Drama students' provocative performance

I had the pleasure of watching Hackney Community College's Performing Arts students showcase some of the work they had done with actors from the Synergy Theatre Company recently and honestly I was so impressed!!

The students worked with a lovely lady called Ann Ogbomo and her colleague Mark Williams on a project based on a controversial play called Jesus Hopped The "A" Train. I haven't seen the play myself but the display put on by the students made me want to rush out and buy a ticket that same minute.

The play follows the lives of two convicted killers in an American prison emphasising the battles they face with their demons, their conscience, the brutal prison system and general society. The students, who were all first years, explored the play's main themes and developed their own interpretation through imagery, word and action which they performed for us in the college's Margaret Shepherd studio.

Despite being first years they came across as seasoned pros!! You could tell they were born to perform and they, like myself, enjoyed every minute of the show.

One person who stood out for me was very enthusiastic drama student Yetunde Lawal aged 17 who said: “This was the best workshop I’ve ever been involved in. I have learnt so much about my ability as an actor. Overall the Performing Arts course is really good. The teachers are brilliant and are committed to seeing us all succeed.”

And what a success it was. I'm sure our students will be in the run-in for prestigious acting awards in the near future. Did I hear the Oscars????

Fashion Students Showcase at Alternative Fashion Week

Hope you had a lovely weekend all! Wasn't the weather just glorious? Temperatures peaked at 21 degrees on Saturday in London and the South East, the hottest day of the year so far. And what a great day it was for Hackney Community College's Fashion students to strut their stuff on the catwalk at the Alternative Fashion Week (AFW) show.

The students showcased their elaborate designs at the highly-reputed show held in trendy Spitalfields Market in front of a host of professionals, including established fashion designers, manufacturers, fashion consultants and the media. The general public also got the chance to take in the magnificent display of creativity and genius.

Telling Tales was the collection's theme which (artistically defined) explores “the theme of telling tales, narrative and fantasy through multiples and layering, afterimage, shadows, transformations and surreal juxtapositions.”

HCC fashion students are regulars at the AFW shows and every year they never fail to impress with their innovative creations. This year was no different - absolutely fabulous darlings!!!

If you're keen at pursuing Fashion check out our courses at http://www.hackney.ac.uk/ or call 020 7613 9123 for more information.

HCC’s basketball talent shoots to the top

Hackney Community College’s basketballers have done it again!!!!

Both the men and women's team have won the British Colleges National Championships for the sixth time in the last seven years!

HCC’s women’s team defeated the Tyne Mets (North East regional champions) and the Men thrashed the Birmingham Mets (West Midlands regional champions) at this year's final held at Loughborough University.

This pair of trophies is the latest to be added to our already huge collection and we're sure an expansion of the cabinet will be in order soon as we expect more trophies to keep on coming.

The under 19 Men are unbeaten so far this year, winning 3 National titles of the 7 available in the year.

Our magnificent Basketball Academy just continues to produce the finest athletes, as indicated by our consistent success. If you don't believe me check out what some of our former players are doing now.

Ex HCC Academy players Samuel Toluwase (Essex Pirates) and Darrell Bethune (Everton Tigers) made pro British Basketball League debuts this year and HCCA graduate Rachel James progressed to the GB U20 Women's squad.

These successes join Ex HCC player Darius Defoe who plays for Newcastle Eagles and Perry Lawson (Sheffield Sharks) at professional level of their sport.

The Basketball Academy players at HCC train hard and play hard – and that includes their academic training as well. If you're not up to scratch with your College work then you don't play on the team. As simple as that. This acts as great motivation for students on and off the court. Here is what some of the players have to say about their experience at the academy.

Andre John-Baptiste, aged 17 said: " This is my first year at the Academy and I have enjoyed it alot so far. I have made alot of new friends and feel like a part of a great big family who work together to achieve success."

Fatumah Lwazi, aged 19 and also captain of the women's team said: "I have improved alot since joining the academy three years ago, in both my sporting ability and academics. It is a lot of hard work in training but it feels so good to win trophies at the end. The Academy is a great place and I will definitely miss being a part of it when I go off to university later this year."

Hackney Community College is one of just a handful in the country to offer the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (basketball). The college runs sports academies in basketball, football, athletics and cricket. If you think you’ve got what it takes - or would like to try it out, contact Karen Nixon at knixon@hackney.ac.uk

Joint Success

Ex-HCC Carpentry and Joinery students Anthony Feltham and Patrick Martin have both won prestigious industry awards.

Anthony (pictured top) was awarded the City and Guilds Medal for Excellence in the Processing and Manufacturing sector for his exceptional standard of work. He had to contend with over a million other learners nationally for this prize.

Anthony successfully achieved Advanced Construction certificates in Bench Joinery and Site Carpentry, plus a NVQ Level 3 in Bench Joinery while he was at HCC.

He is now using his outstanding skills to make high quality furniture for a prominent furniture specialist company.

Patrick Martin, who also successfully completed Bench Joinery and Site Carpentry at HCC, scooped first prize in the Carpenters’ Craft competition awarded by the Institute of Carpenters, for his amazing work.

John Cotter, Carpentry and Joinery tutor said: “Anthony and Patrick had to compete at a national level for their awards and so it is a true measure of excellence.”

Both men have proven to be amongst the best in the country at their trade - and we are very proud of their achievements.

Fashion student sells collection to London boutique

HCC Fashion student Rhiannon Jones shows that success can be achieved through hard work and determination.

Rhiannon moved to London from her family home in Yorkshire, set up her own clothing label and has recently sold her latest collection to an exclusive fashion boutique – all this at just seventeen!

Rhiannon admits that when she first enrolled at HCC she did not even know how to use a sewing machine. She credits the College, especially her tutor, for teaching her the skills that have allowed her to launch her successful label called Bolshie.

She said: “I was always determined to make it big and am really happy the way things are progressing so far. I knew what I wanted to achieve and focussed on my goals and now it is paying off."

She was recently snapped up by the media at London Fashion Week and appeared on BBC News wearing one of her flamboyant designs.

With this recent deal under her belt, she is well on her way to becoming a household name in the fashion world. We are confident that she will go on to bigger things and fulfil her dream of putting on her own show at London Fashion Week, plus conquering Europe with her own high-end fashion boutique.

To find out more about Fashion courses at HCC call 020 7613 9123 or email info@hackney.ac.uk

HCC 2012 Basketball Challenge

To acknowledge and celebrate Olympics Week this week, the fabulous HCC basketball players set themselves a huge task of shooting 2012 hoops.

Both the men and women from the HCC basketball academy took to the courts today in SPACe determined to score a record number of baskets and put on a great show at the same time. And didn’t they just!

They showed off their extraordinary talent and athleticism while working up a sweat to meet their target.

The amazing spectacle was watched and cheered on by students and staff. Veronika Karailieva (pictured in the centre with the players) from the Big Lottery Fund, who sponsors HCCs sports academies, also popped along to watch the impressive display.

Well done guys!!

HCC also runs successful academies for athletics, cricket and football, along with basketball. For more information please call 020 7613 9123 or visit us at http://www.hackney.ac.uk/

Cooking up a career

Michael Bines shows that it’s never too late to get qualified for a new career.

Michael, aged 44, studies Professional Cookery at HCC’s London City Hospitality Centre and is en route to becoming a qualified chef after shedding a past life of gangs and petty crime.

Wanting to turn his life around, he joined Hackney Community College where he successfully completed levels 1 and 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking in impressive time. He is now on the final stage of his course and is well on track to achieving his qualified chef status.

We're confident he'll achieve his dream of setting up his own Caribbean restaurant.

Michael said: “This is the first time I have achieved something. I am now on my way to being a qualified chef and I must thank Hackney Community College and most of all, my tutor Christopher Skippers for giving me the chance to prove myself.”

His inspirational story has deservedly been put forward for an Outstanding Learner award, where the winners will be announced during Adult Learners Week in May.

Good luck Michael!

I cooked. I served. I washed up!

I had the privilege of studying alongside some of Hackney Community College’s entry level students. I can honestly say, it was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done since I joined the College three years ago.

Their spirit and determination to succeed really shone through; and their happiness was infectious!

We prepared a delicious beef and vegetable chow mein, which we then served to paying members of staff.

Unfortunately, being the new boy, I got lumbered washing up the dirty pots– so I didn’t actually get to taste our creation - but I’m told it was very good!

I was really impressed with what our students achieved, with a little help from the experts!

Ian Ashman, Principal - Hackney Community College

It's Showtime!!!

Hackney Community College’s BTEC Performing Arts students put on a fantastic show last week, after two months working alongside TV script writer Pete Lawson.

Under the guidance of Pete, the first and second year students created their own individual theatre companies. They worked on the whole production, including lighting, sound, props and budget controls – as well as their story-lines and scripts.

They came up with the initial concepts for their plays in November and worked with Pete, who writes for popular soap Eastenders, to produce a professional script.

Pete said of the experience: “I’ve enjoyed this project enormously. It’s been very rewarding watching the groups grow in different ways and seeing individual students develop.”

The performances, which were held in the Margaret Shepherd studio at the Shoreditch Campus on the 13th and 15th of January received rave reviews:

“The performances were very powerful and packed full of emotion. The adult themes were acted out extremely well; it’s amazing what they achieved in their first year.”

Look out Broadway – HCC Performing Arts students are on the loose!

Check back to see clips from the shows!

To join a performing arts course at the College from next September, call 020 7613 9123 or go to http://www.hackney.ac.uk/

55 young people get back on track!

On Wednesday, 55 young people braved the cold, snowy weather to come to an Open Day at HCC and sign up for a course which will get them back on track.

The College opened its doors from 11am - 3pm for anyone aged 16-18 years olds who was not currently in education, employment or training and wanted to get back to college and start a course this month. The event was really sucessful, as visitors got the chance to chill out in the student lounge and play the Xbox, playstation and challenge each other to a game of table football. They also got to enjoy some delicious lunch which was provided by our very own catering students at the London City Hospitality Centre.

Visitors signed up to On Track courses in: Art, Business, BTEC Skills for Life, Construction, Childcare, Hospitality and Media which begin on Monday 18th January and run until the beginning of July.

One lucky person will also win an Ipod as part of the free prize draw competition held on the day. Check here to see who the lucky winner is in a few days time!