CELEBRATEThe termly magazine of Richmond upon Thames College Issue 4 – 2014

In this issue...Outstanding results, page 3Student Awards Evening, page 4Naples trip, page 6

ATaste of

Eel PieHistoric mural

recreated, page 2

A taste of Eel Pie

2 CELEBRATE Issue 4 – 2014

CoverStory

t: 020 8607 8000 w: rutc.ac.uk 3

In September, a mural once found in Twickenham’s historic Eel Pie Island Hotel was recreated by Richmond upon Thames College art student, Sarah Blackwell, for an exhibition celebrating the island’s unique place in music history.

Sarah (pictured), currently studying an art & design foundation diploma at the College, created the acrylic-based mural as part of the ‘Eelpiland’ exhibition at The Stables Gallery in Twickenham, after the exhibition’s organisers approached the College looking for a talented young artist to help with the project.

Using an old black and white photo of the original mural as her guide, Sarah recreated the jazz band piece over a three-week period, working on the island itself before the mural was unveiled across the river at Orleans House for the exhibition’s launch.

“It was an amazing experience working on the island with so many other talented artists and a privilege to be involved in such a culturally significant exhibition,” said Sarah. “I’m really pleased with the end result and will be forever grateful that I’ve had my own personal taste of the magic of Eel Pie Island.”

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Eel Pie Island Hotel gained fame as both a top jazz and rhythm and blues venue and was visited by a host of music legends including John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton.

The hotel was demolished by fire in 1971 but its history remains preserved in the stories, poems and songs of the old islanders and the musicians who played there.

‘Eelpiland – The Birth of Rhythm and Blues’ ran at The Stables Gallery, Orleans House, throughout August and September 2013.

A much-cherished part of Twickenham’s rich cultural history was brought back to life at the start of the autumn term, thanks to talented art & design student, Sarah Blackwell.

More outstanding results!In August, A level results at Richmond upon Thames College were a cause for great celebration for both students and staff. The overall pass rate was 96% with 64% of students gaining A*-C grades. 25 subjects examined achieved a 100% pass rate across the Arts, Media, Humanities, Languages, Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences.

The results for those students who came to the College with at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C with an average of B or better, were hugely impressive with a pass rate of 98.3% and an A*-B rate of 63.2%, with an A*/A pass rate of 30.6% - well above the national average of 26.3%.

Local students were amongst those who swept the board in gaining A*/A grades in three or four subjects. Of those who had previously attended schools in the borough of Richmond - 12 students gained three or more A*/A grades in their chosen subjects and 43% of borough students achieved A*-B grades.

Results for the BTEC level 3 diplomas were also excellent,

Road safety tour debuts at CollegeOn Monday 18 November, TV presenter Sophie Morgan was at Richmond upon Thames College to launch her new road safety tour - Licence to Kill. The tour, based on Sophie’s BBC Three documentary of the same name, aims to educate young people across Britain on the dangers of driving as well as providing an immediate solution via free educational software, Drive iQ.

Sophie, who was paralysed in a car crash aged 18, gave a powerful talk to over 100 students on the realities facing young drivers today such as distractions from lively passengers, ignoring the speed limit and not paying attention to the road. The tour incorporated hard-hitting footage from Sophie’s documentary, as well as a live demonstration of Drive iQ’s virtual environment road safety software.

with the Extended Diploma (equivalent to 3 A levels) achieving over 90% pass rate with 20% of students gaining distinctions in all three of the final grades which is equivalent to 3 A levels at grade A or above.

Catherine Sweet Former A level student (2005-07)Catherine came to the College from Fulham Cross School to study A levels in English, media studies, theatre studies and Spanish. She went on to study Media & Culture at the University of Roehampton, graduating with a first class honours degree. She now works as a Communications Advisor for Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP).

“I originally chose to study at Richmond upon Thames College due to the excellent amount of A levels on offer. The quality of the teaching in all my subjects was outstanding and the guidance and advice we received was fantastic. It was thanks to my media studies lecturers that I began thinking of a career in communications as the lessons were so enjoyable

and really well structured. By the time I left to study media and culture at the University of Roehampton, I already had a good understanding of my subject, making the transition to higher education feel much smoother.

“After graduating from university, I worked in a Marketing Assistant role at the London Wetland Centre before joining RHP as a Communications Advisor in July 2011. My role is to help manage the press portfolio and includes writing press releases, finding PR opportunities, producing quarterly magazines and updating the social media channels. It’s a really great place to work.

“Without a doubt, it’s thanks to Richmond College that I am where I am today. It helped shape me both personally and academically, plus I met some of my best friends there. I look back on my time as a Richmond upon Thames College student with real fondness and will always be grateful to my lecturers for setting me on the right career path.”

Former students tell us how studying at Richmond upon Thames College helped shape their future.

It’s your future...

Sophie Morgan and Drive iQ’s Emma Gardner

“It was an amazing experience working on the island with so many other talented artists.”

t: 020 8607 8000 w: rutc.ac.uk 5

(L-R) Athlete Nigel Levine and music student Steven Giles

(L-R) Emma Ling and Iona Duncan

4 CELEBRATE Issue 4 – 2014

Richmond Youth Council

For the eighth year running, Richmond upon Thames College has delivered impressive results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a pattern it has maintained since introducing the course in 2004. During that period, the College has consistently been recognised as a leading provider in the state sector.

In 2013 the overall pass mark was 83% compared to a global average of 78%, and 15 of the 26 main subjects taught on the programme achieved a higher average score than the global equivalent.

This year’s cohort of 58 students gained an average pass mark of 31.15 out of a maximum of 45 points, compared to the global average of 29.81 points. A mark of 31 points corresponds to 413 UCAS tariff points which is equivalent to over 3 A levels at grade A. 19% of the students achieved between 38 and 43 points which is equivalent to over 4 A levels at grade A*.

By achieving such excellent results, a high proportion of the 2013 candidates secured their first choice degrees and gained places at Russell Group universities including Cambridge, King’s College London,Warwick, Edinburgh, York and Leeds.

Student spotlightRuTC students tell us something we don’t know!

Name: Mahan JahromiA level student, basketball fan and member of the Student Union.You’re the SU’s Education Officer, what’s that like?

“It’s actually pretty cool. I get to help students with problems they’re having on their course and hopefully make a difference for the better. The SU is a great thing to be a part of.”

Didn’t you host the Black History Month talent show?

“Yes, that was me! The SU helped to organise the event and I volunteered to MC it. I’m quite laid back and the audience were good fun so it didn’t feel too scary!”What’s your favourite sport?“Basketball. I play point guard for the college team and for the Hampton Jaguars. I love watching the NBA and am a big LA Clippers fan.”Did you dream of being a basketball player as a kid?“I only started playing in year nine so didn’t think about it when I was younger. I did want to be Spider-Man though!”

Obviously! So what will you do after your A levels?“I plan to study maths at university.”

Finally, what music are you currently listening to?

“I really like old-school music like LL Cool J, the Wu-Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest. Any classic hip-hop is good to me.”

Science students visit NPLOn Wednesday 4 December, first year BTEC science students visited the National Physical Laboratory as part of a coursework assignment in which they compared specialist and non-specialist laboratories.

The trip saw the students meet some of the NPL’s top scientists, and receive inspiring presentations on advances in tumour removals as well as demonstrations of the dramatic effects of liquid nitrogen. As part of the day, the group also toured some of the NPL’s industry leading facilities including the mass measurement laboratory, where they got to hold a rare and expensive copy of the UK National Standard Kilogram.

Excellent IB results

Art and Design student Michael Evans was celebrating in December after winning the annual College Christmas card competition.

His snowman design was chosen by a panel of judges as the stand-out submission ahead of over 20 other fantastic entries, and was used by senior management and staff as the official College Christmas card for 2013.

“It’s nice to know it was appreciated by the judges and I’m proud to know that my card was sent to over 500 people at Christmas!” said Michael, formerly of Isleworth & Syon School for Boys.

RuTC students Aleksandra Martin, Adam Meeajan and Aidan West were highly commended for their entries.

Christmas card winner

Heather is tumbling champIn November, A level student Heather Cowell won gold for Great Britain at the 23rd World Age Group Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Bulgaria. The seventeen year old gymnast saw off rivals from the USA, France, Russia and Belgium to take home the gold medal for the first time.

Heather, a member of Richmond Gymnastics Association (RGA), has been tumbling since she was six years old. The discipline involves running down a 25 metre long spring track and performing skills such as somersaults, back handsprings and twists.

“This was not my first world age group championships as I have competed for GB before, but it was certainly the best!” said Heather. “I practise at the RGA four times a week and couldn’t have achieved my medal without the support of my coach, Rob Small, and my training partner Hannah McKnight.”

Once she’s completed her A levels in the summer, Heather plans to study a sport and business degree at Loughborough University.

Students honoured at awardsIn September, the College hosted its annual Student Awards Evening at York House in Twickenham. The event celebrated the successes and achievements of over thirty students (pictured, right) during the past twelve months, each of whom were nominated by their teachers for their dedication and efforts during their time at the College.

Guests included governors, staff, students and their families along with local MP Vince Cable, the Mayor of Richmond, representatives from local secondary schools, businesses and the Metropolitan Police. The awards were presented to the students by British athletics star, Nigel Levine.

Our current catering and hospitality students prepared and served a range of delicious food throughout the evening and guests also enjoyed a variety of musical entertainment provided by students from the performing arts department.

Congratulations to all our 2013 winners! Amelia Jones, Amy Barber, Amy Scott, Ashley Ollington, Azamat Ataev, Barry Leonard, Charlotte Gould, Chris Frost, Edward Burkin, Ellen Woolf, Florence Concepcion, Freya Strutt, Gamile Mitchell, Gursharan Singh, Habibur Jubel, Isabella Lindsley, Jocelyn Major, John Alexander, Julie Meyring, Khadija Lewis, Konrad Demianko, Luke Penney, Maria Toichoa, Nasra Ahmed, Olivia Kersey, Olivia Shotton, Oluwadamiola Omole, Rachael Cowderoy, Rosie Buckle, Sana Ghani, Senami Fall, Tae Kim, Tamiza Tudor, Taylor Campbell, Tom Churches, Zainab Yusuff, RuTC Women’s Volleyball Academy.

A level students Iona Duncan and Emma Ling have been making a real difference to the local community this term as members of the Richmond Youth Council. In 2013, Iona was elected as a representative for

Heathfield, Whitton and West Twickenham whilst Emma was voted in as chair of the council. Iona is also the media and communications representative. Attending weekly meetings, their roles include participating in working groups that address physical health, risky behaviour and emotional health and wellbeing as well as providing the young person’s voice at Richmond Council meetings.

6 CELEBRATE Issue 4 – 2014

NewsWire

Travel and tourism students headed to the Sussex coast in October for a week long residential researching visitor attractions. The level 3 extended diploma group visited Hastings, Battle Abbey, Beachy Head and Sea Life in Brighton. They also walked part of the South Downs Way and listened to talks from Haven Holidays reps.

Travel and tourism trip

Aerial dance master classDance students were treated to a master class in October from elite aerial performance company, Upswing. The day-long session saw students receive training from artistic director, Vicki Amedume, on both the aerial cocoon and aerial ring, allowing them to develop new performance techniques via a medium that uses circus skills as an expressive vehicle.

Jack Petchey Awards

Students celebrated Black History Month in October with a mix of dance, spoken word and music performances in the College’s Edmund Kean Theatre. The event was organised by members of the College’s Student Union and student services.

Black History MonthIn November, RuTC students were honoured with prestigious Jack Petchey Achievement Awards at a special ceremony held at Richmond Theatre.

Supported Learning students Alex De Araujo, Lewis Giger, Damien Jones, Errkollins Patacsil and Natasska Wanuragala received their awards along with over 100 other students from schools and colleges across Richmond and Kingston. College staff member Pete Williams received a special Leader Award.

Madame Playfair visitIn November, the College’s French society celebrated the centenary of writer Albert Camus’ birth by inviting the French Cultural Institute’s Madame Line Playfair to the College.

Madame Playfair gave a captivating and well attended talk on the life and works of Camus and also debated the Nobel Prize winning author’s ideas and philosophies with the College’s French A level and IB students.

Madame Line Playfair (centre) with IB French students Sarah Edwards and Caroline Walter

t: 020 8607 8000 w: rutc.ac.uk 7

Sporting success continues!

A creative end to the termIn December, students from both art & design and performing arts served up a host of performances, shows and exhibitions to end the year on a creative high. IB and A level music students performed an evening concert for friends, family and fellow students, whilst BTEC music students hosted a Christmas charity concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Later in the month, dance students performed their show Remember My Name to a packed theatre whilst the art & design department held its annual winter exhibition, opening up their studios and finishing the year off with an eye-catching fashion show.

Cross-curriculum trip to Italy In November, students and staff from geography, geology and classical civilisation headed to Italy for a residential in the Bay of Naples. Based in Sorrento harbour, the group visited archaeological sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum, observing the dramatic effects of the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 whilst also considering the key features of the Roman towns and contrasting them with later urban development.

The group also walked to the crater of a steaming Vesuvius - now long overdue for another cataclysmic eruption – where they witnessed the conurbation of Naples spread below them, next to the most dangerous volcano in Europe.

Further activities included a trip to Amalfi and Positano to look at the impact of tourism on the region plus a visit to the Greek temple sites at Paestum, built over 2500 years ago.

The packed trip also saw visits to the volcanic Phlegraean Fields, the fissures at Solfatara, the amphitheatre of Puteoli, the volcanic Lake Avernus (which the Romans thought was the entrance to the underworld) and the temple of the Cumaean Sibyl. The students also experienced the delicious foods of the Mediterranean and explored the beauty of Sorrento and the south west Italian coast.

(L-R) Natasska Wanuragala, Councillor Meena Bond (Mayor of Richmond), Pete Williams, Lewis Giger and Errkollins Patacsil

(L-R) Vicki Amedume instructs RuTC dance student Amelia Keane

The College’s sporting stars were celebrating once again in November after successfully qualifying for the British Colleges Sport national finals. Victories in rugby, badminton and volleyball saw the RuTC teams qualify in style for the championships – to be held at the University of Bath in April.

Jack Lumb (pictured) qualified in first place at the BCS regional golf championship - dominating the event despite wet and windy conditions throughout. In the cross country championships, AS level student Daniel Pinn and BTEC sport student D’yon Christopher finished second and fourth in the boy’s 7.5km race, ensuring that they too will be representing both the College and the London region when the team heads to Bath this spring.

See highlights from all the shows and exhibitions:Facebook/RichmonduponThamesCollege

Cross country stars Daniel Pinn and D’yon Christopher

Above, centre image taken by AS photography student, Molly Hill.

Follow us! Visit our social media pages to find out what’s

happening at Richmond upon Thames College.

www.facebook/RichmonduponThamesCollege www.twitter.com/RuT_College

www.youtube.RichmondCollegeUK

We want your feedback!Contact us by emailing: marketing@rutc.ac.uk

If you have any comments, ideas or questions about Celebrate magazine then we’d love to hear from you.

Book now: meritsrestaurant.co.uk / 020 8607 8164

Lunch from £8.50 // Dinner from £12.50

Enjoy a delicious three course lunch or dinnerat Richmond upon Thames College’s

outstanding training restaurant.

Richmond upon Thames College is one of London’s most successful colleges for 16-19 year olds and has a strong reputation for achieving excellent results whilst providing a friendly, supportive and secure environment. The curriculum offer includes AS/A2 levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTEC Diplomas at different levels and a number of vocational courses and apprenticeships.

Egerton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7SJ

t: 020 8607 8000 e: courses@rutc.ac.uk w: rutc.ac.uk

Designed and produced by the marketing department.

OpenEvent

Register your details at www.rutc.ac.uk

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Thursday 24th April 2014

Come along and find out more about one of London’s top performing colleges.

Please bring your email confirmation with you.You will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Information Evening

5pm-8pm (last entry 7.30pm)

7.15pm-9pm

Want to find out more about the

International Baccalaureate?Then come along to our

Register your details at www.rutc.ac.uk