More success for Warrington's leading College

After the publication of the 2010 A-Level results, Priestley was once again celebrating after achieving an outstanding 99% + pass rate for the sixth year in succession.

The College had its highest ever number of entries, totalling 1480 which links to the unprecedented success that Priestley has experienced in recent years in A-Level and Vocational programmes.

37 Advanced Level subjects obtained a perfect 100% pass rate, whilst 5% of students were able to obtain the first ever awards at A*.

Meanwhile over 72% of grades were in the A* - C boundary, whilst there were some 38 individual students who achieved three straight A grades or above.

The picture was similarly pleasing on BTEC National programmes with over 60% of grades awarded at distinction level and 50 students achieving a triple distinction.

As always A-Levels results day proved to be a colourful day on campus with students now considering a range of options for the future whether that be through a university degree programme, gap year or the world of work.

Principal, Mike Southworth, was enthused by the day and the opportunities now available to those departing Priestley and commented, “Once again A-Level results day has proved to be an excellent event on campus. I was delighted to see so many energetic and smiling young people who are now ready to take their next step in life.”

Adding, “The results have been outstanding and I place on record my thanks to all those involved in the success story that continues to be Priestley College.”

Words and Picture by Nat Ashurst

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Priestley celebrates stunning BTEC National results

With the provisional results for BTEC National Diploma and Certificate programmes now in at Priestley, Deputy Principal, Matthew Grant, says that he is stunned by the fantastic results that have been achieved by the class of 2010.

With only a few results still to come in, it is already clear that BTEC National students at Priestley have beaten all records.

With nearly 800 grades awarded, Priestley students have achieved over 60% at Distinction Level, which is equivalent to a grade A at A Level.

The College offers Certificate programmes worth two A Levels and Diploma programmes which are worth three and it is clear that a number of students have achieved either double or triple distinctions.

Matthew pointed to particularly pleasing results in the full Diplomas in Art, where 14 students obtained a triple distinction, in Child Care where 15 students achieved the triple, Graphics with 10 and there were a further 11 in ICT, 12 in Performing Arts, 32 in Sport and 11 in Public Services.

Many of the BTEC students will be hoping to add at least one A Level to their achievements when those particular results are published on August 19.

One of the students to do particularly well was Natalie Cheung (pictured) who obtained distinction grades for all of her 18 units on the BTEC National Art and Design Diploma and has since been able to accept a place at the London School of Fashion to study Fashion Design.

Matthew commented, “Once again our BTEC students have surpassed all expectations and demonstrated why Priestley continues to be the area’s leading provider of Level 3 academic and vocational qualifications.”

Adding, “We are delighted that so many students have achieved their potential and the grades they need to progress to University or into employment. These are stunning results and the students and staff deserve our warmest congratulations and every credit for their hard work and dedication over the last two years.”

Words by Nat Ashurst

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Mozambique proves to be amazing experience

A hardy group of students and staff have returned from an aid mission to Mozambique exhausted but highly rewarded after spending two weeks building houses in impoverished communities.

The small Priestley team united with the Habitat for Humanity Charity and then joined local tradesmen on site as three brick built houses were erected to provide permanent shelter for some very special people. The team were based near Chimoi in the north of the country, located between Beira and Zimbabwe.

One family who the group built for included a mother fending for her five children in surroundings ravaged from years of Civil War and in an area where the AIDS epidemic is also rife.

As well as building the houses, the Priestley group interacted with the local villagers and also visited an orphanage to give small gifts and toys to the children.

Whilst the students also had the opportunity to enjoy some of the normal tourist activities, the majority of their time was spent on-site contributing to the end goal.

At the end of the fortnight, the houses were handed over to their new owners in a moving and emotional ceremony, which will be a lasting lifetime memory for all those who took part.

Commenting on the trip, 18-year-old, Vicky Rutter, who is studying History, Psychology and World Development said, “I really enjoyed interacting with the children and seeing the finished buildings at the end was especially rewarding. Some of the things I saw were remarkable including a boy who was only six looking after his four month old brother.”

Vicky added, “The visit has given me some real life experience and opened my eyes to other cultures whilst at the same time making me very grateful for everything I have back home.”

Words by Nat Ashurst

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Making the leap of faith

An energetic tutor from Priestley really did make a leap of faith when she completed a skydive from 10,000 feet in support of charity.

Carol Chan, who teaches Public Services at the Loushers Lane campus has been in adrenaline overdrive recently having also completed the Liverpool Half Marathon.

The run and jump challenge helped raise £750 to support the College's own Mozambique Appeal which has seen Priestley join forces with Habitat for Humanity to travel to Mozambique in order to build houses for children orphaned by AIDS.

Carol visited Cornwall to complete the jump and took it all in her stride, "The sky dive was an exciting experience and it was great to raise as much money as I did in support of a very worthwhile cause."

Adding, "A lot of planning and preparation has gone into the Mozambique project and I'm sure it will have a resounding impact on our students who will be experiencing a new culture and diverse country much different to our own."

Words by Nat Ashurst

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Priestley trio leave Ghanaian legacy

A trio of students who all travel some distance to complete their studies at Priestley have helped build a lasting education legacy for school children in Ghana.

Sam Fitch, Grant Hartley and Dave Murphy are all 17 and members of the Halton based Canal Boat Adventure Group. The charity is involved in numerous social inclusion projects supporting disadvantaged young people from the local area.

The enthusiastic trio of teenagers recently joined the charity on an African adventure which saw them head for the Ghanaian town of Nkawie. The community had some six schools but had no computers and only basic reading materials prior to their arrival.

The charity with the help of Sam, Grant and Dave made an immediate contribution raising funds that totalled over £18,000 from a range of fund-raising drives back in the UK. They then spent a month in Ghana working with local tradesmen to build a new computer centre and library before shipping over a container packed full of resources including computers and books.

"I didn’t know I had the ability to be a bricklayer" laughed Sam. "The whole experience was just amazing, to be able to play a small part in bringing a much needed building to a poor community was really rewarding."

Grant, added, "I guess when you look at it, not everybody of our age can say they have had an opportunity to travel this far and be involved with something like this, so we all remain very grateful for everything we've seen and done."

Since returning back to England, the students have knuckled down with their studies and are just coming to the end of their first year at Priestley before moving onto A-Level programmes in September.

After that it remains to be seen what lies in store for the intrepid explorers but for Sam at least the option to travel again at the end of his course is something that appeals, "To have visited Ghana at such a young age has really wetted my appetite" he said. "I am seriously considering gap year options following my a-levels as there’s so much of the world to see."

Words and Picture by Nat Ashurst

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Planting a sustainable future

Students at Priestley were encouraged to get green fingered when the College took delivery of a new raised bed courtesy of the Long Lane Garden Centre.

The Centre made famous by the Channel Four show Secret Millionaire is a local registered charity which provides supported employment and training for adults with learning disabilities.

Simon Hardcastle, Phil Roberts and David Hunter from the organisation visited campus to fit the raised bed and meet with students who will soon be planting a range of herbs and vegetables on the plot.

The new project has been very ecological too, with the compost and fertiliser for the bed being produced by the College's in-house wormery and links in well to Priestley's policy for sustainable projects on campus.

Tutor Cath Stanley who has led on the initiative commented, "We were delighted to work with the Long Lane Garden Centre on this and look forward to taking delivery of more raised beds in the future."

Adding, "Getting students involved in growing their own food will be a rewarding experience as it will give them not only a sense of achievement but also an idea and concept of how they may be able to do the same thing at home."

Words and Picture by Nat Ashurst

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Art attack at Priestley

Students coming to the end of their courses at Priestley this summer were able to showcase their artistic talents as the College welcomed members of the public to an end of year exhibition.

The Art and Design block and the Mezzanine deck welcomed guests during a one-week run which celebrated the work of students from Art and Design, Creative and Media, 3D Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Photography and Textiles.

The exhibition gave the students a much craved for opportunity to display their work to an outside audience and also discuss the thoughts, feelings and inspirations that had driven their creative process.

After another highly successful year for the Art and Design curriculum area, many of the students will now be leaving to embark on degree courses in related subjects with a long term goal of pursuing a career as professional artists.

Commenting on the exhibition, Andrea Marren, Head of Art and Design, said, "It was really excellent for the students to be able to showcase their work, which in many cases has taken a year to produce."

Adding, "The standard of work has been outstanding across the board and I congratulate the class of 2010 as they look to embark on their next chapter in life."

Words and Picture by Nat Ashurst

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James reaches for the skies

An energetic teenager at Priestley is flying high after receiving news from the Royal Navy that he has been accepted to take part in their prestigious advanced gliding scholarship.

18-year-old James Imrie is one of just a handful in the country to be invited on an annual basis after taking part in a rigorous selection process.

James originally completed the standard gliding scholarship at Culdrose in Cornwall and so impressed were his tutors that he was subsequently invited back to complete the advanced programme this summer at HMS Collingwood near Portsmouth.

The future certainly looks promising for the teenager who is currently completing A-Levels in Physics, Electronics and Design Technology. At the end of his stay at Priestley he will then be moving onto the University of Central Lancashire to read Motor Sport Engineering.

"I'm was really pleased to be selected for the advanced scholarship" commented James. "I can't wait to get back in the air and this summer is really looking like a fun one."

Adding, "I am very much looking at pursuing a career in aviation and I hope to reapply for a position with the Royal Navy whilst I'm taking my degree."

Words by Nat Ashurst

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Dressed to impress at Priestley

Fund raising at Priestley in support of a very worthwhile cause is continuing to reap rewards for the College's own Mozambique Appeal.

This summer a party from Priestley will join forces with the Habitat for Humanity Charity and head to the African country in order to help build houses for children orphaned by Aids.

The campus has been a hive of activity in recent weeks, in preparation for the expedition with all manner of fund raising initiatives taking place. The College held a Uniform Day in which students were asked to wear some form of related clothing and pay £1 for the privilege, whilst the usual cake stalls were also present.

Meanwhile expedition leader, Peter Butterfield, went the extra step by putting himself forward for a week of torture that saw him have his head shaved and bleached, alongside having his legs waxed.

Overall £750 was raised to put forward to the overall total, which is now in the region of £8,000 since the fund-raising frolics began.

Commenting on the latest initiatives, Peter himself, said, "Since we put forward the idea of visiting Mozambique, the College community has really got behind the project."

Adding, "We are all now very much looking forward to the expedition and doing all we can whilst we are there to help with this very worthwhile humanitarian project."

Words and Picture by Nat Ashurst