For a number of years, the college has successfully partnered with LIBF to provide a range of Level 2 and Level 3 Certificates and Diploma in Finance qualifications. LIBF provides industry-leading qualifications and training for students aiming for careers in the financial sector.
Muhammad said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my finance course, where I gained invaluable skills and knowledge that have prepared me for the next stage of my career. The supportive environment and engaging curriculum really helped me succeed. Winning a scholarship has been a proud achievement, and I’m now excited to pursue an apprenticeship, where I can build on what I’ve learnt and gain hands-on experience in the field”.
Congratulations Muhammad on your excellent achievement and scholarship!
Fashion teachers from WestKing to lead courses at community fashion hub Poplar Works as part of the Making for Change programme which supports students entering the UK fashion industry.
The Making for Change programme aims to provide students with hands-on fashion manufacturing skills, industry-recognised qualifications and support in finding jobs within the UK fashion manufacturing industry, which is currently experiencing a critical skills shortage.
Making for Change was established with the Ministry of Justice in 2014 and includes a training and production programme at HMP Downview. This programme supports women in the criminal justice system in developing skills and experiences relevant to the fashion industry. The HMP Downview project participants are also given opportunities to work at Poplar Works during or after their custodial sentence.
Poplar Works is a community fashion hub in East London’s Fashion District which provides a space for fashion students, entrepreneurs and local community members to learn, share and create. The hub is home to a specially designed fashion manufacturing and training unit that provides training, accreditation, and job opportunities for the local community. Poplar Works is also home to a thriving garment production team so there is scope for students to find employment once they have completed their training.
As part of the Making for Change programme, students enrolling on Level 1 and Level 2 Fashion and Textiles courses at Poplar Works will also enrol as students at WestKing, where they will benefit from the college’s expert teaching, pastoral support as well as mental health and well-being services. Students will also be offered valuable learning support and career advice.
London College of Fashion manages the Making for Change space at Poplar Works including the production team. They offer students support during their studies through masterclasses and networking events and help them get involved in creative projects that can lead to further education or opportunities for work.
For more information on WestKing’s Making for Change courses at Poplar Works, prospective students can go along to the Information Day at Poplar Works on Tuesday 24th September from 11am to 2pm.
Students from Capital City College Group (CCCG) are celebrating excellent BTEC results across an extensive array of courses and subjects after receiving their results on 15 August. For many of the students, successfully completing their BTEC courses means that they are now able to progress into their chosen career or Higher Education course.
Following a tremendously successful academic year, an impressive 78 out of the Group’s 113 BTEC courses received a 100% pass rate. This included courses from a broad range of subject areas such as:
A further 20 of the Group’s BTEC courses received a high pass rate of 90%-99%, further demonstrating the hard work of both students and teachers in achieving excellent results.
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
Two students in particular, Kanaan Al Shaif and Paule Massacdo Sime from the Access to Computer Science course are looking forward to starting degree courses at the highly competitive Russell Group University, Queen Mary.
Westminster Kingsway College
Students who completed Business courses at Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) were also jumping for joy. Charlie Martin accepted an offer to study Law at the University of Exeter, and Helen Yengil has accepted an offer to study Accounting and Finance at Queen Mary
Gledisa Muca, who completed the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering received extensive support from the college’s Careers and Employability team. Thanks to her strong portfolio of sketches and artwork, she was offered a conditional offer to study Architecture at The University of East London.
A group of four students who have completed Level 3 courses have been accepted for 12-month internships at various Country Clubs in the USA. Three students have been successful in securing month-long internships at the Glenfiddich estate in Scotland, where they will experience hands-on learning covering all aspects of the brand’s work, from making barrels to hosting fine dining hospitality events.
Jayden Stalick is going on to work at the Michelin Star Notting Hill brasserie, Dorian.
Other learners have been successful in gaining positions at esteemed venues such as The House of Commons and Annabel’s, with front-of-house students moving into management training programmes at The Waldorf Hilton and The Cadogan.
City and Islington College
City and Islington College (CANDI) students have also been celebrating success on their BTEC courses and looking forward to their next steps.
Evelyn Carmona Molina completed a Uniformed Protective Services – Level 3 National Extended Diploma and hopes to become a prosecutor. During her course, Evelyn demonstrated her skills as an outstanding advocate and formidable opponent while taking part in workshops delivered by the UCL Centre for Access to Justice, organised as part of the Careers Department Legal Action Programme. Evelyn has received offers to study Law at all the universities she applied to.
Another CANDI student, Ruben Bonomo, will be embarking upon aHigher-Level Apprenticeship in Commercial Risk and Reinsurance Broking with Aon in September. During his time at the college, Ruben took part in three of the college’s flagship career enrichment programmes: Lloyds Junior Scholars, Big Alliance Mentoring and Career Ready. Ruben also attended employability masterclasses, completed a work experience placement at Lloyds Banking Group mentoring programme and a four-week summer internship with SMBC Banking.
Sarah Khatun, an Applied Science – Level 3 Extended Diploma student, received a Distinction and two Merits and is going on to study Biomedical Science at the University of Westminster. Sarah said: “I’m really happy. When I saw the message that I got into uni I was screaming.” She also said: “With BTEC, everyone kind of thinks that it’s lower than A Level but they [the college] made sure to tell you that you will get into uni – they really make you feel comfortable with BTEC.”
Adam Davies-Shahjahan, who completed the Uniformed Protective Services – Level 3 Extended National Diploma, achieved a triple Distinction star and will study International Relations at Goldsmiths before entering the Royal Air Force as an officer. He said: “I would say that it’s been fantastic, especially my lecturers. It’s been very personal, very good. My subject, especially, has been fantastic. Genuinely speaking, I wouldn’t have got these grades without that so thank you to the whole Protective Services Department on that front.”
Speaking on results day, which took place on 15 August, Daniella Plummer, Head of STEM at CANDI said: “I’m really excited for all of our students. I knew they were going to do really well so seeing them queuing up at 8am to come in was just incredible to see. Everyone was extremely happy walking out of here, and if they weren’t they knew what they wanted to do and were prepared for that. We had the careers team on hand to support students with information and advice. Overall, I’m really happy to see that the students are happy.”
Congratulations to all students on your excellent BTEC results!
Overjoyed students across Capital City College celebrate academic achievements on A Level results day.
Students at Capital City College (CCC), which offers the widest choice of A Level subjects in London, celebrate as they achieve a fantastic set of A Level results. This year, 91% of students passed their courses – 54% of students at the Sixth Form College and the King’s Cross Centreachieved A*-C grades; with an impressive 31% who received A*-B grades. In total, 2,280 students at CCC have today received A Level results across 32 subjects.
During the morning, students attended results day events at the Sixth Form College in Angel and King’s Cross Centre from as early as 8am. With many students receiving top grades, there was an atmosphere of excitement and celebration. Also celebrating were several Vocational Technical Course (BTEC) students who received Distinctions for their courses.
Our students are making positive next steps, and it is expected that 80% will move on to Higher Education courses following their successful A Level results, with 72% of Sixth Form College students achieving a place at their first-choice university.
One top student celebrating stellar results was Thamida Khanom, who studied Media, Politics and Economics. Thamida achieved one A* along with two A grades and plans to take a gap year before applying to universities. She said: “I’m so glad I got the grades because I can use it as a safety net to apply to Russel Group unis next year.”
Among this year’s top-performing students was Eva Duru, who achieved an A in Graphic Communication, an A* in Fine Art and a B in Media Studies. Eva hopes to continue studying Graphic Design at university. She said: “I never really liked school, but with college, I never woke up and didn’t want to go. I just really enjoyed it, everyone’s really nice, and the teachers are really nice.”
Other popular subjects which achieved outstanding results include Psychology, with an impressive 93.5% pass rate, and Sociology, which achieved a 94% pass rate and 66% obtaining A*-C grades. Business, Biology, and Maths also had large cohorts, with pass rates of 89%, 82%, and 78% respectively, demonstrating solid performances across these key subjects.
Also celebrating was Kyra Martin, who completed A Levels in Psychology, Sociology and Business Studies. She said: “I got on really well. I got into my first choice uni, Birmingham City University and I’m going to study Psychology with Criminology.” She added, “College has provided me with a lot of support throughout my course, even through teachers that don’t teach me directly.”
A number of BTEC students also celebrated excellent results. Dante Senior, who achieved a triple Distinction in Applied Science – Level 3 Extended Diploma, is progressing to Northeastern University London to study Data Science with a Degree Apprenticeship at British Airways. Dante said: “I’m ecstatic. It’s the best possible outcome. I was hoping this would happen and it happened. […] The teachers are just wonderful and have been supportive throughout both academic years”
Another student celebrating BTEC success is Karina Wick, who achieved a triple Distinction in Uniformed Protective Services – Level 3 Extended National Diploma. Karina is going on to study Criminology and Criminal Psychology at the University of Greenwich and hopes to join The Metropolitan Police Service as a Police Officer in the future. She said: “I’m really happy, honestly, I did not think I was going to get that. I’m really happy that that’s the grade I got because it means I’ve got a very clear path to university.”
Angela Joyce, the Group’s CEO, said: “I am incredibly proud of our students for achieving such outstanding exam results this year. Their dedication and hard work, supported by our exceptional teaching staff, have truly paid off. I wish them all the best in their future plans and look forward to seeing their continued success.”
Dominic Eady, Deputy Head at the Sixth Form College said, “Today is a fantastic celebration of all the hard work of the students and the teachers as well. The students have done exceptionally well with excellent progression to university this year. It’s such a joy to see all the happy faces – we’ve seen dancing, we’ve seen tears of joy, all at the same time”
Congratulations to all our students on their results!
We offer a broad range of A Level courses covering many subjects, taught by an excellent teaching team who lead with knowledge, passion and care. Choose your A Level subjects and Enrol today!
Starting college can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. If you’re wondering what to expect during your first few days at college, we’ve compiled the essential information to help you get off to a flying start.
What happens at the start of college?
In order to start a course with Capital City College Group (CCCG), you’ll need to enrol in person between 22 August and 31 August. You can find out about enrolment at CCCG here.
Your first day at college will vary depending on your college and your course – but all students will have an induction day to help them ease into college life.
During your induction day, you’ll find out more about your college and your course. You’ll also meet your teachers and other students and have some time to become more familiar with your college centre and its facilities. There will also be a range of activities for you to take part in that will help you settle into college life.
Some students prefer to use one notebook for everything, while others use an array of highlighters and colour-coded folders. However you like to organise your studies, make sure you give yourself time to get the equipment you need for your course. Remember that CCCG offers bursaries to support students with costs related to their studies.
What should I wear to college?
This might be the first time in your academic career that you’re not required to wear a specific uniform. It can feel like quite a big change and you may need some help working out what to wear to college. CCCG doesn’t have a dress code and it’s up to you what you wear, so long as it’s appropriate for college and your course.
Dressing for college is a great opportunity to express yourself, but remember to consider how you’ll be spending your day. Try to prioritise comfort and find an outfit that will work for your study environment.
If you’re transitioning from school to college, you’ll notice that there are some big differences in how things work. You’ll be expected to be more independent and take greater responsibility for your learning. This includes planning your study schedule and making sure you get your assignments completed on time.
There won’t be a bell to signal the start and the end of lessons so you’ll need to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. Once you’ve got your timetable, try to find where your lessons will take place so you can find your way there more easily. Also, at college, you’ll call teachers by their first names rather than using their surnames, which might feel strange at first. It’s all part of being part of a Further Education environment and having the opportunity to learn and grow with a broader range of educators.
You might be joining a college with a bunch of classmates from school, or you may be branching out and flying solo. Either way, starting at a new college is a great opportunity to meet new friends – so make time to get to know the people around you. Whether it’s walking to the bus stop together or getting together to work on an assignment, investing time and energy in new connections is a great way to make the most of your college experience.
Explore your new surroundings
Take some time in your first few days to explore your new college centre and make sure you know where your classrooms or relevant study facilities are. Our colleges have a range of centres, each offering students a different learning environment. You can go for a wander and explore the college with people from your course or ask existing students and teachers for help.
As you explore, make a mental note of places where you can:
Get support with your studies or wellbeing
Sit and study quietly or chat with friends
Relax and decompress
Grab a snack and a drink
Don’t feel pressured to know where everything is right away, there’s plenty of time to find your way around – and you’ll be surprised how quickly your new college starts to feel more familiar.
Join a club, society or sports team
Taking part in extracurricular activities can help you connect with your college community in meaningful ways. Joining clubs, societies or sports teams can boost your skills and bring about new friendships.
At CCCG, the list of clubs and societies on offer across the three colleges includes anime, arts and crafts, board games, circus skills, debating, Duke of Edinburgh awards, dungeons and dragons, sociology in action, street dance, student-led podcasts or newspapers and many more.
Each college also has a range of friendly and inclusive teams allowing students to take part in sports such as athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, Esports, football, FUTSAL, netball, table tennis and volleyball.
Whether you stick to what you know or branch out with exciting new activities, try not to take on too much at once and pick a few things that you can really enjoy.
Take care of yourself
Embarking on a new course in a new environment can be tiring. You may also be socialising more and your days might be longer than they used to be. Amid all the excitement of new beginnings, it can be easy to forget the essentials.
Remember to:
Eat and drink well to keep your body healthy.
Get plenty of sleep and rest so that you can keep your energy levels up.
Keep moving and do whatever exercise you enjoy.
Make time for self-care and remember to disconnect from social media when you need to relax.
Whether you’re transitioning from GCSEs to A Levels or beginning a course in a brand new subject area, starting at a new college can be a great experience! We hope you enjoy this new adventure and, if there’s anything you need to know, don’t be afraid to ask our friendly college support staff or your teachers. You can also get in touch with the relevant teams using our comprehensive college contacts page.
We can’t stop you from worrying about your A Level results, but we can offer some practical tips and help you get ready for the big day.
You’ve finished your exams and enjoyed your summer, but there’s still one big event on the horizon – A Level results day. Time can appear to stand still when you’re waiting for results and the whole thing can feel confusing and overwhelming.
One way of managing the stress and anxiety around exam results is to make sure you know how things work and what you can expect on the day. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you navigate A Level results day.
When is A Level results day?
This year, A Level results day in England, Northern Ireland and Wales is on Thursday 15 August.
How can I prepare for A Level results day?
One way to manage your stress ahead of results day is to focus on the things that you can control rather than the things you can’t.
If you think you might have done better than expected or missed your grade offer, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the Clearing process and seeing if any courses appeal to you. Clearing is a system that allows universities to fill empty places on their courses and is open from 5 July to 21 October.
The night before results day, get yourself ready to roll with a checklist of practical actions. This will help your A Level results day go a little more smoothly.
Get a good night’s sleep – Easier said than done but worth a shot!
Have your UCAS login details handy – This will enable you to see what’s happening with your university applications
Charge your phone – You may need to phone friends and family or call universities to discuss your offers.
Get your contacts ready – Get ahead by making a list of important numbers that you might need on the day such as university admission departments.
Pack some healthy snacks – Chances are, you’ll be too nervous to eat much before you get your results so pack something to eat once the adrenalin has subsided. It’ll keep you going through the rest of the day.
What happens on A Level results day?
You can collect your results anytime from 8am at your school or college. Each school or college’s opening and closing times will vary so be sure to check them before you leave the house.
Capital City College Group (CCCG) A Level students will be able to collect their results from:
For CCCG students, exam results can be accessed online from 8am by signing in to MyCollege. Exam results will also be emailed to all student’s college email addresses by 12pm on results day. If you’re a CCCG student, you can find more information about exam results day here.
If you can’t collect your results in person, make sure that you let your school or college know in advance. You can then arrange for someone to go in and get them on your behalf.
What to expect on A Level results day
Your school or college will be open from 8am. You’ll go into the designated exam results room or area and they’ll have an envelope waiting for you. It’s up to you whether you open it there or take it home.
Some people like to celebrate with classmates and get support from teachers and staff while others prefer the privacy of their own space. Wherever you open your results, it’s a good idea to have someone with you who can help and support you whatever the news. Remember that you don’t have to share your results with anyone and it’s okay if you want to keep them to yourself.
What information will I see on UCAS Hub?
If you’ve applied to university through UCAS, your results will be sent to your firm and insurance choice universities. Any decisions relating to your results should appear on UCAS Hub on results day. It’s important to note that your actual A Level results and grades won’t appear in UCAS Hub.
You might see these changes to your offers on UCAS Hub:
Unconditional – this means your place on the course has been confirmed by the university (this could be either your firm offer or insurance offer – or both).
Unsuccessful – this means that you haven’t been accepted by your firm or insurance choice and can enter Clearing.
Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) – this means that you missed the grades for your offer but the university has an alternative course that requires different grades. They may also be offering an alternative start date. If you see UCC on UCAS Hub, you’ve got 5 days to talk to the university before you make up your mind about the alternative they’ve offered.
What to do if I’ve met my offer?
If you have a conditional offer from a university and have achieved the grades you need, the offer will change to unconditional. Then, either UCAS or the university will let you know what you need to do next.
What do I do if I’ve missed my offer?
It can be devastating to open up your results and not find the grades you’d hoped for. It’s okay to feel the weight of that disappointment and be upset. Give yourself a moment to let it all sink in and get comfort from someone you trust. Young Minds has some great advice on dealing with disappointment on results day.
Once you’ve had a chance to process the news, remember that nothing ends here.
If you haven’t got the exact grades you need, there’s still a chance that your firm or insurance offer will accept you. Check UCAS Hub first to see whether a decision has been made.
If you’ve missed out on the grade you needed by a narrow margin or plan to appeal any grades, you should talk to the admissions department at your chosen university. They may still be able to offer you a place.
Appeals
If you don’t think your marks reflect your performance during the course or the exams, you can request a review of the marking or moderation. You should do this by asking your school or college to start the appeals process as soon as possible. Remember that if you appeal, your grade may stay the same, go up or go down.
Make sure you let your chosen university know if you’re planning to appeal as they may be able to keep your place until the appeals process is complete.
If the results have been reviewed and you’re still not happy with the decisions, you can make an appeal directly to the exam board. They’ll ask you to explain why you think the results were incorrect. After they’ve had time to review the results, they’ll send you a final report. If you’re unhappy with the exam board’s report, your final course of action is to make a complaint to Ofqual.
If your appeal is successful, you may be offered your original place or a place on a similar course. The university may also give you the option to defer your place until the following year.
Clearing
If it’s clear that you’re unable to go with your firm or insurance choices, then it may be time to think about Clearing. Clearing allows you to search for courses across the UK that still have spaces and there’s usually a wide range of universities and courses on offer. You’ll also be able to view courses that match your profile on UCAS Hub through their Clearing matches facility.
If you’d like to have another go at your exams and improve your grades, you can look into taking A Level resits at a college. You’ll probably need to delay university entry for a year until you receive your new results.
If you’ve realised that you need a break from university applications and studying, then there’s also the option of taking a gap year where you’ll have time to think about your options.
What if I’ve done better than expected?
If you’ve surpassed your grade offer, you’ll undoubtedly be delighted. Many people stick with their firm choice, but if you’d like to apply for a different course with higher grade requirements, you can do this using the UCAS clearing service. This will mean declining your firm offer and going through the Clearing process.
A Level results day is a momentous event for all A Level students. Whether you’re celebrating the next phase of your academic life or dealing with a change in plans – remember to be kind to yourself. You’ve made it through two years of study and some challenging exams, so congratulate yourself for getting to this point and try to enjoy it!
We wish all our A Level students the best of luck for A Level results day!
Step into Dance is an inclusive dance programme run by the Royal Academy of Dance in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation. The initiative enables young people to develop their skills and passion while deepening their understanding of dance. The programme engages around 3000 students across the UK each year through its inclusive schedule of classes, workshops and performances.
The CANDI dancers joined around 200 students from across London and Essex on the Britten Theatre Stage at the Royal College of Music at the Step Live 2024 event. During the event, they showcased the skills and dance routines that they had learnt as part of the Step Into Dance programme. The recital included a wide range of dance styles such as jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, commercials and afro-fusion
Gemma Juma, Jack Petchey Foundation’s CEO, said: “Dance supports the physical and mental well-being of young people, and that’s why the programme meant a lot to Sir Jack Petchey CBE. The young performers have worked so hard over the year and have delivered a show-stopping spectacle of youth talent – they should be proud of their achievements!”
Alex Lowe, Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance said: “It was a delight to witness the diverse range of dances and talent showcased by each of the schools. This event truly highlighted the transformative power of dance.”
Lucy Pinho-Kadlec, who is studying Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma, said: “I loved it. It was so inspiring to see so much diversity. Everyone had their own story to tell, and to be a part of that was such a mesmerising experience. I felt alive.”
Facilities Management Level 4 Apprenticeship student Lewis Wingate tells us about his experience of completing the course.
Lewis Wingate, Site Manager at Patcham High School in Brighton, recently completed the 2-year Facilities Management – Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship with Capital City College Group’s (CCCG) training arm, Capital City College Training (CCCT), and was awarded a Distinction overall. He talked us through his experience of doing a fully remote course while working full-time.
What led you to do an Apprenticeship?
I’ve been working at Patcham High School for about 10 years. During my annual appraisal a couple of years ago, we looked at ways to enhance my skills and knowledge. Our school is currently one of three large secondary schools in the area managed under a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contract which comes to an end in 2027. This means that some of the management services are taken on by a maintenance company, while others remain the school’s responsibility. I currently manage soft services such as cleaning, site teams, access and security. I started the Apprenticeship Training so that I’d be in a good position to move forward and potentially manage more in-house when the PFI contract ends.
Why did you choose CCCG?
My school pays into a training levy through the local authority, and from there training funds are allocated to members of staff. I was enrolled by Brighton City Council through their Apprenticeship scheme and they chose Capital City College Group as the training provider.
How did you find doing a fully remote Apprenticeship?
The whole course has been online and it’s been really beneficial for me. Travelling from Brighton up to London would have been really time-consuming.
At the beginning of the course, I was a little nervous as I only currently manage soft services on a school site, which was different to many of the other students in my cohort – but I can honestly say that I have learnt so much and gained more skills and knowledge than I imagined.
It was good to meet other people doing similar roles from completely different sectors and environments and share their experiences and knowledge. Lots of the other students were from private companies looking after office buildings or rail networks and so forth.
How did your cohort support each other?
I felt that we were able to share our varied experiences in a way that was really beneficial. I got to talk to other members of the cohort who were more experienced than me or had dealt with a range of situations in other job roles with different responsibilities.
In particular, our cohort supported each other during the End Point Assessment (EPA) part of the course, which included a project, a presentation and a professional discussion. We were encouraged to practice in front of each other and get feedback. Before my final presentation, I managed to watch a couple of other people’s presentations and hear the feedback they’d received from the tutors.
After my presentation, I spoke to another person in my cohort who’d already done their final professional discussion and presentation with the examining body. We had a conversation about the kind of questions they asked and the feedback they gave – so it was really good to have that kind of connection with the other learners.
What did you like best about the course?
I liked the structure and the way the course was set out over the two years. We’d have an online session with our tutor, Rod, on a specific subject. It was always quite interactive and we’d go into breakout rooms and have the chance to speak to other course members in smaller group discussions. I liked that we weren’t just looking at the screen and listening.
Another thing I liked was the regular reviews we had with our tutor, which took place every couple of weeks. They really helped me focus on where I should be, and what I should be doing and Rod was particularly good at making sure we met at regular intervals. It meant I could ask questions about any of the assignments or projects that we were doing, and towards the end of the course, I was able to get advice on planning my presentation and preparing for the professional discussion.
What would you say to anyone considering an Apprenticeship?
I would say, “Go for it!”. When I started my course, I was in my late 30s. I thought Apprenticeships were for younger people but you’re never too old to learn new skills.
My cohort was aged from around 25 to 45. To do this Level 4 qualification you’ll need some experience in Facilities Management or a Level 2 or Level 3 Facilities Management qualification. It helps to be on the job because you have to do quite a lot of research into the projects and you need to be able to find information and speak to people.
The course has given me extra knowledge and confidence in dealing with different challenges – and I’m so pleased with the final outcome.
What practical advice would you give to someone embarking upon this type of Apprenticeship?
It’s really important to keep on top of projects and assignments and do them as they come in. You normally have a 2-hour online seminar and then your tutor will go through your assignment and give you notes about what to include. Then, you get six to eight weeks to complete each project or assignment which is focused on one specific area such as financial management or asset planning.
I did get a little bit behind at one stage and I ended up trying to do two or three at the same time, and I found that really difficult. In total, there were eight projects and eight assignments, and you can’t get to the EPA stage unless you’ve passed them all and your time log is up to date.
The time log keeps track of what you’ve been doing. With this Apprenticeship, you’re expected to do eight hours of studying a week. I’d advise anyone doing the course to make sure that you list exactly what you’re doing on a weekly basis. If you leave it for a few weeks and have to go back and fill it in, it can be quite challenging to go back through your calendar and work out what you’ve done.
How did you find the final assessment?
You’ve got 18 months to do the projects and assignments, and then you spend the last six months getting ready for your EPA, which includes a final report, a prepared presentation and a professional discussion with an assessor and a facilities management expert.
I’d practiced the presentation a few times and got some feedback so I was pretty happy going into that. The professional discussion is quite relaxed but also quite intense because they ask you lots of questions over the course of an hour. It was a bit daunting but I felt that the two people in my assessment were trying to get the best results out of me. They’d rephrase the questions if I didn’t fully understand them which was helpful.
I’ve learned so much over the course and I’m really happy with my grading. I got a Merit for the final project and Distinctions for the presentation and discussion, meaning that I got a Distinction overall.
What does this qualification mean to you?
I’ve got quite a varied background and am a trained plumber with experience in leisure and schools. I did an NVQ in Management about 20 years ago, so I see this formal qualification as a stepping stone to move forward in my career.
Over the two years, I had some ups and downs with operational issues at work. There are times when we’ve been short-staffed, and I’ve had other commitments like jury service in addition to balancing life with a young family. For me, it has been really beneficial to get this qualification.
What’s next for you now that you’ve completed your course?
I went on holiday the day after my EPA in May, so I’ve had a chance to relax before the next thing. We’ve got lots of projects at work starting over the summer so I’m currently finalising various things for those. With the end of the PFI contract in 2027, there will probably be scope for operational roles with regard to managing more services within the school or the local authority. Hopefully, there will be opportunities for progression within those routes.
One of the really good things about this qualification is that it’s not based around one industry. Now that I’ve become an IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) member and established my professional grade with them, I can take my qualifications into any Facilities Management job. If I move to a different sector, the skills and qualifications from this Apprenticeship will be very useful and relevant.
The knowledge and experience that has come from other people on my course have been great. It’s been difficult at times, but once you get to the end of it and you get your final grade, it’s 100% worth it.
“I can honestly say that I have learnt so much and gained more skills and knowledge than I imagined.”
Teaching and support team members from across the college group attend a festival at CONEL to celebrate the One Thing initiative.
Colleagues from Capital City College Group (CCCG) gathered to take part in the One Thing festival, celebrating their achievements and learning.
CCCG’s One Thing initiative was introduced as part of the college group’s Teaching, Learning and Assessment Development Policy in 2021. Since then, over 600 staff members have worked together to take ownership of their career development by focusing on one area of their work that they would like to improve. This is supported by coaching from colleagues known as Expert Practitioners (EPs).
This year’s One Thing festival took place on 5 July at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London’s (CONEL) Tottenham Centre. During the event, Expert Practitioners, Teachers and Assessors shared experiences and examples of good practice from the academic year that related to their One Thing. They detailed how their learning and experiences have impacted their practice and the effect this has had on learner outcomes.
The event provided CCCG colleagues with lots of opportunities to ask questions, share ideas and spend time reflecting on their One Thing. They were also able to learn about becoming an Expert Practitioner for the coming academic year.
During the event, there was also an awards ceremony to recognise individual colleagues and teams. The awards ceremony included accolades for:
High Performing Teachers/Assessors
High Performing Team of the Year
High Performing Support Staff
Most Innovative Use of Technology in Education
Most Proactive Teacher/Assessor in Sharing Good Practice
Long Service
The awards were presented by CCCG Group Principal, Jackie Chapman and the Assistant Principals.
Congratulations to all colleagues across the college group for working on their One Thing!
Learn more about the wide range of courses delivered by our dedicated and highly knowledgeable teachers, lecturers and support team members.
Reza Orak, a Maths Specialist at CONEL receives an award for Recognised Excellence in Mentoring in Initial Teacher Education at Canterbury Christ Church University’s Mentor Awards.
Reza Orak, a Lecturer in Functional Skills – Maths within CONEL’s Health Care and Early Years department, received an award for Recognised Excellence in Mentoring in Initial Teacher Education at Canterbury Christ Church University’s Mentor Awards 2024.
The event, which took place on 11 July, was held at Canterbury Christ Church University where Reza attended along with his colleagues. Reza was nominated for the award because of his contribution to CONEL’s Teacher Education mentoring scheme. The award recognises his positive approach and supportive nature which has had a positive impact on those under his guidance.
Reza has mentored trainee teachers for around eight years, with most of his mentees securing a position at the end of the training period. He participates in regular Continuing Professional Development sessions organised by Canterbury Christ Church University and has demonstrated a commitment to developing his mentoring skills to better support trainee teachers.
Reza said: “It has been a privilege. I studied at CONEL, trained at CONEL and now teach at CONEL. Now I want to develop and help teachers to flourish and teach.”
David Bryan, a Health and Social Care Lecturer at CONEL, said: “The award could not have gone to a more deserving colleague who truly represents the college values. He demonstrated excellent mentoring and bringing much-needed people into FE teaching.”
Congratulations to Reza and the CONEL Teacher Education team on this great award!
