Congratulations to Class of ’22!
Pride, laughter and a few tears were order of the day for Derwen College Graduation.
Former students, their families, staff and community gathered for a grand Ceremony held at Lion Quays Hotel and Resort, near Oswestry, on Saturday.
More than 180 guests, including 37 students and their families, staff, supporters and local dignitaries attended the glittering event. All there to celebrate the inspirational achievements of our students.
Former students were given their certificates of graduation and individual prizes – lasting mementoes of their time here. Drinks and a buffet lunch were served by students on our Hospitality and Food pathway. Entertainment was provided by Performing Art street dance team Derwen Dance Crew (DDC. Then the ceremony closed with a performance by sign, song and dance group Derwen on Tour (DOT).
Local dignitaries attended to congratulate students on completing courses that enable them to achieve their ambitions.
Guests included Mayor of Oswestry Jay Moore, High Sheriff of Shropshire Selina Graham, Selattyn & Gobowen parish chairman Craig Emery, and Cae Glas Lodge Freemasons Secretary Pete Adams. College Industry Champions, volunteers who share their expertise to support students and staff, also attended. These were poet and author Jan Hedges, Moreton Hall School chef Stephen Conroy and owner of Oswestry Old School House restaurant Sophie Dillon.
The Graduation was a chance for students to dress up and catch up with old friends to talk about their plans for the future.
Recognising individual talents
We presented individual prizes to exceptional students. These included the new Caitlin Kelly Spirit Award in memory of a former student who tragically died before being able to graduate. The award recognising spirit and personal growth was awarded to Retail graduate Mary Tait.
Graduate Amy Jude – who was Student Union Board President for two years – was awarded the Jonathon Wooldridge Cup for Achievement in Drama. She was also able to share news that she has been shortlisted in the Association of College’s Adult Student of the Year awards.
Performing Arts graduate Anna Redding won two awards: Outstanding Student Performing Arts and Overall Outstanding Student.
Derwen College Principal Meryl Green said it had been a wonderful occasion, which had made her very proud.
She said: “Thank you to all the students and their families who made this such a special occasion. It’s such a privilege to be able to celebrate the achievements of our students. It is always sad to see students leave us but a delight to hear what the future holds for them.
“We hope that the learning and skills they develop at Derwen College will stay with them and help them through the next stages of their lives into work and independent living.”
And the prizewinners were:
Outstanding Student Hospitality and Food – The Emma Briscoe Cup awarded to Peter Davies
Outstanding Student Horticulture – Frank Matthews Cup awarded to Matthew Beni
Outstanding Student Retail and Enterprise – Retail Cup awarded to Mary Tait
Jonathon Wooldridge Cup for Achievement in Drama – awarded to Amy Jude
Bernice Willis Cup for Achievement in Art awarded to Heather Phillips
Outstanding Student Performing Arts – Neil Dew Cup awarded to Anna Redding
Outstanding Satellite Student – Walford awarded to Thomas Abram
Outstanding Satellite Student – Ludlow awarded to Louis Baker
Outstanding Student – Independence Skills – Mary Morris Bowl awarded to Peter Davies
Outstanding Student – Independence Skills – Paddy Hughes Cup – Amy Clarke
Achievement in Leisure Activities – Boulton Shield – Imogen Wilkes
Outstanding Sports Student – Susannah Ruth Trophy – Luke Hodge
Irene Gull Cup – Self Advocacy – Oliver Burrows
The William Chapple Cup (showing kindness and consideration to others) – Isobel Smith
Caitlin Kelly Spirit Award – Mary Tait
Richard Dodd Memorial Trophy – Matthew Beni
Overall Outstanding Student 2022 – Susannah Ruth Trophy – Anna Redding
Lord Lieutenant celebrates with students over prestigious Queen’s Award
Our students and staff celebrated winning a top business award endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen, at a presentation attended by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire.
We won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity 2022.
To mark this fantastic achievement, Derwen held a celebration event where they were presented with a trophy and official scroll by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner.
She also delivered a personal letter of congratulations from Derwen College patron Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
The presentation, held in the College’s The Orangery Restaurant, was hosted by Derwen College Chair of Governors Kathleen Kimber and Principal & CEO Meryl Green, and attended by Mayor of Oswestry, Jay Moore, the Chair of Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council, Councillor Craig Emery and Deputy Lieutenants of Shropshire Mandy Thorn and Veronica Lillis.
Guests were able to meet some of the students, volunteers and staff who learn and work in the College’s Marketplace businesses.
Flying the flag for opportunity
The college was delighted to be flying the flag for promoting opportunity, and literally raised two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise flags for the occasion. The event was particularly poignant following the sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Further education college, Derwen College, was established in 1927 by Dame Agnes Hunt, and provides education and vocational training for young people aged 16 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The College operates several businesses at its on-site ‘Marketplace’. Students learn work skills in a garden centre, café, restaurant, charity shop and a small hotel developed in conjunction with Premier Inn. They are then supported to progress to external work placements where appropriate.
The College supports students and interns with SEND to achieve their aspirations. Derwen College is proud to achieve outcomes that far exceed the national average for people with SEND – including progression into paid employment, voluntary work, further training, increased independence and supported living.
The King’s Representative Lord-Lieutenant Anna Turner said:
“It’s such a pleasure to be part of this celebration today. When I heard that Derwen College had won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, my pride soared.
“This is a very high award for amazing businesses; a much sought-after award for high achievers. Derwen has been recognised for being exceptional at promoting opportunity.”
Globally recognised business award
Derwen was one of a very small number of organisations recognised in this category nationally. The QAE is a globally recognised business excellence award and probably the best-known accolade for businesses world wide.
Derwen College Principal & CEO Meryl Green attended a Reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by HRH the Prince of Wales (now His Majesty, King Charles) back in July, to mark the win.
Meryl Green said: “Derwen College is having an exceptional year for awards; for our educational and care provision, and for our business ‘Marketplace’. We are very proud to receive this distinguished award, and would like to thank all our staff, students, families, and the community who support our College, our Charity and our Marketplace. None of this happens without an amazing team, and we certainly have that at Derwen!”
Derwen judges region’s super STAR gardens
Our Garden Centre horticulture experts were delighted to be asked to judge and present prizes in a Shropshire community garden competition.
Garden Centre Supervisor Will Lyon was asked to judge gardens for a competition held by Shropshire Towns and Rural (STAR) Housing.
STAR manage the homes, tenancies and neighbourhoods of the council houses, flats, bungalows and garages in the Oswestry and Bridgnorth area.
Judging took place over two days covering a varied selection of beautifully planted plots. Competition categories were for Best Communal Garden, Best Container, Best Wildlife Garden and Best Garden. Winners received gift vouchers, a certificate and a rose donated by David Austin Roses.
The winners were:
- Eileen Tomkins, from Bridgnorth, for Best Communal Garden
- Rich & Pippa Pope, from Bridgnorth, for Best Wildlife Friendly
- Jackie Tyers, from West Felton, for Best Container
- Mary Griffiths, from Oswestry, for Best Garden
Will Lyon judged the gardens along with Julie Burton from Star Housing Ground Maintenance, and Angela Simpson, Head of Assets. They were joined by Senior Customer Relations Officer Emma Jones.
Will said: “I was very pleased to be invited to view and judge the gardens in the competition. I was impressed by the standard of planting, the crisp edges of the lawns and how entrants had used their imagination and creativity to bring personality to their outdoor spaces. There was also a great deal of consideration towards attracting and feeding wildlife within the gardens.”
Derwen College has worked with STAR Housing on previous community projects to deliver communal seating areas which are low maintenance and support wildlife.
STAR Senior Customer Relations Officer Emma Jones, said:
“We are delighted to have Derwen College on our judging panel.
Not only have we have worked closely with them over the last two years to improve a number of our communal areas, but we also see the great work that they do with their students, it’s a pleasure to be working in partnership with them.”
Derwen College Commercial Development Manager, Pete Evans, presented winners with beautiful roses, donated from David Austin Roses.
Pete said: ”Derwen College was honoured to be asked to help judge the Shropshire Town and Rural Housing gardens competition. We have worked with STAR Housing on previous community projects, and are always delighted to reward people who take the time and effort to create beautiful and imaginative outdoor spaces, whether in a large space or through creative use pots and planters.”
“Derwen is proud to be a specially selected outlet for David Austin Roses – a family-run Shropshire business, with numerous Chelsea Flower Show medals to its name.”
Stamp of approval from leading autism charity
We are delighted to have received Autism Accreditation which demonstrates Derwen’s commitment to supporting autistic students.
Almost half of our students are autistic. So to meet the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) high benchmark for accreditation is hugely significant.
The NAS team visited us, meeting with students and staff, and speaking to parents. They visited areas of accommodation, learning, work and social spaces, to ensure that we meet the required standards of excellence.
They evaluated how the students were being supported in their communication and sensory needs, as well as their mental health, social skills, independence building and learning for future and employment.
Learning opportunities on site
The report highlights students’ access to experiential learning opportunities onsite in the college’s Marketplace which includes Garden Centre and Gift Shop, Hotel 751, The Orangery Restaurant, The Vintage Advantage Charity Shop and Walled Garden Café.
Adaptations have been made across the campus to ensure that areas are structured in a way that makes students feel relaxed. Adaptations to accommodation include personalised furniture, decor and lighting. Students also have access to two dedicated sensory rooms, and calm spaces within their workspaces.
Head of Quality, Dawn Roberts, said that the award was wonderful news for the College. She said:
“This accreditation demonstrates the work that has been done across College to ensure that we are doing all we can to support our autistic students.
“The project has been college-wide, combining expertise from the therapies team, nurses, teaching, sports & leisure, and care staff, as well as listening to the needs of the real experts – our students.”
The College was particularly happy with survey feedback from autistic students. More than 30 autistic students were surveyed ahead of the assessment team visit, who all unanimously said they were happy at College. Some strengths highlighted by students included the chance to meet with friends, the work experience opportunities and the support from staff. One student simply said: “I love it here!”.
Nurture programme marks one year
It’s been one year since we launched our ambitious new Nurture programme for young adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
We’ve worked with local authorities and families to provide bespoke post-16 day provision and to develop the new PMLD programme in a new Nurture Centre.
PMLD lead Bev Simmonds was happy to share her experience in the most recent Natspec Quality Times magazine. Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/eBUC2WZ8
Here’s a summary of Bev’s ethos of what makes a quality PMLD provision.
1. Get the intent right from the start. The rest will follow.
One of the first things that Derwen College did, was to ensure we had a robust intention for our curriculum and provision. We started with a strong framework of exactly what preparing for adulthood and quality of life looks like for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Students are at the centre of everything we have developed or implemented.
2. Advocate for what is right for the students, even when this looks very different from what is right for other students at College.
The college was clear from the outset that the Nurture Programme may need to look radically different from other pathways in the College. I was given the freedom to implement the curriculum in a way that we could successfully plan and record the small, incremental steps that this cohort of students make.
3. Look for excellent support and expertise.
There are more and more opportunities for people with extensive PMLD education experience to share their good practice. Since starting my role, I have been able to attend expert-led PMLD conferences and be part of the Natspec PMLD forum.
4. Pace yourself – it won’t all happen at once.
Setting up within the Covid-19 pandemic has meant some frustrating delays on the delivery of key equipment. Creative and positive thinking from the wider college team meant that we were able to achieve quality outcomes, in line with the students’ long-term goals, in the meantime. However, it was a great feeling when were able to tick them off as achieved following delivery!
5. Be creative about what transition looks like.
For our young people, who can often have life-limiting conditions, transition won’t always be about moving into independent living, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be ambitious and imaginative about what the students can work towards. A good outcome for a student may mean being able to cope with increased spontaneity whilst still living at the family home. Every student is an individual, with individual needs and outcomes, and we are ambitious for our students.
#Nurture #students #team #PMLD #SEND #sensory #communication
Mia’s success story: From nervous fresher to top student
As we look ahead to September, and the excitement and nerves of new starters, we asked Derwen graduate Mia, and her family about, that first day, and Mia’s success story since then…
Mia spent three years as a residential student at Derwen College, on the Retail and Enterprise pathway.
Despite a nervous start, Mia soon settled in, and loved life at Derwen, learning skills that have helped her progress to work in a charity shop. Mia, who is 23, from Warwickshire, has put to use all the skills and independence she gained at Derwen in her new house which she shares with friends.
Mia’s success story started when her family first heard about Derwen College at an open evening at the Stratford-upon-Avon school, Welcombe Hills School. She was 15, and looking forward to starting sixth form. Her family was keen to look ahead to life after school, and agreed that a residential place at Derwen would best support her future.
Mia, who has severe learning difficulties and speech and language needs, loved Derwen from her first visit, as did her parents. They were delighted when they received confirmation from Warwickshire County Council.
Mia’s mum Stella says: “It was never a given that Warwickshire would fund Mia at Derwen – we had to give supporting evidence that there was nothing suitable within the county – there is nothing at all comparable to Derwen near where we live.
We also thought that living away from home was just a wonderful experience which would allow Mia to become much more independent and grown up – a proper university-style experience like the one her brother had enjoyed.”
First day was nerve-wracking!
Nevertheless, the first day away from home was nerve-wracking. Mia was very excited about starting college and had attended transition days, so she knew what to expect. But that first day still brought a whole load of nerves and anxieties! “She did try to get out of it!” remembers Mum. “However, the induction was great, and we left Mia after setting her room up to go home, and Mia headed off to an organised meeting to get to know other new students.
“It was also lovely for Mia that a friend from school was on his last year at Derwen when she was on her first, and she loved meeting up or bumping into him on campus! It took a week or so to settle properly and Mia was upset the first night, but she was used to going to respite so being away from home was not a totally new experience which helped immensely.”
Mia loved her time on the Retail and Enterprise course, especially working in the Garden Centre Shop and the Vintage Advantage charity shop. She particularly enjoyed working on the till. Mia also enjoyed the social aspect of College, and grew in confidence and maturity.
“She loved the outings offered: bowling, shopping, theatre, swimming etc, and had a better social life than us!” says Mum.
Mia’s domestic skills greatly improved. She learnt to cook, clean, iron and shop. All skills which Mia has put to great use in her new house (run by You and Me Supported Living). She shares a house with three others all similar in age, including a friend who joins her this year from Derwen.
She has her own bedroom and bathroom and takes turns to cook, as well as being responsible for her washing and cleaning.
Mia’s success leads to award for ‘Retail Student of the Year’
Mum, Stella says: “Mia really came in to her own work wise in her final year at Derwen and was rewarded by being given the Retail Student of the Year award at graduation and prize giving which was an extremely joyous and well organised event and a wonderful catch up for all the students.”
Mia attends ‘Eco Workshop’ which offers work for disabled adults one day a week, she also works in a charity shop one day and goes to a day centre by bus with a companion, two days a week. She is working on further travel training and hopes to be able to travel independently in the future.
Mia is very happy to cook, loves keeping the house tidy and emptying the dishwasher and has just been on a holiday to Butlins with her housemates which they all loved. She has met up with a few friends from Derwen since she left, she sees old school friends at Eco Workshop and has made new friends at You and Me and the day centre.
Mia says: “I still love swimming and going out for meals, and love bowling best of all!”
Mum, says: “Mia definitely recommends Derwen College. It was a wonderful experience for her and for our family. We are very proud of Mia – and it was such a lovely surprise and proud moment when she was given the Retail award.
The staff at Mia’s new house all say how lovely and helpful and caring she is too which makes us very proud. Thank you, Derwen College!”
Could your business be more inclusive?
Call to companies to employ more young people with learning difficulties
At Derwen, we support young adults to achieve their goals. For many, the ambition is a job, which for most us doesn’t seem like an unreasonable expectation, does it?
Our Supported Internship programme aims to help young people hone the work skills they’ve learnt with us as students. But we need more businesses to provide work placements. We need businesses from Shrewsbury and Telford, in the Hospitality and Retail sectors, so if you’re a restaurant, cafe, shop, office, or hotel, you can help!
Derwen College wants local enterprises to back their life-changing supported internship programme, which is an introduction into employment for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It’s the ideal opportunity for businesses who would like to become more inclusive to see how employing a person with SEND could work in their company. We ask employers to offer regular weekly voluntary work during term time, with the potential of offering the intern employment at the end of the year if they are capable and independent. The College is confident that they will be!
Derwen College has a range of brilliant young people who need the opportunity to hone their skills with just a bit of extra support from a college-supplied job coach.
Could you help JT towards finding employment?
Capable potential employees looking for vital work opportunities include JT, from Telford, who is interested in a career in retail or business.
JT is a student at Derwen College Telford; he is 18 years old and is autistic. JT likes to work in customer-facing environments and understands the importance of customer care and how good customer service can benefit a company. He also has good money handling skills.
JT has completed work experience placements at Derwen College print shop, charity shop, garden centre and on a Derwen stall at Much Wenlock Market. He also enjoys a weekly external placement at Jolly Good Eggs Farm shop, in Telford. JT completes tasks such as visual merchandising, stock checks, pricing, stock rotation, serving customers on the till. He is able to complete admin-based tasks with confidence such as printing, trimming and laminating.
Could your business offer Maisy a work placement?
Or there’s Maisy, a polite and hard-working Hospitality & Food student, who is looking for work at a cafe or restaurant. Maisy has worked in the College’s Orangery Restaurant, Garden Café, Hotel 751 and Food Centre. She has won medals in Restaurant Service skills competitions, and has enjoyed external work placements at McDonalds and Gobowen’s Station Café.
The College is particularly keen to find supported internship placements in the Telford and Shrewsbury areas in a business admin, retail or hospitality environment
Many employers in the county are keen to diversify their workforce, and create a more inclusive environment. A lack of understanding can sometimes hold them back, says Derwen College Work Experience and Supported Internship Coordinator Abi Baker.
Abi and her team are doing everything they can to support businesses to work with employees with learning difficulties. Creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce can be an incredibly fulfilling experience, with employers reporting an increase in motivation in the workplace.
Just a day a week in a work environment provides vital experience for interns which helps them towards employment and a more independent future. Interns are supported at work by a Derwen College job coach, with this support tapering off as the intern becomes more independent. The College also supports employers on how to make their environment more inclusive, this is usually far simpler and less expensive then employers might believe.
‘An intern is a real asset to a business’
Work experience and Supported Internship co-ordinator Abi Baker said:
“An intern can be a real asset to a business. Businesses that we work say they have found it a rewarding thing to do. Offering internships and employment to a person with a learning difficulty promotes diversity and boosts a company’s reputation for being community-minded and inclusive.”
What our current work providers say…
Agri-cation CIC, in Wrexham, provide a weekly placement for an intern.
They said: “She is such a wonderful engaging individual that fits into any role given to her at Agri-cation CIC. Her approach to challenges is very constructive, and she is keen to ask questions to make sure she understands the task at hand so that she can apply her knowledge and skills to get a desirable outcome. I am impressed with her creative abilities and each week she uses this talent to create beautiful recycled items to help develop our sensory garden. She is a joy to work with and I would recommend that people engage in this programme to create opportunity not only for the student but the employer themselves.”
Weston Park, near Shifnal, provide another supported intern on a Horticulture placement.
They said: “He has been incredibly helpful during his time with us so far. He and his PA have tidied up an area that we haven’t had time to look after for some years. It now looks fantastic and it is all down to them!”
This year, Derwen College has been awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Business for Promoting Inclusion. Last week, the college won an award for ‘Pathways into Employment’ from Natspec – the leading membership association for specialist education providers.
To find out more about offering work opportunities to a young person with SEND, please contact Abi Baker on abi.baker@derwen.ac.uk
Principal at the palace for Queen’s Award
Our Principal, Meryl Green, visited Buckingham Palace this week.
She was there to attend a royal reception celebrating businesses which achieved Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
Derwen has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. This is a top business award endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen. We are one of eight UK businesses awarded in the ‘Promoting Opportunity’ category.
Meryl was invited to the Palace on behalf of College. The Queen’s Award reception was also attended by Prince Charles, HRH the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra.
The Queen’s Award recognises the education and vocational training we provide for young people from across the UK. We are very proud of the businesses at our on-site ‘Marketplace’. Students learn work skills in our garden centre and shop, café, restaurant, charity shop and training hotel.
We also work hard to forge partnerships with national and local business ensuring external work placements for students. We look forward to receiving the actual award, which will be presented by the Queen’s representative Shropshire Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner in September.
Exceptional year for awards
We feel privileged to have won many awards this year.
Since 2021, the College has won the NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs) Award for ‘Best aged 16-25 provision in the UK’. We’ve also won a Natspec Award 2022 for ‘Pathways into Employment’ and an Aico Community Award for ‘College Initiative of the Year’ for opening the fabulous Vintage Advantage charity shop.
Meryl Green said:
“We are having an exceptional year for awards; for our educational and care provision, and for our business ‘Marketplace’. To receive this very special award, endorsed by the Queen, during her Platinum Jubilee year really is the icing on the cake.
I felt very privileged to represent the College at such a prestigious royal event. We are proud to receive this distinguished award and would like to thank all our staff, students, families, and the community who support our College, our Charity and our Marketplace.”
Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Our Principal, Meryl Green, has been invited to Buckingham Palace this month.
She is visiting the palace to celebrate receiving a highly prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Derwen has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
This is a top business award endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen. We are one of just eight UK businesses awarded in the ‘Promoting Opportunity’ category.
The award recognises the education and vocational training we provide for young people from across the UK. We are very proud of the businesses at our on-site ‘Marketplace’. Students learn work skills in our garden centre and shop, café, restaurant, charity shop and training hotel. We also work hard to forge partnerships with national and local business ensuring external work placements for students.
Royal reception
The award will be presented to the College by Queen’s representative Shropshire Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner in September. Meanwhile, Principal Meryl Green is invited to attend a Reception at Buckingham Palace. This is hosted by HRH the Prince of Wales.
We feel privileged to have won many awards this year. Since 2021, the College has won the NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs) Award for ‘Best aged 16-25 provision in the UK’. We’ve also won a Natspec Award 2022 for ‘Pathways into Employment’ and an Aico Community Award for ‘College Initiative of the Year’ for opening the fabulous Vintage Advantage charity shop.
Meryl Green said: “We are having an exceptional year for awards; for our educational and care provision, and for our business ‘Marketplace’. To receive this very special award, endorsed by the Queen, during her Platinum Jubilee’ really is the icing on the cake. We are very proud to receive this distinguished award and would like to thank all our staff, students, families, and the community who support our College, our Charity and our Marketplace.”
We can’t wait to hear more about her visit to Buckingham Palace! Watch this space.
Derwen’s perfect media partnership
Performing Arts students were thrilled to meet Doctor Who actor Simon Fisher-Becker who will be filming a new drama series on location at Derwen College.
Simon, who has also appeared as the Fat Friar in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, visited along with actors and production crew involved in Oswestry-based Rocking Horse Media’s latest project.
Rocking Horse Media will be filming their upcoming care home drama series at our Gobowen campus. As part of this partnership, they will be providing exciting and unique work experience opportunities for our Performing Arts students to learn all about working on a television series, as it is being shot.
They have already held one workshop where students got to meet and work with the cast of Henry House, which saw students getting to act in front of lead actress Órla Jones and learn from Simon Fisher-Becker.
This week, Rocking Horse will be holding another workshop where Derwen College students from our Telford satellite site will help their in-house graphic designer produce the official logo for the series.
Rocking Horse Media CEO Gareth Owain David Thomas said he was proud to announce the beginning of a long-term partnership with us.
He said: “We have been in touch with the award-winning college for months, ever since we shot feature film, “Izzy vs Jess’ there. We all realised the exciting opportunities of working together.
“We will also be doing all we can, making our professional services available to help promote the fantastic work that they do.
“There is no understating the importance of working with Derwen College, and what it means for Henry House, Rocking Horse’s flagship project. Thanks to Derwen College, we are able to transform that belief into a reality and it will be an honour to provide some of their own students with opportunities to be a part of it along the way.”
Derwen Horticulture students in the community
Horticulture students and staff have been out and about spreading the joy of flowers in Shropshire and Wales.
They have been busy planting in the community over the past month. We love seeing Derwen College’s floral designs popping up across Shropshire and Powys!
Our Derwen Horticulture team have been helping to spread the red, white and blue across Oswestry’s Cae Glas Park ahead of the jubilee celebrations.
Most recently, they were at Llanfyllin Institute delivering the hanging baskets they made for the institute.
The Horticulture team have also been helping to fill planters for Cefn Community Council, and are judging Cefn Community Council Community in Bloom on 7 July.
What an inspirational Natspec Conference!
We are thrilled to have won a Natspec award in the ‘Pathways into Employment’ category.
Creating meaningful work experience and forging and maintaining relationships with national and local employers is vitally important to us at Derwen College. Therefore, this award means a huge amount to us.
It’s been a challenging year for businesses, but we’ve been determined to keep up the high levels of work experience. This award is testament to our efforts.
Natspec judge, Jane Hatton, said: “This model works well for the students, the employers and the local community. Most colleges struggle to engage with employers, and despite their rural location, Derwen has developed effective working relationships with a number of good employers across a range of sectors, offering students a real choice in their career aspirations.
The outcomes, in terms of students gaining paid work, voluntary work or further training opportunities, are very impressive.”
What a way to round up #natspecconference2022!
Well done to all the amazing work across Natspec Colleges and to all the finalists and winners today.
It has been a wonderful, and emotional return to an in-person Natspec Conference.
Day 2 of the event was opened by a student – our very own Student Union President, Amy Jude. Amy delivered a passionate speech to delegates, via Zoom, about how Derwen College has helped shaped her future.
After the speech, she said: “Oh My God, I have never done something like that before! I am so proud of what I did.”
We also attended the conference as exhibitors, teaming with Starfish Labs UK to showcase our suite of award-winning apps, designed to support people with SEND into employment.
Thank you to Natspec Conference for all their hard work ensuring that professionals in the world of specialist further education could meet in person for the first time in a long while.
