It All Adds Up for Demi

Ex HCC student Demi Oshindele has achieved first class honours in Mathematics from Queen Mary University and credits the College and its excellent employer partnerships as key to his success.

Demi, aged 22, studied A Levels at HCC in 2005 and was part of the first group of students to participate in the exciting internship programme which the College organises with prominent investment bank UBS every year.

The programme, which takes place over the summer, gives students the chance to work in the bank’s busy Liverpool Street office alongside finance professionals and provides them with a taste of corporate life.

Demi acknowledges this experience as a significant factor for his success and is grateful to the College for the opportunity to get involved in the scheme. His hard work and commitment on the placement impressed UBS so much that they gave a glowing reference to support his university application – which has subsequently reaped great rewards.

He said: “The UBS internship was very good for me. The experience helped strengthen my chances of going to university and now I have completed my degree with a distinction. I am very happy and thankful to the College and UBS for such a great opportunity.”

Demi is currently teaching Maths at a local secondary school, and hopes to pursue a career in finance risk management in the near future.

Principal's question time

Last Friday, students at HCC got the chance to ask the Principal, Ian Ashman, any burning questions they had about life at the College.

Around 45 students gathered in the Lecture Theatre to quiz Ian and other members of the Senior Management Team.

In the week leading up to the event, a huge number of students posted questions into one of the 'Have your say' boxes around the college. These questions were then collated and also posed directly to the Principal on the day. The main topics discussed were; student finance, 14 - 16 courses, food and many other general issues.

This was the second Principal's Question Time event at HCC and there's proof that learner voice is really being heard:

At June's question time event, students said: “Not enough electronic course materials are available on the VLE.”

We have: given all students access to their Individual Learning Plan (ILP), grade book and progress report on the VLE. You can access these anytime, anywhere. Almost all other course materials are available on the VLE (including scheme of work and student handbook) – with any new materials uploaded on an ongoing basis.

Students said: “We would like more modern classrooms and better IT.”

We have: just completed a huge eight-week programme of works on the Shoreditch Campus, involving the refurbishment of classrooms. All classrooms have projectors and electronic white boards and the computer network capacity is noticeably faster. The college has invested over one million pounds for ILT resources.

HCC Connects with School Leavers

This week, HCC advisers attended the Future Opportunities event at Alexandra Palace , where they spoke to approximately 400 school leavers about their career choices and the wide range of courses we offer to help them achieve their goals.

The event, which was organised by Haringey Connexions, is the latest of many the College has been involved in during this busy November to help Year 11 students decide what they would like to do once they finish secondary school.

Our own School Leavers’ Open Evening is right around the corner, happening on Wednesday 18th November from 4:30 – 6:30pm and we recommend that you pay us a visit. It will be a great opportunity to see our fantastic campus and check out our facilities, see students’ work, speak to our tutors and advisers and also find out what College life is really like from our student ambassadors. As if all that isn’t enough, there will also be a catering demo in our very own state-of-the-art training restaurant, which should be a real treat.

You wouldn’t want to miss this! Hope to see you there!

HCC Fashion students to perform at the AoC Conference

Our BTEC National Diploma in Fashion students are performing a live catwalk at the AoC Annual Conference in Birmingham next week!

They were selected to showcase their work, following a submission based on their July fashion show at the College to celebrate VQ Day.

The work includes a selection from year 1 and year 2 students based on themes and a final major project.

Rehearsals are well under way - watch this space to see how the show goes!

HCC students in government film

Several Hackney Community College students took part in a short film for Parent Channel TV, a new website being launched by the government aimed at supporting parents' relationships with their children.

The film, one of a series for the website (funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families) focuses on young people and their career choices.

Hospitality and Catering Level 3 student Bonnie Beasley and Brickwork Level 3 student Jamie Emmett, both 18, spoke about what they intend to do once they complete their studies at HCC.

Bonnie said: “I’ve learnt so much on my catering course and have acquired skills I never thought I would. Once I finish my course I want to get a job as a chef in a restaurant or open my own catering business. I believe I’ll have enough qualifications to achieve that.”

Jamie said: “I’d want to get a job on-site and build up my experience once I finish my Brickwork course. I’d definitely go to university later on to study site management but I think it’s important to get a real feel of the job first and my course has prepared me for that.”

No matter what your goals are, whether it’s progressing on to university or going straight into employment, Hackney Community College can help you achieve your dreams.

Course Guide for 16-18s out soon!

Hurrah! Our new course guide for people aged 16-18 has gone to print! We're really excited by this year's production; it's full of student quotes, successes and fab photos! Plus, we've got a huge range of courses - ranging from beginner level up to advanced.

Courses include GCSEs, A Levels and lots of vocational (work-related) ones - so no matter what you want to do, there's bound to be something for you.

Call us now on 020 7613 9123 to reserve your copy.

Dream it. Achieve it. Live it - with Hackney Community College.

Olympic hopeful races at HCC

We were really pleased to welcome sprinter Ryan Scott to HCC today. He's in training for 2012 (100m and 200m) and he dropped in to take part in our 2012 challenge. (see older post)

He raced 1,000m against staff and students in our gym.

Guess who won.

Ryan stayed around afterwards to talk to BTEC sport students about dedication, training, athletes' finances and diet.

We're really grateful that Ryan gave up his time to visit and take part in our 1,000m challenge.

It was lovely to meet him and Leah from Mace Group, who are sponsoring him so that he can train full time.

Come back soon (and we won't let you win next time)

1,000 days to go until 2012: 2012 hopeful joins us to celebrate!

If you've read previous posts and seen our 2012 blog you may know that we're passionate about 2012 here at HCC.

Tomorrow, it's 1,000 days until the start of the Games in London.

We've set ourselves a challenge to mark this. Students, staff, friends and family are taking part and sponsoring us, and 2012 hopeful Ryan Scott is dropping by to help!

Our Challenge:
Up to 1,000 records of 1,000 metres in our cardio-vascular gym. Running, cycling, rowing or cross-training - it doesn't matter as long as each person does at least 1,000m.

We're doing it for a week, from 31/10 to 6/11. Next Friday, sprinter Ryan Scott will drop by and 'race' our principal and some students. He'll also stay around afterwards and talk to our sports students about what it's like to be a top performer, in full time training.

To get involved, email marketing@hackney.ac.uk.

You can also donate to great north London charity Action for Kids by going to this link:
http://www.blogger.com/www.justgiving.com/HCC-1000daysto2012

I'm Running the Show!

Hackney Community College's Media Production students have made a short video for a competition for Colleges Week.

In record time, Rizwan Asghar, Neferty Mibo and Connie Powell, gave an interview saying what they would do if they ran a health and beauty magazine.

Students were asked what would happen if they were in charge for the day – what would they do? What would they change?

They find out if they win during Colleges Week - which is 9-15th November. And, if they do win, they'll get to find out how an issue of Top Sante magazine is put together, from photo shoot to page layout.

Please have a look and rate this video. The more 5 stars they receive, the better the chance of winning!

http://www.youtube.com/user/CollegesWeekComp2009

GOOD LUCK!

Eastenders Writer Brings Drama to HCC

Hackney Community College’s Performing Arts students are to write and star in their own drama, with the help of TV writer Pete Lawson.

The students have been set the challenge of creating their own theatrical piece which will be performed in front of a live audience early next year.

Pete, who writes for popular soap Eastenders, will be working with the students over a 12 - week period to prepare for the final show. They will cover all the aspects of producing a play, including themes, plots, characters, and stage settings.

The highly anticipated show, which will be themed around conflict, will be held in HCC’s Margaret Shepherd Studio in January.

Student Katie Mehmet, 17 said: “Pete is a real professional who knows a lot about performing and so I know I will learn a lot from him. Plus I am a huge fan of Eastenders so am really excited about working with him.”

There's always postive stuff going on at HCC - the drama just never ends!

St Barts Hospital works with HCC to help people get employed

Hackney Community College has been working in partnership with St Barts Hospital and the NHS to deliver a course entitled Pathways into Employment in the NHS. On Thursday 8th October, the successful learners were presented with a certificate from HCC Principal, Ian Ashman, to congratulate them on their success. Learners attended a two week course which included Emergency First Aid at Work, Data Protection, Manual Handling, Customer Services and Employability skills. The course culminated with a visit from Sangeeta Sengupta from St Barts Hospital who helped the learners to complete their application forms and prepare for their guaranteed interview. We all wish them good luck with their applications!

HCC deliver top customer service at local Jobcentre

As part of National Customer Service Week 2009 (5-11 October), the College went along for two days to the Jobcentre Plus on Mare Street, Hackney, to provide customers with detailed course information and advice on everything we do. Staff were promoting free courses which help people who have been unemployed for 6 months+, received redundancy notice, or have recently been made redundant. The information stand was really busy with enquiries throughout both days and customers found it to be a really useful drop-in service where they could ask absolutely anything!

HCC Advanced Academy basketballers - doing us proud

We're really proud of our basketball academy players. They study hard alongside their training and match schedule and they're superb ambassadors for Hackney Community College.

Last weekend our advanced academy players - and their coach - were in Sheffield at the launch of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme. One of just 10 colleges in the country to be represented.

Read all about it here:
http://www.hackney.ac.uk/ShowNews.aspx?NewsGUID=f850abe0-f338-4f43-9958-91d16692a89d

Blog-happy! New 2012 blog

We're just blog-happy here!

We've started a new 2012 blog - our diary of everything we're doing to prepare our students and communities for 2012 Games opportunities. For example, today four-times Olympian Suki Brownsdon dropped in to talk to our students.

(She's the one in the blue tracksuit. the lady with the blonde hair is Gill Hogan, an Olympic support team sports nutritionist)

The 2012 Games will be on our doorstep, they're soon, and we're really excited.

When I've worked out how, I'll add our new blog as a link to this blog - but for now, I'll just add the link to this post. https://getset.london2012.com/en/blogs/home/cea05d1e8205f7544afdfa4e0c4055c2-22033

Open Evenings for school leavers confirmed

The dates Hackney Community College's school leavers open evenings are confirmed - so put them in your diary now.

Wednesday 18th November 2009, 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday 3rd February 2010, 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday 10th March 2010, 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday 28th April 2010, 4:30-6:30pm

Check out the fantastic campus and view all the facilities, before talking to the tutors. They'll advise you on the best courses for you. And don't forget to save some time to talk to the student ambassadors; they'll give you the low down on College life!

Have a look at the website www.hackney.ac.uk for directions - see you there!

Still looking for a course?

After weeks of busy enrolment, our courses are mostly full. But, we do have some places left on a few courses (but you'll need to hurry!)

Many people have already started their course and are loving it; there's a definate buzz around campus!

Some people however, might be looking to change direction. It could be that the course they signed up isn't what they were expecting - or they simply want to study a different subject. If you're one of those people, come along to our Course Information office (based at the front of the campus on Falkirk Street) this Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Our team will look at all the options available for you - making sure you get the most of of your time at College.

And, if you haven't yet enrolled - come along and see what we've got to offer. It's a great College - so you're bound to LOVE it!

Peace Week starts at HCC

Hackney’s Peace Walk strode out from Hackney Community College on Saturday, a moving start to the borough’s Peace Week celebrations.

People of all ages and from all backgrounds gathered at the college’s Shoreditch Campus on the morning of the walk. Principal Ian Ashman acknowledged the importance of the event and said how proud he was that the college was hosting the walk's start, before Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe led the group through the college gates.

The walk ended at London Fields where the crowd was treated to an impressive mix of entertainment led by the borough's young people.

An event at the Hackney Empire later in the day showcased four films produced by HCC media students at the Robert Levy Foundation Film Summer School at the college. Robert Levy was a promising teenager, killed in Hackney in 2004 and the college has a strong tie to the foundation set up by his family.

See http://www.youtube.com/user/TCCHackney

The theme cutting across the films is celebrating life in Hackney and banishing stereotypes associated with the borough. One of the films, by Harry Ayelabola who studied Media Production at the college and is now progressing to university, is a music video for a song inspired by Robert Levy, RIP Pablo. Tutor Anna Johnson who runs the summer school said, "I am extremely proud of all the films shown at the Peace Week event, and Hackney Community College is proud to have again worked with the Robert Levy Foundation on this project."

Hackney Community College is dedicated to promoting the messages of peace and respect, and this is integrated into student life through inductions, tutorials and events.