THE new COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERFROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON COLLEGE

Inside...• Our new website

• A Level success!

• Become a Friend of SUAC

• Calling local employers

• All about our Visitor Centre

Includes our complete Part-time Course Guideon page 6

3WELCOME

TO THE BUZZ!

4SUACNEWS

5A LEVEL

SUCCESS!

6PART-TIME

COURSE GUIDE

9SPOTLIGHT

ON...

10FRIENDS OF

THE COLLEGE

11CALLING ALLEMPLOYERS

12WHAT’S

COMING UP

8MP COMMITS TO

STUDENTS’ SUCCESS

Hi there, and welcome to our new community newslet-ter, The Buzz!

As your local College, we think it’s important to keep you up

to speed with the latest developments taking place here. It’s been an impressive year for us so we have a lot to showcase in this Autumnal edition.

We want you to be part of our College - as you’ll see, we have part-time courses, “Friends of the College” memberships and shows taking place throughout the year for you to attend, along with much, much more! And if you’re an employer, we offer a dedicated SUAC Employer Team service to ensure we meet all of your training needs.

So enjoy the read, and don’t forget to swing by our Oasis

Café for your free coffee - just bring the voucher at the back of this newsletter with you!

Nicola Mannock, Principal & CEO

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!Take a moment to have a look at our recently revamped College website. It’s now much easier and simpler to find all the information you need.We are really proud of the new site and will continue to keep it looking swish.

Let us know if you feel anything is missing by emailing hello@stratford.ac.uk. After all, it’s there to serve all of your needs.

Welcome from the Principal & CEO3

Star-studded Awards CeremonyIn June we were delighted to celebrate our award-winning students at our local Holiday Inn, joined by Paralympic Skier Anna Turney.

Students from all walks of life received awards sponsored by local employers. We also raised money for Guide Dogs with a charity raffle.

We are so proud of our students and employers for helping to make the evening a roaring success!

With thanks to our event sponsors:

We’re looking Good!Following our inspection earlier in the year, Ofsted says we are Good in all key areas, including teaching and learning, and leadership. This is fantastic news for staff and students of the College, who have all worked so hard to ensure we continue on our journey to Out-standing.

The rating means we are a high-quality and successful training provider with great success rates. And as a result of all of our hard work, we are the only College in the country to have awarded a token bo-nus to all of our staff.

A huge congratulations to all SUAC staff and students!

SUAC News

ELLODAVE Blooming MarvellousD+B Facades Greig Lifestyles Holiday Inn In2ambition Landrover StratfordLEP Stratford District CouncilQ Hotels Stepnell Solihull BlindsWarwick Castle

Warwickshire County CouncilStratford Bespoke CleaningA M BaileyBella ItaliaDCS EuropeLovely PubsThe Shakespeare BookshopArden ConstructionBravissimoH L Barnes Sarah Horne FlowersStratford Business Forum

All the latest from the College...

Lovely Pubs Company opens its kit-chens to College students Thanks to the lovely people at Lovely Pubs, final year ca-tering students from SUAC took a trip to the Baraset Barn Country Pub & Grill in Alveston, on Sunday 7th June.The students hosted a takeover of the restaurant for dinner service, creating and preparing a delicious dinner menu in its professional kitchen. The event demonstrates the College’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with local employers, and the willingness of com-panies like Lovely Pubs to help in developing young people’s ca-reers. It acts as a culmination of the students’ hard work through-out the year, providing them with an opportunity to prove their mettle in a professional environment, and forms an end-of-year assessment for the students.

The students devised a varied, mouth-watering menu which included sea bass with samphire and ginger foam, pork tenderloin with a broad bean puree, potato and sage terrine and glazed asparagus, and a dark and white chocolate brownie with coconut ice cream and caramelised pineapple.

Mark Lee, Operations Manager at Lovely Pubs, welcomed the chance to allow the students to demonstrate their culinary expertise: “As an employer who is always looking to take on emerging talent in the industry, giving students the opportunity to grow into well-rounded chefs and restaurateurs is incredibly important to us.”

If you’re an employer looking to take on a catering apprentice drop our SUAC Employer Team a call on 01789 417414.

A LEVEL SUCCESS! There was lots to celebrate at SUAC on A Level results day in August, with our students achieving a 95% pass

Chloe Schlitter, 18 English Literature - A Drama - B Creative Writing - B

“My results are even better than I hoped for. The teachers at the College have always encouraged me so much and pushed me to do my very best. I’m taking a gap year in Germany before studying English and Drama at university.”

READ MORE about these stories & find out what else has been happening

at SUAC in the News section of our website:

www.stratford.ac.uk/up-to-date

5

PART-TIME & LEISURE COURSES Take a look at the new and exciting courses we have to offer the community.

We have been working hard all year to ensure we have something to suit everybody in the Stratford-upon-Avon area at affordable rates, and we believe strongly in lifelong learning.

Course title Starts Duration Fee

LANGUAGES

ACCOUNTING

GCSE COURSES

IT & COMPUTING

HUMANITIES

PERFORMING ARTS

French for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

French for intermediate Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

German for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Italian for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Spanish for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

ESOL Sept 2015 Please call for details

Bookkeeping - Level 1 Oct 2015 8 weeks Please call for details

Bookkeeping - Level 2 Oct 2015 8 weeks Please call for details

English Sept 2015 Please call for details

Using a Mac Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Excel - for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Social media for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Design & publish your own website Oct 2015 5 weeks £120

Creative writing Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Writing for newspapers/magazines/blogs Oct 2015 10 weeks £110

HNC Acting Oct 2015 2 years £5,700

Septemberpart-time course sign-up sessions:

7th, 8th and 16th

3.30 - 7pm

Course title Starts Duration Fee

HNC Photography Oct 2015 2 years £5,700

HNC Media Oct 2015 2 years £5,700

Life drawing & painting Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Pottery Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Screen printing Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Darkroom photographic printing Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Photoshop for beginners Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Chocolate making Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Afternoon tea Oct 2015 Ongoing £25

Mixology (cocktail making) Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Catering academy for kids Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Barista training Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Wine tasting Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Flower arranging Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Knitting & crocheting Oct 2015 8 weeks £110

Home improvements Oct 2015 8 weeks £150

Basic DIY Oct 2015 8 weeks £150 (tiling, plastering & bricklaying)

Pilates Oct 2015 Ongoing £5 per session

Clubbercise Oct 2015 Ongoing £4 per session

Senior Citizens Aerobics Oct 2015 Ongoing £4 per session

SPORT & EXERCISE

DIY

LEISURE COURSES

FOOD & DRINK

ART, DESIGN & MEDIA

Call our Marketing Team on 01789 417414 to enrol for our October starts, or pop in to a September

7

MP commits to college students’ career success Our local MP Nadhim Zahawi officially opened SUAC’s dedicated in-house Job Pod during National Apprenticeship back in March.

The College Job Pod, which provides advice on job vacancies, assistance with writing CVs and the opportunity to talk to local employers, is now officially open to students of all ages as well as members of the public. 

Nadhim also met with a team of Engin-eering apprentices. These apprenticeships involve paid work-based training, with four days a week spent with a local em-ployer and one day in College. Following a demonstration of the apprentices’ engin-eering expertise, Nadhim discussed how their training is providing them with vital skills that prepare them for employment.

Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Engineering Apprentice Baillie Sadler,17, is employed at CTR Carbide Dies Ltd tool makers. Baillie is really enjoying his apprenticeship and finds the training he receives at the College invaluable. “At the College we train on manually operated machines which set you up with skills that you can transfer to the big computer-controlled equipment I

use at work.  It’s difficult sometimes but I really enjoy the work there.”

Baillie added: “You hear in the news all the time how highly praised apprenticeship schemes are.  Employers don’t just want university graduates that have got lots of qualifications on paper but have never touched a machine.”

CTR Carbide Dies Ltd is so impressed with Baillie’s work that they are currently look-ing to take on more apprentices. Nadhim is equally impressed by the College’s apprenticeship schemes. “My dream is that young people will be as excited when they get an apprenticeship as they would be if they got an offer from Oxford or Cambridge. They offer careers rather than just jobs. Stratford College is doing a tremendous job.”

If you want to join Nadhim Zahawi for his keynote speech on 18th September from 1.30-3pm, drop our friendly Marketing Team a call on 01789 417414 or email hello@stratford.ac.uk

READ MORE AT WWW.STRATFORD.AC.UK/UP-TO-DATE

A LEVEL SUCCESS!

Lydia Mealing, 18 Creative Writing - B

English Language - B

History - C

“My time at the College has been amazing. I’ve had so much exposure to interesting people and new and ex-citing concepts. All the A Level tutors are so encouraging and have provided extra support whenever I’ve needed it.”

George Elsby, 23 English Literature - A

Philosophy - C

“The staff at the College are incredibly helpful. They are really interested in their students and so caring, which makes you want to do well. Being at the College was a very different exper-ience to being at school - the environ-ment is so much more supportive.”

9

At SUAC’s Visitor Information Centre, you can purchase discounted tickets for fantastic attractions across War-wickshire and beyond, including:

•Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Properties •Warwick Castle •Bancroft Cruisers •Avon Boating River Cruises •Falstaff Tudor World •Kenilworth Castle

Our Visitor Information Centre is VisitBritain approved and provides a wealth of information to enhance your visit including details of attractions, events, what to see and where to eat. We can also assist with last minute accom-modation bookings and travel and transport enquiries.

To find out more, please visit:www.discover-stratford.com/tourist-information.cfm

call: 01789 264293 | email: welcometosua@gmail.comvisit: Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon,CV37 6GW @StratfordVIC

SUAC’S VISITORINFORMATION CENTRE

Your first port of call for the latest information, a bed for the night & attraction tickets!

Friend of the College One of our main aims as a College is to enrich our community and we’d very much like to offer our range of facilities for you to use.

We welcome you to visit our coffee shop or one of our many restaurants, where you will be served by catering students who go on to work in establishments such as The Ritz and Claridge’s. Or maybe you simply wish to use our free wi-fi.

Take a look at our Friends of the College membership – it’s free to join and you will receive special discounts as well as up-to-date news on what’s happening here at SUAC!

XTENDCourses for 14-16 year olds

Stratford-upon-Avon College’s Xtend programme is aimed at able and motivated pupils who wish to gainadditional qualifications in their own time.

XTEND key facts:

•Learners study either a GCSE or Level 2 vocational qualification

• Xtend is offered to Year 10 and Year 11 learners

•Lessons take place one evening per week during term time, and usually start at 4.15 or 4.30pm lasting for 2 or 2½ hours

•The course duration is one academic year and courses usually run until the final examination (generally before May half term)

•Transport is not provided.

If you would like to find out more about the Xtend programme, please visit www.stratford.ac.uk /14-16-courses

or call Tricia Berry on 01789 266245 ext. 3134.

FIND OUT MORE & SIGN UP ONLINE AT:

www.stratford.ac.uk/friends-of-the-college

STAFF TRAINING COURSESSUAC also offer the following staff training courses:

» Emergency First Aid 1 day | £95 | dates TBC

» First Aid at Work 3 days | £185 | dates TBC

» First Aid Refresher 2 days | £125 | dates TBC

» BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLA) 1 day | £115 | dates TBC

» CIEH Level 2 Award: Food Safety In Catering 1 day | £95 | dates TBC

» CIEH Level 3 Award: Supervising Food Safety In Catering 3 days (1 day per week, usually 9.30am-4.30pm) | £300

» AAT Accreditation

» Adult Functional Skills English – from September 2015

» Adult Functional Skills Maths – from September 2015

» Maths GCSE for Adults Monday, 5.00-8.30pm | from September 2015

» English GCSE for Adults Monday, 5.00-8.30pm | from September 2015

DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES FOR EMPLOYERSThe following courses are available free of charge for employers, providing that the applicant is aged over 19 and has been a UK resident for over 3 years.

» Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care

» Common Health Conditions

» Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabil-

ities

» Understanding the Safe Handling of Medication in Health and Social Care

» Certificate in The Principles of End of Life Care

» Principles of the Prevention and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

» Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health

» Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems

» Certificate in Understanding Dignity and Safeguarding in Adult Health and Social Care

» Certificate in the Principles of Dementia Care

» Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes

» Team Leading Knowledge

» Principles of Customer Service

» Cleaning Knowledge and Skills

We have a dedicated Employer Team at SUAC to meet all of your training provider requirements, from taking on an apprentice to hiring our facilities.

Call 01789 417414 or email us at apprenticeships@stratford.ac.uk if you require our services!

And don’t forget, on 18th September we are hosting our very own Apprenticeships Show at the College, joined by Nadhim Zahawi MP and many local employers both big and small. If you would like to book into this please drop us a line!

11CALLING ALL EMPLOYERS… WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Download our new Guide for Employers if you

would like to find out more about how SUAC can help your business.

www.stratford.ac.uk/employers

FIND OUT MORE AT: www.stratford.ac.uk/staff-training

Stratford-upon-Avon CollegeThe Willows North, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 9QR

www.stratford.ac.uk call: 01789 417414 email: hello@stratford.ac.uk

What’s coming up...

New SUAC publications: Xtend Guide / Full-time Prospectus / Higher Education Prospectus / Travel Guide / Parents & Carers

enjoy your free coffeeThis voucher entitles you to one coffee at SUAC’s Oasis Cafe free-of charge. Please present voucher to cashier.

Terms & conditions apply - please ask for further details

with Apprenticeships atStratford-upon-Avon College

2015-2016 Full-time open events:

» Fri 6th Nov 2015 5:30-8:00pm

» Sat 7th Nov 2015 10:00am-2:00pm

» Fri 11th Dec 2015 5:30-8:00pm

» Wed 27th Jan 2016 5:30-8:00pm

» Wed 16th Mar 2016 5:30-8:00pm

» Wed 8th Jun 2016 5:30-8:00pm

WATCH OUT FOR EXCITING PERFORMANCES BY OUR TALENTED STUDENTS COMING SOONFind information at www.stratford.ac.uk/events

The latest show was Musicals Rock which took

place in June at the Stratford Arts House - a great success!

APPRENTICESHIP FAIR

18th September 1.00-3.30pm

Meet with a wide range of local employers eager to take on apprentices. Chat to the College’s Apprenticeship team and learn more about this exciting programme.

To register your interest, please email hello@stratford.ac.uk or call 01789 417414.

Dinner serviceThursdays, 7pm for 7.15pm6 courses including coffee & petit fours£25 per person*Parties welcome if booked in advance

LunchTuesdays & Fridays from 12 noon3 course lunch including tea or coffee£9.50 per person**Prices as at September 2015

www.stratford.ac.uk/academy-bar-and-restaurant