The Cheadle College Magazine Autumn / Winter 2016 -17

C h e a d l e

COME FLY WITH ME?

Travel & Tourism and Cabin Crew students visit Liverpool John Lennon Airport

w w w . c m c n e t . a c . u k

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C o n t e n t sC h e a d l e

Alyssa RowbothamApprentice of the Year 2016

Inspiring Teachers …and what they recall of us

Out of Africa Students visit Balule Kruger National Park South Africa

OSTED Report 2016: The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College has been highly praised by OFSTED

The Rucksack ProjectStudents supporting The

Rucksack Project in Stockport

Celebrating Achievement The Class of 2016 at Edgeley Park Stockport

NHS Career Event Students at the Pinewood Centre,

Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport

Fabulous fundraisingPublic Services students complete a

������������ ������������ �����

������������� � T & T and Cabin Crew visit

Liverpool John Lennon Airport

BTECQuality Management Review

MATRIX Report The fourth consecutive tri-annual assessment

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Welcome to the Autumn/Winter 2017 edition of The Cheadle College magazine ‘College

Life’. Our intention is to capture some of the exciting events that happened at The Cheadle College and to celebrate the � ��������� ��� ���� ������ ��� �����

������������������������������������The Cheadle College is a ‘Good’ college, but also with some ‘outstanding’ features. This is a real achievement given that the new Ofsted criteria introduced last year is seen by many as far more challenging than ever ��������!��������������������������who worked so hard to achieve this positive outcome.

Speaking of achievements, we again met as a combined college to celebrate the successes of the class of 2016. Former students, their "����#� ���� ��� ��������� ��� ���� ���Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College met at the Cheshire Banqueting Suite at Stockport County F.C. to pay tribute to the young people who had done so well. In attendance as well, were a number of local employers with whom the college work so closely, and for whom we thanked for their continued support.

This term’s edition of College Life recounts some of the trips and visits our students have ��������������������������������

Many of these are specifically linked to curriculum areas but others, like the adventure to South Africa give an opportunity to all students to experience a ‘trip of a lifetime’ Forthcoming visits include New York, and for lucky history students a visit to Russia where they will take in the splendours of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

These experiences form only a small part of the rich tapestry that is ‘enrichment’ at Cheadle College.

Ryan Jones Assistant Principal

Recruitment, Progression and Communication

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Following on from the success of Michael Valentine winning “Apprentice of the Year” at the ceremony last year, we are very pleased to announce that this year the title went to Alyssa Rowbotham, another AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) student from this college.

Alyssa has been studying this professional $����� �����������%""��� ����"�����for the last three years and during this time the tutors have seen her mature into a very capable young accountant.

The skills she has learnt whilst studying have equipped her for the workplace. Her tutor Joanne Tyler and her employer, Starling Partners, felt that she merited the nomination, not only for her technical skills, but also for her friendly personality, which makes her a popular class and team member.

This is part of the nomination written by her employer: “Without this apprenticeship, Alyssa would not have learnt the skills she has developed at such a fast ������������������� ������������� ������������������������������������������������������� �������� ������ ������������ ������� ���������� �������without this apprentice Sterling Partners would be a ���������������� ���������� ����������������� ����� %������������� ��"���������'�����*�$����� ����and we look forward to hearing about her continued progression, development and success.

ALYSSA ROWBOTHAM- APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

“Starling Partners, felt that Alyssa merited the nomination, not only for her technical skills, but also for her friendly personality.”

A popular class and team member Alyssa Rowbotham

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...and what they recall about us!

You never forget your most inspiring teacher, or the world they unlock.

As a new term begins, we asked Guardian writer Owen Jones (ex student

at The Cheadle College) to track down his - and asked their teacher to

provide a school report.

Owen Jones: (above)I have always needed a bit of tough love. History was the subject I loved most, and went on to study at university. That ambition hung by a thread, though, when I spectacularly messed up my history AS exam.

+���������������������3���Cheadle College in Stockport. In what can only be described as abject stupidity, I misread the instructions and failed to answer two questions from the same section, thereby failing the entire exam. I remember two creeping senses: panic, and a desire to punch myself in the face repeatedly.

The college – with the support of my history teacher, Andy Dixon – wanted me to apply to Oxford University. A failed history exam �������������4�������� ����+�plucked up the courage to tell him, and the response was curt: “Oh, you stupid bloody idiot!”

Andy Dixon was a blunt, but inspiring history teacher. As an argumentative so-and-so, it was an ideal subject for debating and discussing ideas, and that’s what he nurtured.

He encouraged my fascination with subjects such as the Spanish Civil War and helped me put my beliefs in a broader historical context and understanding. I could be a cocky little git, so I appreciated his no-nonsense attitude. Fortunately, he helped explain to Oxford my screw-up, so I made it in the end.

I’ve ended up where I am today – for ����������������8���4�������������of teachers like Andy.

Owen Jones’s tutor, Andy Dixon:Owen’s fresh-faced looks made him appear younger than his contemporaries, but his total lack of reticence made him stand out as �� ����#����������"�������student.

�������������������������category of A-level student. Perhaps surprisingly, he chose not to study A-level politics. Owen’s political

standpoint was obvious, but this did not prevent him making genuine friendships with lots of students with ������������#�������� He was never on the educational conveyor belt, but was open to ideas, debates and arguments.

Having Owen in a class meant there was never any shortage of argument. Debates about history and politics continued after the end of lessons. On one occasion, I had a very truncated lunch break due to an interminable argument about the

role of Stalinism in the defeat of the Spanish Republic.

He showed no deference to teachers, and a colleague had to ask Owen to leave a lesson because his “lively interventions”

were too disruptive of the learning of other students. He was enough of a conformist to always sit in the same seat in my lessons – although it was at the back!

Owen Jones: ‘I was a cocky git so I appreciated his no-nonsense attitude’

Owen Jones’s tutor, Andy Dixon

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his was our fourth trip with Opwall, having previously been to Indonesia, ������� ��������9� ���;��<��#�����=����#���>������������������������picked up and transferred by coach to Balule (‘Ba-loo-lay’) game reserve, a

recent extension to the Kruger National Park.

We shared the camp with two other schools: Fortismere from Muswell Hill in London and Harvey Grammar school from the Kent coast. The guides called us the ‘Posh School’, the ‘Loud School’ and the ‘Northern School’. I’ll leave you to decide which was which.

Our base in Balule was a game lodge set on a river bank. There

were crocodiles basking on the sand bank and hippos grazing or

sleeping on the far shore. The day –to-day activities consisted of

������������?���������������@#���������� ��?��� ���� �����

record what, where, how many) and walks on foot. Our guides

were armed with guns that could stop an elephant, but they

never use them.

OUT OF AFRICAStudents embark on an epic tip to the Balule Kruger National Park in South Africa.

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Our party was split into two groups and overall we had the

best sightings of any of the groups; lions, elephants, leopard,

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the third day. We drove round a bend and found ourselves in

the middle of a herd of 13, crossing the road. The guide said:

“don’t say a word, don’t even take photos, just shut up”.

��������������� ���<��������������������������������

gave her a nudge to stop her charging us. You could imagine

them saying “leave it, they’re not worth it”. The only way the

encounter could have been closer was if the truck had been

rammed. Even the guide got out of the truck afterwards,

visibly pale, and said “I need a cigarette after that. You’re not

supposed to get that close.

One evening, during the meal, the camp leader came in and

said “stay quiet, put down what you’re doing and go to the

fence - there’s a leopard hunting”. And there he was a large

male leopard walked past us, not bothered by

the numerous lights trained on him. >

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For the second week we transferred to Sodwana Bay, near the Mozambique border. Two of our party were $��������������#��������������$������������������others started the PADI process from scratch. This involved theory lessons and three days in the pool, which was seriously cold.

When not diving, we spent most of our time in the café ��� ��������� ����������������3�����������was provided by a troop of vervet monkeys who raided at random intervals. You could have your chips taken out of your hand if not careful. Sometimes they would steal food from the counter. The old lady who ran the place would come out with a catapult, which was less than ��� ������������������������ Sodwana Bay is on the Indian Ocean coast. It’s a world-renowned dive site, as the instructors were at pains to point out. It’s quite the coldest, roughest place I’ve ever dived, and the visibility is nothing to write home about. It’s a bit like being in a washing machine (I imagine) but the marine life is spectacular. >

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Ironically, the snorkelers saw the most. They saw humpback whales in the distance, dolphins and a manta ray. The divers had some spectacular encounters including two huge potato bass, (black and white groupers, about 6 foot long), turtles, white-tip sharks and big morays.

�������#������������������$�����������\%=+���������Everyone achieved what they wanted to. The diving trips began when a tractor used a log to push the boats into the water. Once we had pushed the boat out to a depth where the engines worked, we all jumped in (always an elegant manoeuvre) and held on with all 4 limbs as the skipper accelerated through gaps in the breaking surf. Restful it wasn’t.

Once we got to the reef we would all enter the sea with the usual backward roll. Most dives were about 40 minutes long and went to a depth of about 15 metres. Getting back on the boat in a three metre swell is even less elegant than the beach entry, with people being ��������������������� �����������������#������������appendage the boatman can reach.

One night during the second week we got raided, when two local men cut through the fence, slashed the ������������������������������������������Fortunately, the guards spotted them and chased them ����_�"������������������������� ��"��������������stolen goods were traced through the community and ������������"������������� ����```

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Overall, it was a stunning trip. We ate impala stew and Mopani worms (actually caterpillars), saw how far we could spit impala poo (it’s a game, honest), danced with Zulus, slept under the stars and played football with elephant dung. It beats going to Southport.

The out party consisted of: Emily Cook, Ashleigh Smith, Fran Hopper, Aidan Barlow, Kieran Hesp, Andy Buist, Millie Savage, Molly Rowell, Rebecca Peacock, Chantel de Bruin, �������������� �������������������� Mike Boyle and Jo Rogers.

OFSTED REPORT OCTOBER 2016The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College has been highly praised by OFSTED after its recent inspection.

The college has received a glowing report together with the award of a Grade 2 ‘Good’ ranking.

WE’RE GOOD

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‘A high

proportion

of learners on

A-level

programmes

progress

successfully

into higher

education.’

OFSTEDOCTOBER 2016

Since the previous inspection, the principal and senior leadership team have successfully promoted a culture of high expectations and high standards of

teaching, learning and assessment.” “This has resulted in improvements in outcomes for learners which are now good across most of the provision.”

This is a real achievement given that the new common inspection framework introduced last year is universally regarded as being far more rigorous and challenging than its predecessor. Most pertinently, greater emphasis is put on

‘outcomes for learners’ which relates not only to achievement rates but also what proportion of learners’ progress to their desired destination, be it higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

%���� ���$�� �#�������� ��"��"��������schools and colleges inspected under the new format have dropped a grade or even two since they were last inspected.

The college is therefore proud of its achievements since the last inspection in 2014, �������� ���������������������� �#��������� ������ ��������������� �����������

Full Ofsted Report 2016 go to our website

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THE REPORT PRAISED LEADERS, MANAGERS AND STAFF, AS THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS ILLUSTRATE:

� |'������������ �����������������"������ ������������ ����� ��helps them to make informed choices about their futures. As a result, a high proportion of learners’ progress to positive destinations.’

� ‘Learners successfully develop the skills that they need for work. They ��������������������"��"����������4��9"���� �����"��� �"�������wide range of other activities to improve their work-related skills.’

� |'������#������������������ ���������"�������� ����������$������and tolerance in the college. Learners demonstrate a high level of respect for each other and for their teachers.’

� ‘Teachers provide good pastoral support that helps learners to overcome barriers to their learning and make good progress.’

� ‘Leaders and managers work successfully with a wide range of partners, including high schools and another sixth form college in the borough, to plan �� ���"�������������������������������������������"��"����}���from the college provide helpful information, advice and guidance in local schools, including those with sixth forms, on progression opportunities at the college for school-leavers.’

� ‘Leaders and managers promote inclusion and equality successfully, and have created a strong ethos of tolerance and respect in the college.’

� ‘Learners at the college feel safe. They have a good understanding of all potential risks and how to protect themselves and others.’

SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT THE INSPECTORS NOTED THAT:

� ‘Teachers have high expectations for their learners. They use challenging activities in their lessons that are matched appropriately to meet the needs and abilities of most learners’.

� ‘Learners participate in a wide range of activities to improve the skills that they need for work’.

� ‘Many learners on A-level programmes carry out relevant placements and internships related to their career aspirations.’

� ‘On entry level and level 1 programmes, enthusiastic teachers have a very good understanding of each learner’s needs. They use a range of carefully designed activities that enable learners to improve their independent living and work skills.’

‘Teachers

have high

expectations

for their

learners.

They use

challenging

activities

in their lessons

that are

matched

appropriately

to meet

the needs

and abilities

of most

learners’.

OFSTEDOCTOBER 2016

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IN TERMS OF THE ALL-IMPORTANT ‘OUTCOMES FOR LEARNERS’, THE FOLLOWING WAS OBSERVED:

� ‘The majority of learners on 16 to 19 study programmes make at least the progress expected of them and achieve well.’

� ‘On vocational courses, a high proportion of learners make good progress from their starting points, and the rate of achievement on these "������������������ �������������������������"�����������

� ‘Actions that leaders and managers have taken to improve the progress that learners make on A- and AS-level courses resulted in improvements in 2015/16.’

� |3���"��"���������""��� �������� ������������$����� ������"���������������������� ��������� ���������"����������� ��������������and is now well above the rate for similar providers.’

� ‘Most learners on level 3 programmes progress to positive destinations. A high proportion of learners on A-level programmes progress successfully into higher education, and most learners on vocational programmes progress to higher education, employment or an apprenticeship.’

Principal Jenny Singleton said “We are absolutely delighted

�������� ��� ��� ������������ ���������� ���������

����������� ������������� ���������������������������

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to driving up standards and creating a positive and inclusive

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#��� �������������� ��� ������������� �����������#������

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will continue to target these areas and seek to provide an

�������������������� �����������������������������!”

‘The proportion

of apprentices

who

achieved their

$����� ���

on provision

delivered

directly by

the college

improved

����� ����

in 2015/16

and is now

well above

the rate

for similar

providers’.

OFSTEDOCTOBER 2016

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STUDENTS SUPPORTING THE RUCKSACK PROJECT This academic year the Wellspring Centre in Stockport have been supporting our students �������������������������������������

Below: Helping the Homeless - The boys:Huzifa AmirBrendon Kwangwari The girls:Hannah White������������������

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Health and Social Care ������������������greatly from the

opportunities so far as it is a great insight into another side of Social Work (an area which is very ��� ����������9"���� �@#���� �������������� ��������������students in other subject areas work placement opportunities which we will be exploring more as our house work placement weeks commence, prior to a work placement students are required to attend an informal pre-placement interview.

During visiting one of our students on work placement at the centre I spoke with the manager who was in the process of setting up the 2016 Rucksack project for the centre, as they are supporting our students I felt it only right that we as a college got involved in this project and

helped where possible. 3������"��������������������������������������������2 cars full to bursting with items which myself and Mike Rivett delivered to the centre on Friday 2 December.

Over the weeks in the run up to !�������#�����������������from the centre went around Stockport and Manchester to hand out the rucksacks which ��������������� �����#����������and food to homeless individuals.

The Cheadle and Marple College Network being a part of this project was a fantastic way to say Thank you to the Wellspring !������������������������ such valuable experience.

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On Monday 19th December 2016 The Cheadle and Marple College

Network celebrated the achievements of students who completed their studies at The Cheadle College or Marple Sixth Form College in July 2016.

The event was held at the home for Stockport Count FC – Edgeley Park and was well attended by students, their relatives, employers governors and college colleagues.

Awards were presented across all subjects to students who had excelled - recognising high levels of achievement and / or �����������9 �"���������#��������#����overcoming personal barriers.

We were delighted that some of our collaborative employers sponsored subject awards and attended the event to make the presentations. Other awards were presented by Alison Hewitt, Governor and special awards were presented by the Principal and CEO, Jenny Singleton. CELEBRATING THE

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CLASS OF 2016

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Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is one of the UK’s longest established operational airports having ���������������������!��July 1933.

LJLA is situated seven miles South East of Liverpool City Centre and adjacent to the River Mersey.The tour began with a presentation based on the ‘Past, Present & Future’ of Liverpool John Lennon Airport. After a question and answer session, the learners were introduced to Phil the Base Manager of EasyJet, and the Airport Police, giving an insight into their day to day roles.

The airport guides could not have been more helpful answering a variety of questions from the students. The guides even gave the students a history lesson in popular music, discussing the Beatles, and why the airport had been renamed.

'����"�����������������������"�����be named after an individual when it was rebranded in 2001 as a lasting tribute to the Liverpool born, former Beatle, John Lennon, with the new terminal opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002.

Great visit to Liverpool Airport for our T&T and Cabin Crew students

Above: Pictured with the statue of John Lennon from right to left- Salma, Sanah, Paveena, Rachel and Melissa.

Right: Gemma, Emma, Amy & Leah

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Principal Jenny singleton presenting a cheque for £1365.00 to Cpl Mark Wilson form The Royal Air Force in association with Manchester & Liverpool Childrens Hospital Christmas present appeal.

An impressive £5400.00 has been raised so far

After a fabulous fundraising event where students raised £1365.00� ��"������������������� ����������association with the Royal Air Force; the students got to see what their money had gone towards when the RAF brought in the presents they had bought.

They took part in a present wrapping session, providing Christmas presents for Manchester Children’s and Liverpool Alder Hey Hospital’s Christmas ‘Santa Drop Appeal’. This event has massively increased in size and

stature from its start in 2014. We have now raised an impressive £5400.00 for this worthy charity. 3��������#�����������������"����������������shown a fantastic sense of community spirit in making this event so successful. The present wrapping session was well attended with students wrapping, laughing and snacking whilst getting into the Christmas spirit. Huge congratulations to all �����������4�"����;����������"�����������������������

Public Services students complete a gruelling 8 hour ���������������������������

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Career EventSeptember saw our students (from The Cheadle College and Marple College) attended a special NHS Careers event in the Pinewood Centre at }�""�����������"�����������4�������������there originate through our huge (and much appreciated) contribution to the meningitis vaccination campaign around two years ago.

The event enabled our students (we contributed about half of the participants, the rest coming from Aquinas, Stockport Grammar, Cheadle Hulme School and

Cheadle Hulme High School) to gain a fantastic insight into a range of careers within the NHS.

They were given tips from Admissions Tutors from both the Manchester and MMU universities on how to apply and what to include in a winning personal statement. Students were also given access to a large number of actual practitioners who provided detailed descriptions of their roles within the NHS and further advice on the personal skills, attitudes and experience required to be successful in those roles.

Students form Cheadle and Marple Colleges at the NHS Careers event in the Pinewood Centre, at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport

The Cheadle College and MarpleSixth Form College have just undergone there annual BTEC Quality Management Review. This is a crucial assessment of our BTEC quality management, compliance with BTEC policies, procedures and protocols and is an intense process to go through.

The College Centre Quality Reviewer was exceptionally positive with regard to all our BTEC provision and the dedicated and professional approach adopted by the internal BTEC Quality Nominee and the BTEC Co-ordinators.

Quality Management Review

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The Cheadle and Marple College Network have recently been re assessed by an external awarding body for the quality and variety of information, advice and guidance (IAG) provided. In this the fourth consecutive tri-annual assessment, The C&M College Network have received a very positive and complimentary quality accreditation report relating to the internal and external information advice and guidance interventions across all aspects of College activity.

3�������������� ��������������"�and management and recently introduced House system were praised, as were “the range of student support, communications with parents / carers, liaison with feeder schools and progression providers and the range of employer contributions and �""������������������������ The positive report – quoted: “The support here (The C&M College Network) is unrivalled” “IAG is part of everyone’s job.”.

MATRIX Report 2016

THE C&MCOLLEGENETWORK

ABOUT THE CHEADLE & MARPLE COLLEGE NETWORK

3������������������� The C&M College Network visit www.cmcnet.ac.uk

The Cheadle & Marple College Network draws on a range of organisations working together to ensure the delivery of high quality education and training for people from Stockport and beyond.

Previously operating as a combined institution, Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, The C&M College Network continues to be underpinned by two learning hubs The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College and further includes employers, universities, schools, local and central government, policymakers, other colleges,support agencies, Ofsted and additional partners.

The Cheadle CollegeCheadle Road,Cheadle Hulme,Cheshire.SK8 5HAGeneral enquiries: 0161 486 4600Admissions: 0161 486 4602email: info@cmcnet.ac.uk

THE CHEADLE & MARPLE COLLEGENETWORK

Marple Sixth Form CollegeBuxton LaneMarpleStockportSK6 7QYGeneral enquiries: 0161 484 6600Admissions: 0161 484 6602email: info@cmcnet.ac.uk

The C&M Adult College