywhere else.”

The photographs featured in a book designed by Jonny Lu, Art Director at Jonny Lu Studio, which was presented to each of the students who also got to keep their designs.

The project also caught the eye of Vogue, which featured an article and images of the CANDI students. Read the full article here.

In the article, Aries founder Sofia Prantera, said: “We decided it was important not to have a casting process but to encourage all students to come forward, regardless of the subjects they studied, and to allow them to fit in whichever way felt more comfortable to them.

“But we knew we wanted to photograph young adults who would be representative of the diversity we have in London schools.”

Jo Bishop, Co-ordinator of Careers at CANDI, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to work with two such high profile fashion brands. They gained a real insight into the industry and now have real experience of working on a photoshoot.”

Read about the Aries Hillier Bartley Project Based Learning experience here

CANDI Student wins Scholarship with Global Law Firm

Posted on August 3, 2020January 25, 2023 by Hannah Fenton

City and Islington College student, Elisa Crescenzo, has successfully gained a scholarship with a global law firm. Elisa, 18, secured a place on the Herbert Smith Freehills Networked Scholarship, which includes an internship, five years of mentoring and a £1,000 bursary.

She was one of five students chosen from applicants at eight schools and colleges after attending two workshops including an online panel interview. Elisa is studying A Levels in French, Politics and Sociology at our Sixth Form College and hopes to go on to study History and International Relations at university next year.

On getting a place on the scholarship, she said: “It’s incredible. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and will really open doors for me.

“I am so excited, not only to work at such a top law firm, but also to be able to learn from the people who work there and speak to other students with similar ambitions.

“I remember when they told us about the scholarship. I immediately thought I had to apply for this right away. It will be an amazing experience. It will give me people to talk to as mentors and networks that will help me find out where I want to be in the future and help me get there.”

Elisa hopes to eventually work in the City and is looking towards a career in law but is keen to learn about other areas of business on her scholarship.

“I’ve a long way to go. Being able to speak to lawyers about how they made it to the position they are in will be amazing,” she said.

“I want to talk to as many people as I can in the company in case there is something else I might want to do in the future. A lot of people my age do not have this kind of opportunity, and I intend to take it. I want to take everything in like a sponge and make the most of the experience.”

Herbert Smith Freehills is one of the world’s leading professional legal services businesses and started its Networked Scholarship in 2010.

The scheme is not aimed at training lawyers but equips students with a range of business skills including teamwork, communications and presentations.

Many students who have completed the scholarship have gone on to gain roles in professional services, investment banks, marketing and technology.

Elisa said: “I have enjoyed my time at CANDI. It’s very different from secondary school. I have a lot more independence, but the support is there if I need it.

“It’s been quite difficult during the pandemic and we’ve all had to adapt. My teachers have been very good at getting things up on Google Classroom and online learning, which a lot of my friends in other schools have not had. It’s given some semblance of normality.

“We’ve also had speakers come and talk to us about the law industry and I got this opportunity through CANDI, and I am incredibly grateful for that.”