In fact the college has over 150 part-time courses for students of all ages.  With the completion of the revitalised campus at Flackwell Heath incorporating a new construction skills centre, the college is now able to offer an even wider choice of courses.  Many of these courses will be available to sample during a special Adult Learners Taster Day running at the Flackwell Heath campus on Saturday, 26^th May and at an Adult Learners Taster Evening on Wednesday 30^th May.

On Saturday, 26^th May from 10am-2pm, tutors in the new construction skills centre are inviting learners to try their hand at bricklaying, painting and decorating techniques, such as stencilling or decorative plaster effects, and try basic electrical wiring or watch an Italian marble effect plastering demonstration.

On Wednesday, 30^th May from 6pm-8pm the emphasis will be on Health & Social Care and Hair & Beauty.   Health & Social Care tutors will offer interactive discussions about the Early Stages of Child Development, Supporting Children with Special Needs and Living with Dementia, all of which showcase new adult part-time courses introduced this year.  In Hair & Beauty the college runs its own ‘Springs’ salon and visitors will be able to sample treatments and see the extensive facilities available.

To book your place at the taster sessions mentioned please phone the relevant department to register your interest:

Construction Skills: 01494 585628
Health & social Care:  01494 585342
Hair & Beauty: 01494 585297

To register your interest in any of the part time courses offered by the college, call the course information team on 0800 614 016.

Beth, who has studied hairdressing at Amersham & Wycombe College, has been working with Jaspers since May 2011.

The glittering event was attended by approximately 250 people and awards were given to individuals in categories covering hair and beauty as well as awards being given to salons.

The two Directors of Jaspers, Tim & Colin Boyes-Hill attended the ceremony and they are both delighted and very proud of Beth’s achievements.

In a time of austerity and government cuts, you may think investing in your future would be challenging – but that’s not the case!  If you didn’t get all of your GCSEs or A levels (or equivalent) at school, it might not cost you a penny if you start a level 2 or level 3 course in September 2012.

These qualifications give you greater knowledge and skills for the work place, will enhance your CV and prepare you for further study if you decide to continue in education. A good education helps to create opportunities in your life, gives you choices and can help give you a competitive edge in the job market.

If you are aged 23 or under on 31 August 2012, and do not have a level 2 qualification, or if you are aged 24 or under on the same date, have a level 2, but not a level 3 qualification, you could get your first level 2 or level 3 qualification for free – with no study fees to pay!

The government is proposing to move to a loans system for further education qualifications in the future, so now is the time to get your L2 and L3 qualifications without having to pay a penny towards the cost of them. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has revealed that the new FE loans system will be called, ”24+ Advanced Learning Loans” when it is introduced next year.

To find out whether you are entitled to free education in 2012, please call Amersham & Wycombe College for advice tailored to your personal situation on: 0800 614 016.

Note:

*Level 2 qualifications include and are equivalent to: 5 x GCSEs, or BTEC Level 2, or NVQ 2 (other qualifications may also fall into this category – please call for advice).

**Level 3 qualifications include and are equivalent to: 4 x AS Levels, or 2 x A Levels, or a BTEC Level 3, or Diplomas, or NVQ 3 (other qualifications may also fall into this category – please call for advice).

The musical tells the story of passion and politics through the complicated game of Chess. Featuring a range of much acclaimed and well-known musical numbers including ‘One Night in Bangkok’, ‘I Know Him So Well’ and ‘Anthem’, the story is loosely based on the real 1983 Chess championships involving Bobby Fisher and Viktor Korchnoi with this production directed by Tuirenn Hurstfield (assisted by Lucia Wilkins) and choreographed by Taira Foo.

This production is directed in a highly dynamic and stylised ways so as to interpret the actual story of a Hungarian girl torn from her homeland in the midst of the Cold War. With the USA fighting the USSR over the chequered board, will Florence find herself through the politics and drama?

‘Chess’ marks the BA’s final show and will mark their leave after three years at the College to take the next step in their acting careers.  Speaking of the cast, Tuirenn said, “These students have developed a highly professional attitude, and their work is reflective of the industry they are entering”. Students are trained at the college to the highest professional standards and many gain places for university level study at the top drama schools in London such as Mountview and the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Amersham & Wycombe College’s production of ‘Chess’ will be showing at the Elgiva
Theatre, Chesham from the 15^th to the 19^th of May. Performances start at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on the 19^th. To book tickets please call the Elgiva Box Office: 01494 582900 or email the theatre: boxoffice@elgiva.com

Jade Katz and Lauren King (BTEC Extended Diploma Fashion Y2) took 1st and 2nd places respectively in the Costume awards; Hannah Hargreaves-Davis (BTEC Foundation Diploma Art & Design) secured 1st Place Graphics Marketing with Jessica Bullock (BTEC Extended Diploma Graphics Y1) runner-up.  A Special Commendation for Set Design was also presented to Hannah Hargreaves-Davis.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity of working with the Royal Opera House and are extremely proud of our students’ success,” said Beth Ring, Curriculum Manager Art & Design. “This challenge provides students with career boosting, real-life experience which we value with every industry we work with.”

The Design Challenge, now in its second year, was set around Puccini’s classic La Bohème opera, which brings the Paris of the 1830s to life. The Design Challenge covered design and construction for set, costume, make-up, marketing and education resources for an opera in the repertoire at Covent Garden.

Student work was first assessed in individual Colleges by Royal Opera House professionals and a shortlist of finalists drawn up. Those selected were invited to display their work at the Royal Opera House in an exhibition and Schools’ Matinee of La Bohème last Friday where the winners were announced following the performance.

“The level of commitment and creativity shown by our students was exceptional, and they did a brilliant job of representing the college,” said Art & Design tutor Matt Lamb.

All of the winners have secured valuable work placement at the Royal Opera House in the department of their category.

Announcement on NSA CC website.

The camera crew comprised Elliott Leigh, a BND Film & Television Year 2 student and Russell Thompson, a BND Film & Television Year 1 student.  The college’s hair and beauty students were also in on the action at the venue in Marlow, having been called in to provide the make-up prior to filming.

“Working with Peter Jones was an incredible experience, he was such a nice guy and very open to our ideas of how to film the interview,” said Elliot. “Being able to take my experience of the course and use it in an actual interview for a celebrity was a priceless experience which does not come around too often.”

“It’s always good to work on a ‘live’ brief and this one had our students focussed right from the outset.  It was a great experience for them both,” said Film & Television course tutor Mike Perks.

Amersham & Wycombe College is the founder college of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy which offers Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Understanding Enterprise & Entrepreneurship.