December 2021 - Capital City College Group
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A Level Physics students reach for the stars in UK Space Design Competition

A Level Physics students from City and Islington College are over the moon after reaching the national finals of the UK Space Design Competition.

Ten students from the college’s Sixth Form Centre were part of a team including other schools and colleges that won the London and South East regional heat of the competition.

Each team was placed in a fictional space technology company created by the competition’s organisers from the Space Science and Engineering Foundation.

The CANDI students were in a company called Earhart Advanced Industries and tasked with designing a spaceship to take 1,000 people to and from Mars.

The team worked together online because of the COVID pandemic to develop their design and then presented it to a panel of academic and industry experts.

The challenge aims to simulate real-life industry working and tests students’ knowledge and expertise in science, engineering, design and business.

‘My time at CANDI has exceeded my expectations. I feel supported and valued. The education I am getting here is to a standard which I wouldn’t have imagined. It’s much better than I thought it would be.’ – Rayhan Miah, A Level Physics student

Physics student Rayhan Miah, 17, said: “We all worked very hard. It was a highly intensive situation, but I feel with the amount of effort and teamwork we put in, particularly towards the end, our win was definitely well-deserved.

“I was part of the structural team, which involved creating the main design of the spaceship, making sure I knew the dimensions, how to build it and that it maintained artificial gravity. It was quite a hectic and sometimes stressful experience with a lot of on-the-spot thinking, but I know now that if I have that sort of task in the future, I have the skills and ability to dedicate myself to something this challenging with good results too. I was proud of what we accomplished.”

Rayhan, who hopes to work in aerospace engineering or astrophysics, added: “My time at CANDI has exceeded my expectations. I feel supported and valued. The education I am getting here is to a standard which I wouldn’t have imagined. It’s much better than I thought it would be.

“Doing this competition has made me more motivated to go into this area as a career. These types of opportunities open your eyes and give you the opportunity to see where your skills can apply in the future.”

‘The unique opportunities like this that CANDI provides set it apart from other colleges. It’s the reason I applied to come here. You won’t get this kind of experience anywhere else.’ – Ansa Sajid, A Level Physics student

Another student, Ansa Sajid, 17, said: “I’m very happy. I didn’t think we would win, but we did and we’re very proud of ourselves. I love creating solutions to problems, and working with other people

who share similar interests was really good fun and rewarding. It was one of the best things I‘ve done.

“The competition was completely online so communication was difficult, but everyone worked together and came up with lots of ideas and built on them. It was hard to make something that can power an entire ship that doesn’t cost a huge amount of money. We also had to consider the human side of being on a ship for that long. As we got into it, we realised the need to keep them happy and healthy was just as important as the science.”

Ansa, who hopes to study mechanical engineering at university, added: “I went to an all-girls school with a heavy focus on STEM and feminism that really encouraged us to get into these careers. Doing the competition has made me even more passionate about what I want to do.

“The unique opportunities like this that CANDI provides set it apart from other colleges. It’s the reason I applied to come here. You won’t get this kind of experience anywhere else.”

The national finals are expected to take place at Imperial College London in March, with the winners heading to the world finals at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida the summer.

Physics teacher Sajib Al-Rashid said: “The UK Space Design Competition is a fantastic opportunity for students to work collaboratively and use their creativity to come up with solutions.

“The multi-disciplinary nature of the competition means you need people with a variety of interests, from the technical aspects of designing a space settlement to the human aspect of meeting the needs of people.

“Our students worked tirelessly from the start of the day until the final presentations and announcement of the winners. I am thrilled that they have won this round of the competition and will be going to the national finals early next year.”

Apply now for A Level courses.

Students build up their knowledge with the Royal Institute of British Architects

Students from City and Islington College gained a firm foundation in architecture and town planning when they visited the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Eighteen A Level and Engineering diploma students discovered more about historic and modern design at the institute’s head office in Portland Place, Marylebone.

They attended an exhibition to mark the centenary of the Becontree Estate in Dagenham, heard about its history and looked at how the estate had changed over the years.

The students then discussed contemporary housing and planning issues and created 3D paper houses and a new neighbourhood to meet the needs of new residents.

A Level student Clarissa Alie, 18, said: “I’ve been interested in architecture for a while and I’m hoping to study it at university. I’ve travelled quite a bit in my life and like to see architectural designs in different places. I like the idea of doing something creative that can enhance a community and the environment.

“The trip focused on analysing building schemes, seeing what can be improved about them and communities and what different places need. We made little houses out of paper and planned out an area that was appropriate for the people that would be living there and the things they would need, such as schools, shops and parks.

“We also looked at an exhibition on the Becontree Estate and they explained things we’d pointed out to them. They also told us about courses and the various jobs you can do in architecture. It was very informative and insightful.”

CANDI is looking to become part of RIBA’s Architecture Ambassador initiative, which pairs architecture professionals with teachers to run workshops in schools and colleges to inspire children and young people to learn and share their views on the built environment.

Bryony Abbott, Schools Programme Co-ordinator at RIBA, said: “It was a pleasure to have City and Islington College to visit the RIBA’s headquarters. It was lovely to see the breadth of built environment careers students were interested in pursuing, and to see how engaged they were in learning more.

“The students took well to the interactivity of the session. They thought critically about how our built environment is designed and developed, and were fully engaged in the process of drawing and model making.

“We look forward to working with City and Islington students again in the near future.”

Britain needs to build more homes, and engineers play a very important role in any housing or commercial development, including understanding the structural and mechanical aspects of the development before work stats and during construction.

Start your journey to a career in this exciting and growing sector, by applying now for our A Level and Engineering courses.

Students’ music show brings festive cheer and presents to disadvantaged children

Big-hearted students put on a music concert to raise funds and donated presents to bring some festive cheer to disadvantaged children this Christmas.

Students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) organised the show to support The TOY Project and encouraged staff and students to donate toys.

The TOY Project recycles unwanted toys for children in the UK, India, Africa and the Caribbean, and also runs Lego, art and storytelling workshops.

The Islington-based charity was co-founded by Angela Malloch, the wife of former Neighbours star and 1980s pop icon Jason Donovan who is the charity’s patron.

Most of the songs were performed by students completing Music Performance and Production Diplomas at Level 1 and Level 2 at the college’s Tottenham Centre.

Silvia Bortolotti, 25, opened the concert with a cover of Amy Winehouse’s hit Valerie.

Lheyla Esono Engo, 18, and Emil Vasilev, 20, sang a duet of James Smith’s Tell Me That You Love Me, and Sarah Delobette, 19, performed Jess Glynne’s cover of seasonal soul classic This Christmas.

There was also a DJ set by Ramon Pazos, 47, a poem read by Hairdressing student Blessing Anyaegbunam, 28, and a performance by guest singer Maalik Robinson.

There were also performances by Isabel Palma Gomes, 17, and Cathleen Farrell, 38, which included the Christmas carol O Holy Night.

Cathleen said: “Children all around the world are directly affected by social and economic issues and circumstances that bring about poverty. Sadly, many experience a Christmas each year without the gifts and toys that bring us all joy in the festive season.

“We hope that by putting on this concert and making donations to The TOY Project many of them will have a happier Christmas.”

The concert’s finale featured all the singers performing Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano’s 1970 festive hit Feliz Navidad.

The TOY Project helps children in schools, nurseries, hospitals and hospices, those in care or with complex needs, migrants and refugees as well as homeless and other underprivileged families.

Jane Garfield, who founded the charity with Angela in 2013, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in this fabulous concert raising funds and donating toys to those most in need this Christmas.

“After such difficult times more families than ever are struggling to provide for their children, and being able to give toys to the children lifts the worry and stress over the festive period.

“We are so grateful to have been part of your celebration of music and wish everyone a very merry Christmas.”

Sharon Wallace, Curriculum Manager for Creative Media and Music, said: “It was wonderful seeing and hearing our talented students perform for such a good cause to make Christmas that extra bit special for so many children.”

Apply now for Music Production and Performance courses.

Performing Arts students ‘achieve greatness’ in production of Twelfth Night

Aspiring actors from Westminster Kingsway College took to the stage when they starred in Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night.

Two casts of Performing Arts students performed abridged and pantomime versions of the Bard’s work at the college’s theatre at its King’s Cross Centre from 7-8 December.

Twelfth Night tells the story of twins, Viola and Sebastian, who are separated after a shipwreck. Viola, disguised as a page boy, falls in love with Duke Orsino. However, Duke Orsino is in love with Countess Olivia who in turn, falls for Viola thinking she is a man.

Zaris-Angel Hator, 17, who played Viola, said: “I’d never read the play before, so I’ve had to explore it and understand Shakespeare and the language. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been really fun to do.

“Viola’s quite reserved and wants to do the right thing but has a crush on her master who is in love with Countess Olivia. We’ve all had crushes and trying to get them to fancy you when they like somebody else. I’ve been through that and I used it to develop her character. I also worked with my teacher on my voice to get make myself less feminine. It was quite challenging because the audience needs to know it’s still Viola but she’s also playing someone else.”

Shakira Yearwood-Hines, 18, who played Duke Orsino, said: “Orsino is in love with Countess Olivia and really wears his heart on his sleeve. I tried to be really manly and pick up on the little things he does. I actually enjoyed playing a man, I’m a bit of a tomboy and the females in Shakespeare are just too dainty.

“I loved doing the play. It meant stepping out of my comfort zone. I mainly sing and dance, and acting isn’t something I would never normally have tried. It was difficult at first, but my teacher has helped me come along way and given me more confidence.”

“I love the creative process of starting with nothing and building your character, and each time you add something you reveal more about them. I love that you can change an audience’s perspective or way of thinking, or if they are having a hard day you can make them smile.”

The play was directed by Performing Arts lecturer Rob Alexander who will be leaving WestKing this academic year after nearly two decades at the college.

His former students include actors Jumayn Hunter, Tobi King Bakare, Francis Lovehall, Romario Simpson, Babyre Bukilwa and comedians Babatúndé Aléshé and Jamali Maddix.

Rob said: “This was the first full production the students have put on in two years because of the pandemic. They all worked incredibly hard on what were quite complex scripts and deserved all the plaudits they received.

“I’ve had a fantastic 19 years at WestKing. We’ve worked with professional companies, put on some fantastic productions and taught some very talented students. I’m not aware any other FE college has the same number of alumni we have working as actors or in music or comedy.

“To quote Twelfth Night, ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.’ I hope in some small way I have helped each of my students be the greatest they can be.

“I will miss WestKing enormously, but as they say the show must go on.” Apply now for Performing Arts courses.

Apply now for Performing Arts courses.

Queen's Award for Enterprise