Strode College history team has organised a conference 'Working in History, Heritage and Archaeology', which will be held at Strode Theatre on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 March. It is aimed at those with an interest in working in history, heritage and archaeology; those considering studying a related discipline at university; and anyone with an interest in the past.  This is the first two-day conference of its kind to be held in central Somerset.  The archaeologists, historians and heritage officials who will be speaking at the event are leaders in their field (see details below).

The event has been organised by Strode's Senior Lecturer and Head of History Andy Pickering, an acknowledged specialist in his chosen areas of history including witch-hunting.  He is also an established writer of history textbooks, many of which are now being used by his own students.  They cover a wide range of subjects including witch-hunting in early modern Europe and the civil rights movement in Twentieth Century America.  He has a new book out next month about witch-hunting in England which will be for a more general readership.

Speakers at the conference include the following.

• Historian Ellie Woodacre, an expert in medieval queenship.
• Richard Brunning, who is one of the county's leading heritage officers and who works on the Somerset Levels.
• Bob Croft, Somerset's county archaeologist.
• Wells Museum-based Barry Lane who is chairman of the Council for British Archaeology.
• Representatives from museums and other organisations further afield, including from the educational wing of the Mary Rose Trust, the timber flagship of Henry VIII.

Attending the two-day event will cost £10 per person. To book please download the event leaflet and complete the attached form.

Tim Burton's exhibition was one of many inspirational sights and sounds which the students experienced in New York and Washington on their recent educational trip.  With sketch books and cameras in hand, they visited national monuments and museums, stood in front of great contemporary works of art and cultural icons, and were able to compare and contrast these two different American cities.

Among the highlights of the trip were the Smithsonian Institute Museums in Washington where students saw and sketched a wide range of sights including the Apollo Spaceship which landed on the moon; Damien Hirst's 'Shark' in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and standing in front of the famous Picasso painting 'Les Damoiselles d'Avignon' at MOMA.  The group also soaked up the authentic American experience visiting the Whitehouse, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and a lively Knicks basketball game where they ate popcorn and waved giant foam hands.

Duncan Cameron, Strode College Sculpture Lecturer, believes real life experiences are essential to complement classroom study.  He said: "Great life experiences can inspire and motivate us in our personal and working lives.  On this trip our students soaked up a breadth of influences.  They saw a huge range of contemporary art in world renowned galleries, and were able to engage with work they would not normally see and which cannot be conveyed through classroom study.  They can now place in real life, things they have seen on TV and the web, in films and books.  Also, travelling in a group led to a great deal of discussion, sharing of information and ideas, which can only be beneficial to their study."

Jade Richards of Street, who is studying for her National Diploma in Art and Design, was struck by the contrasting nature of the two cities. "They are not that far from each other, but the difference in atmosphere and style is really noticeable.  As we came into New York at night time, we left the clean spaces of Washington behind and entered a landscape where buildings shot up all around.  It was amazing. We saw so many great places and wonderful sights.  I found the Holocaust Museum in Washington really moving and it gave me a lot to think about for my next project."

Tom Drew of Glastonbury is studying for a National Diploma in Art and Design.  "One of the highlights of the trip for me was being able to stand in front of major contemporary artworks that I have read about.  In particular, I loved a piece called 'Ghost' by Rachel Whiteread.  Seeing the piece in real life really helped me with a presentation I prepared for College."

Ian Williams, Strode Business Lecturer otherwise known as `The chicken` said: "The team had a great day and the weather was superb. We met up before the race, there was loads of support as we ran, and afterwards we all met up to share a roast dinner and our stories. The first of our runners past the post was Dylan Whittingham, ICT lecturer, who ran a personal best of 1hr 20 minutes. Everyone did brilliantly and there was a great sense of achievement in running the race and raising nearly £3,000 for the College Gambia project."

Arise Sir Duncan (or perhaps sit down and rest a while)

Also running in costume for the Strode team was Sculpture Lecturer Duncan Cameron. Duncan, dressed in knight's armour soaked up the atmosphere as he ran. He said: "The crowds were fantastic. There were so many people and so much support for the runners. We were cheered around the course, children were giving us high fives - or high swords in my case - and there was music and noise everywhere. The last 200 metres were particularly great and quite emotional."

Duncan will be running as a knight in the London Marathon to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

The German students went out in groups, negotiating the U-Bahn system and finding their own way to shops and places to eat, all of which was a good chance to practise their German.  On the last day they had a free choice and went off to various museums, galleries and different areas of the city.

The music students also saw a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra at the Philharmonie Hall conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The programme was a fascinating mixture of repertoire including a Beethoven piano concerto, Sibelius's Symphony No 1 as well as contemporary music by Ligeti. The next day Music students saw the opera Orpheus und Eurydke at the Konzerthaus.

Richard Frapwell, German lecturer said "It’s great for students to get a sense of the history and culture of Berlin.  The visit brings everything to life and makes their study that much more real’’.

Marian Jones, German lecturer adds "We took students who had never been to Germany before and students who were flying for the first time, so we really felt that they were getting some new experiences.  It was lovely to see students taking the knowledge they have gained in the classroom and putting it to practical use in a foreign city."

As part of its work within the local community and to celebrate International Women's Day (Monday 8 March), Strode College Hair and Beauty Salon held a pamper day for 26 women who are recovering from mental illness.  The event was organised in partnership with the Wells branch of Rethink, a national mental health charity which helps people recover their lives after mental illness.  The group enjoyed a range of treatments including haircuts, aromatherapy massage, facials, manicures and pedicures. 

Laura Griffiths, Strode Hair and Beauty Salon Receptionist said: "The pamper day was a great way for the College to support the wider community.  It was also a great opportunity for our students to gain experience of working in a professional salon, developing their confidence and social skills.  Our salon is always open to the public, but for this event it was particularly important for students to understand and be sensitive to the client's needs.  They will be assessed on their work for the event.  We ran a similar pamper day last year and I'm delighted that one lady enjoyed the experience so much she now returns for regular hair cuts." 

Bridget Harvey, Mental Health Recovery Worker for Rethink Day Services, Wells, was delighted with the event.  She said:  "These women got so much out of the pamper day.  I am sure it will help build their confidence and self esteem, which will in turn help them on the road to recovery.  The students and staff at Strode were fantastic.  They were aware of our clients' treatment requirements and, more importantly, they were aware of their emotional needs too.  We found the students to be professional, sensitive and caring and they took great effort to put everyone at ease.  What was potentially a stressful experience was turned into a relaxing, enjoyable and positive one."

Strode College, in conjunction with Rethink, will be organising a similar pamper event for men with mental health problems in early summer.  A pamper day is also planned for carers.

Strode's Hair and Beauty Salon offers discounted haircuts and beauty treatments to the public during term times. For details and prices call 01458 844420 or the Hair & Beauty page of this website.

Photo: Strode Complimentary Therapy students Becky Tutton and Chloe Bell, with client Patricia Parfitt, Strode receptionist Laura Griffiths, and Bridget Harvey and Amanda Willmott from Rethink.

Kate Lovell, Chair of Strode College Board of Governors said: "We are very pleased that James Staniforth will be joining us as Principal and Chief Executive from September. We were particularly impressed with his enthusiasm to take the College forward and further enhance its excellent reputation. James brings with him a wealth of experience in further education and we look forward to working with him over the coming years."

James Staniforth said: "I am delighted to be appointed as Strode's new Principal. Strode is rightly known for the excellent range of courses it offers and the quality it provides. I am excited by the challenge of working with an outstanding group of staff and students to ensure the College continues to provide such exciting opportunities for all parts of its community."

The current Principal Ian Bennett announced his retirement from Strode in October 2009, after 13 successful years leading the College. During this time the College has grown in size and reputation and last year attracted record numbers of students. The College was awarded Beacon status by the Government in 2004 and has maintained consistently high standards over a long period of time. The College campus has benefited from multi million pound investments in new education buildings, sports and arts facilities. As well as focusing on the needs of its local community, the College has established a national reputation for working with offenders across prisons in the south west.

Charmaine Bray, Performing Arts Lecturer and show Director was delighted with the performances. She said: "Staff and students worked extremely hard to present a polished and professional performance, with excellent work from principals, dancers and ensemble alike. The band was fantastic providing quality orchestration from what is a difficult score for younger players."

"Sweet Charity is to some extent a one woman show in that the title role is a mammoth task, especially for a young performer. Both Kahli Davis and Sophie Russitto, performing as Charity for alternate performances, rose to the challenge. They gave excellent performances that were exciting, funny and believable."

"They were well supported by Tom Rumbelow as the bumbling Oscar Lindquist (Charity's love interest) and Vicky Batley, Mair Mills and Hattie Eason as Charity's long suffering friends who pick up the pieces every time the love of her life doesn't turn out to be what she hoped for."

"Ben Vickery did a good job as the film star heart throb Vittorio Vida, displaying a beautifully rich tenor voice. And, Lee Rahn got every ounce of comedy out of the foot tapping show stopper Rhythm of Life."

Strode Performing Arts students next big performance will be a dance show in June.

The event will take place at Glastonbury Town Hall on Wednesday 17 March; doors open at 7pm. The evening will begin with acoustic music from Strode students, followed by the fashion show. Refreshments and a clothes sale will follow, accompanied by more music.

Tickets, which cost £3 or £2.50 concessions, are available from the Cancer Research shop, Glastonbury and the Strode College shop. Tickets can also be purchased for £4 at the door on the night. All proceeds from the sale of tickets and clothes will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Gaby Vauclair, one of the students organising the fashion show, is keen to drum up support. She said: "Cancer Research UK is one the College's student-nominated charities and we hope to raise as much money as possible in this event. Although the evening will be light-hearted and entertaining, a lot of work from the Student's Association has gone into the organisation. I really hope that we get the support we need to make this event successful."

Ester Gooderson from Cancer Research Glastonbury said: "It isn't often that young people come forward and take the lead on a project like this. We welcome any fundraising opportunity, but we were particularly delighted when the students approached us with the idea of a charity fashion show."

The Strode team are running for the College Gambia project. They are hoping to raise well over £3,000 to complete the purchase of furnishings and computers for the youth centre they have funded in the Gambian village of Tujereng.

There will be a variety of costumes on display in the Strode team. The chicken is a member of the Strode teaching staff and the egg is a student. The question is - who will come first, the chicken or the egg?

Strode Business Studies Lecturer Ian Williams has enjoyed organising the team. He said: "Whilst training has been mixed over the winter months the effort has addressed important aspects of Strode life other than charitable work. There is a great sense of achievement in the teamwork, particularly amongst those of us who have battled, with varying degrees of success, to lose a few pounds since the festive season."

Student Support Manager, Bill Scott said: "Along with bringing more sport into Strode, the team have had lots of fun. This may well see the start of a running club here, the interest seems large enough".

Pupils were encouraged to read prospectuses carefully and to seek advice and guidance when deciding what to do after school. Strode ran a quiz at the event with answers based on information in their prospectus, and certificates and vouchers were presented to winners.

The winners pictured (left to right) with Assistant Headteacher Dave Dwyer are: Billy Illingworth, Cheyanne Lang-Andersen, Jessica Seal and Hannah Symes-Davidson, and Mathew Wiles (pictured separately).

Strode is currently accepting applications for both full-time A Level and vocational courses starting in September. Further information is available from 01458 844400 or on our website.

Tasha, who works for Strode College, is jointly responsible for preparing meals for both Strode and Crispin School in Street. To win the regional title she had to produce a healthy balanced main course and dessert that would appeal to eleven year olds in school; all for £1.25 per child.

Her winning dishes were a savoury filled wholemeal pitta, with tangy tomato sauce and fruity rustic coleslaw, followed by a chewy strawberry granola type bar with fresh strawberries and yoghurt icing.

Tasha is delighted with her new title and is already looking ahead to the national final. "I've entered the competition before and been highly commended, but winning the regional final is fantastic. I've worked at Strode for six years and really enjoy cooking for the students there and at Crispin school. I've had great support and some of the pupils really enjoyed the different food I tried out on them before deciding on my competition menu. Although I am a little nervous I'm looking forward to the challenge of the national final, and I know I've got two great dishes which the students and judges like."

To impress the judges Tasha had to meet strict criteria and show high standards of skill, creativity and professionalism. The judging panel was chaired by Steve Oram, Food Development Chef for Nestlé Professional (which sponsors the competition). Other judges were Kathleen Jones (LACA), leading dietician Jasmine Challis from the British Dietetic Association, local professional chef Rod Naylor from the Naval Cookery School in Plymouth and an eleven year old local school girl and boy.

Photo: Tasha Watts, Strode and Crispin cook, is 'South West School Chef of the Year 2010'.

In the run up to Valentines Day, red roses were handed out to Strode students by the Road Safety Partnership. They were reminding people of another way to show loved ones how much we care for them - drive carefully and safely.

Photo L-R: Mike Ralph of the Road Safety Partnership, Bryony Vickery of Shepton Mallett, Katie Burr of Shepton Mallett, Sarah Davie of Priddy and Rina Cameroon of the Road Safety Partnership.

The seven students going on this trip have raised over £3,500 for the project through a range of activities including: bag packing at Morrisons's, Bingo at the Langport Arms, selling Gambian clothes and jewellery at Somerset Women's Institute, and raffles and refreshments at Kingsbury Episcopi Village festival.

"Raising money for the Project has been hard work but we have had a lot of fun and now work really well as a team. It is satisfying to know that we have raised a large amount of money for such a worthwhile cause" commented student Alice Cove.

Students and College staff also collected 25 boxes of pre-school educational resources including pencils and crayons, dressing up clothes, paper, paints and toys. This was sent to the project last month along with nursery furniture and playground equipment. Local company Cosyfeet covered the cost of shipping the equipment.

Strode is grateful for support received from Hugh Sexey Middle School which raised £525 and contributed educational resources, and to the Iona Community Family South West (Exeter) Group which raised £300 for the project.

Some students have been busy raising funds to cover the cost of their trip. Tom Strode-Walton was so keen to visit the project that he shaved his hair to raise his funds.

 Photo: A close shave for Strode student Tom Strode-Walton as he raises funds for his trip.

Strode received a lot of interest at the exhibition with considerable local media coverage. The International Prospectus was of great interest to visitors.
Through meeting people from around the world Stephen has found that parents and young people recognise the value of British education. They are also attracted to the rural location of Somerset as it has fewer distractions than a big city. This means students are more likely to immerse themselves in the College learning experience and enrichment activities.

Currently Strode has 15 international students. Stephen has found that Strode's high academic achievements are attractive to international students. Understandably, they are also interested in the personal support for students who will be travelling far from home to study - something that Strode considers a strength.

Stephen is photographed at the Education UK Exhibition in Hong Kong.

Swan Hotel Marketing Manager Natasha Mingo-West and Strode's Hospitality and Catering Lecturer Ian Thomas, are behind the initiative, which includes 30 other students visiting the hotel in March. Natasha approached Strode after seeing a newspaper photo of Ali cooking at the College Open Evening in November.

Commenting on Ali's arrival Natasha said, "I hope that Ali will be the first of many Strode College students to have the opportunity to see first-hand what it takes to work in a successful hotel. I'm sure that she will be an invaluable team member over the coming weeks."

Photo caption: Strode hospitality students Ali Smith (left) and Lorna Taylor, demonstrate their cooking skills.

Strode's Uniformed Public Services course prepares students for a career in any of the public sectors, including the Armed Forces, Ambulance Service, Rescue Services, Fire Service, Prison Service and Countryside Rangers.

The trip helped develop essential skills in team work and leadership, command and control, expedition and outdoor adventure. The students worked on these skills in the Italian resort of Courmayeur, an area dominated by Europe's largest peak, Monte Bianco Courmayeur.

Maurice Holdstock, Uniformed Public Services Course Manager at Strode was delighted with the progress made by students. He said: "Students received expert tuition in skiing or snowboarding and activities were focused on practical elements of the course. Learning to lead a team, encouraging and guiding others and learning to be self-sufficient are among the abilities these students need to demonstrate. Whilst the skiing and snow-boarding was fun, there is no better place to develop these skills than the inspiring mountain environment. Students should be proud of their hard work and achievement."

Strode student Devon Higgs said: "What a great way to get a qualification. I not only developed my expedition and leadership skills in an amazing and potentially tough environment, I also learnt to ski. Learning to work well in a team and to be confident in my abilities are things that will help me in my future career."

Strode is currently accepting applications for the Uniformed Public Services courses. For more information visit Strode's website: www.strode-college.ac.uk or call 01458 844400.

Apprenticeships can provide employment and training for school leavers, young adults aged 19-25 and adults aged over 25. They are an alternative to full-time study for those who want to get paid for working whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification. Apprenticeships also provide local employers with a means of recruiting and training new staff or developing the skills and expertise of current staff.

Strode offers apprenticeships at various levels in eight subjects, with more courses to be added soon. Currently available are accounting, customer services, engineering, hair and beauty, health and social care, hospitality, retail and sport. Strode works in partnership with national and regional organisations to provide these programmes.

Emma Hubbuck, Chairman of Street Chamber of Commerce said: "Modern apprenticeships are a great way to get work experience backed up by excellent college tuition. I believe Strode's innovative approach will make a real difference in meeting the needs of both local people and businesses with the range of apprenticeships on offer."

Apprenticeships put you ahead in the job market

Hairdressing

If you have ever seen a TV make-over show, you will know that no transformation is complete without a new haircut. And hairdressing is a career that many young people want to follow. A hairdressing apprenticeship with Strode College will give budding stylists the skills and confidence to put them ahead in the job market. They also get to work, earn and learn at the same time.

Elisha Ridewood lives and works in Bridgwater. She joined Strode College's hairdressing course and found an apprenticeship placement with Serenity hairdressing salon. She is employed by Serentiy and attends Strode's Bridgwater training salon one day a week. In July Elisha will complete the second year of her apprenticeship gaining an NVQ level 2 qualification in hairdressing. She has decided to study for another year with Strode to gain level 3.

Elisha was attracted to Strode College because it offers the hairdressing apprenticeship. Positive feedback from other students was confirmed when she met College staff. She said: "I wanted to spend most of my time working and learning in a salon, but I also wanted to gain a qualification. The Strode apprenticeship lets me do this. The College staff are really helpful, and working at the salon has been brilliant for building my confidence and skills".

Nikki Bate, owner of Serenity Hair Salon is a strong advocate of apprenticeships. She says: "For me an apprenticeship is an investment in the future. It's also a chance for me to pass on my 20 years experience which I enjoy doing. At the salon Elisha gets practical work experience and I also help her with her college work when we find time. I encourage apprentices to push themselves as this boosts their confidence and develops their skills - Elisha worked with clients as soon as she joined us. When recruiting staff I will always go for the apprentice as they are much more confident."

Elisha will join all Strode hairdressing students in the annual College hairdressing competition in March. This gives the students the chance to show off their skills and encourages their creativity. Last year over 180 students competed in this exciting and energetic event. This is a good opportunity for anyone considering a Strode College hairdressing apprenticeship to see what can be achieved with the right tuition and support.

Customer Services

Building a good reputation is crucial to the success of any business. Good customer service can make all the difference, particularly in today's competitive economic climate. Careers in customer service are an increasingly popular choice for people of all ages. A customer service apprenticeship with Strode College can give people the skills and confidence to get ahead in the job market. It also gives them the chance to work, earn and learn at the same time.

Matthew Garner lives in Cranmore and works as a customer service apprentice for BSkyB in Shepton Mallet. When Matthew got the job he was put in touch with Strode College which provides training for the BSkyB apprenticeship. Matthew works full-time and attends Strode College once a month; most of his assessment is completed at work. He has completed the first year of his apprenticeship gaining an NVQ level 2 qualification and is about to start training for level 3.

Matthew was considering his options after school. He had applied to Strode College to study A Levels when the apprenticeship was advertised. He said: "I decided I had nothing to lose by applying for the apprenticeship. If I didn't get the job I would have studied for my A Levels. I liked the idea of working and earning, and getting a qualification at the same time was even better. Now I'm in the job I know I've made a good choice. The skills you learn working in customer service help in all aspects of life. In the future I would like to become a police officer and knowing how to deal with people will be a great help in that role."

For more information about Strode College, including how to apply, people can visit the website www.strode-college.ac.uk or call 01458 844400.

Offers from Cambridge have gone to Bryn Dickinson (formerly of St Dunstan's School, Glastonbury) who will be studying Natural Sciences; Rebecca House (formerly of Crispin School, lives in Bridgwater) who will study Geography; and Tom Wilson (formerly of St Dunstan's School, Glastonbury) who will study History of Art.

Offers from Oxford are to Annie Sampson (formerly of Huish Episcopi School, Langport) who will study English and Dan Coysh (formerly of St Dunstan's School, Glastonbury) to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Philippa Piper, Head of A Level Studies said: "A Level students at Strode achieve high academic standards with results above the national average. We support our students applying to a range of universities. Our aim is for those with the ability to get into Oxford or Cambridge to have the best chance of selection. These students are a credit to themselves, their families and former schools as well as the excellent teaching and support we provide at Strode."

Dan Coysh said: "Although applying to Oxbridge was quite a daunting prospect, the guidance from Strode at every stage was a huge help."

Richard Frapwell, Head of Careers and Higher Education Guidance at the College said: "The most important thing is to make sure that every student gets into the university course that best suits them. We arranged visits to Oxford and Cambridge open days for our students. This gave them a real flavour of what the universities were like. By talking to Oxford and Cambridge undergraduates they found that they were not so different from themselves, and this was a great boost to their confidence."

Photo: Strode A Level students (left to right): Dan Coysh, Tom Wilson, Bryn Dickinson, Rebecca House and Annie Sampson.

Dangers of driving

In his hard hitting presentation, PC Graeme Card, Road Safety Education Officer for Avon and Somerset Police, reminded students not to forget the dangers of driving in the excitement of using a car. He told them that half the population of the country has been killed in a car accident since the car was invented, and that car accidents are the biggest killer of 15-24 year olds.

Using films, photographs and stories he reminded students how to avoid becoming a victim or perpetrator of unsafe driving.   Advice given included:

• always wear seatbelts as you will be less likely to be thrown from the car and injured/killed;
• do not use mobile phones whilst driving or to distract the driver;
• stick to speed limits and 'when in town slow down' as there are more pedestrians;
• no amount of drink or drugs is safe as different people have different tolerances.

He asked everyone to challenge inappropriate driving to help save their own and other people's lives.

Don't mess about with guns and knives

The second presentation was about gun and knife crime.  Sgt Manning of Avon and Somerset Police demonstrated weapons that had been used to commit crimes in Somerset and the range of weapons available to police in their fight against crime. A range of realistic toy weapons were also shown.  There were two main messages.

• Don't mess about with toy weapons.
• Do not carry a knife.

Students were told that if they do either of these things, the consequences could be serious and even tragic.

For advice on how to deal with threatening behaviour, students can call Street Police on 0845 4567000. 

James Higgins, A Level student at the College said:  "The presentation gave us information and statistics on knife and gun crime and an inspiring insight to how the police approach and deal with crime situations."