News
National Recognition for College’s Health & Wellbeing Support
The Sandwell Family of Colleges – of which Cadbury forms part – has been recognised for its commitment to Health and Wellbeing support at the annual Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) awards.
The Health and Wellbeing category specifically acknowledges initiatives and programmes that prioritise the mental and physical wellbeing of the college community, including students and staff. We are extremely proud to announce that we have been awarded recognition for our dedication to Mental Health & Wellness.
Principal and Chief Executive Officer Graham Pennington said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our mental health and wellness initiatives. I’m incredibly proud of the extensive and tailored support we have in place across The Sandwell Family of Colleges to support our learners, staff and the wider community with issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing. The impact is enormous and real, and it’s all made possible by the passion and commitment of individual staff members who work so hard to remove barriers and realise potential. It’s a real privilege to lead a College with mental health support truly at the heart of its culture and it’s encouraging to see the positive impact we are making year on year. This achievement is down to the tireless efforts of so many of our staff whose commitment and dedication is unwavering.”
Every year, the SFCA provide this sector-wide opportunity and select a small number of providers nationally, who shine within eight areas of work. This is an invaluable way to share the successes of the sector and celebrate the achievements and impact of individual Colleges.
Culture Day and One World Make Summer Unity Fest a Hit
Cadbury Culture Day and One World hugely contributed to the success of Summer Unity Fest – a celebratory week across the Sandwell family of campuses for everyone to unite, reflect and have fun.
Culture Day was an incredible day filled with cultural exchange, interactive quizzes and delicious food at our Cadbury campus. We then joined with Sandwell College to celebrate the festival week with a showcase of diversity, talent and togetherness at the annual One World event. Central Saint Michael’s very own A Level Science lecturers Dr Ross Cooper and Dr Avtar Singh also performed a duet on the vibrant main stage.
A host of talented artists and performers performed on the colourful main stage, from Wen Sheung dancers, Eternal Taal drums, Giddah, Kathak, Ecuadorian, Columbian and Congolese dancers to K-pop, street dance, storytelling and Afrobeat, and so much more besides, while learners and lecturers wore their national and regional dress.
A series of speakers opened the inspirational event, including Principal and CEO Graham Pennington and Councillor Ahmed Bostan. Stalls were also selling a wide variety of handmade crafts and gifts and serving delicious food from around the world.
One World Organiser Manjit Johal said: “This event is a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate our global community. Every year we make One World a more memorable one.”
Learners Making Magic Happen with Dazzling Show at Disneyland Paris
Cadbury Performing Arts students sang live on stage to a 300-strong audience at Disneyland Paris.
The incredibly talented learners performed a medley of classic Disney songs on the Videopolis Stage.
Following their performance, they were congratulated by members of the public on their amazing show, and even had children asking to take photos with them!
Lecturer Rosie Nisbet said: “We could not be prouder of them all, and we are so pleased that they all had such a fantastic end to the college year with a fun few days away.”
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We are pleased to announce the launch of SafeHaven, a new initiative created in partnership with Cadbury Sixth Form College, which will empower local youth through creative arts, sports, and community-building activities.
SafeHaven will provide a safe and inspiring environment for young people at Cadbury Sixth Form College with free entry for ages 9-17. The programme aims to foster self-expression, resilience, and teamwork among young people through a wide range of activities, from music production to sports and visual arts.
The initiative will run twice a week, offering tailored sessions to engage both primary and secondary school students. Mondays (4PM – 6PM) will feature activities for primary students ages 9-13, while Wednesdays (4PM – 6PM) will be focused on secondary students ages 13-17.
Each session provides participants with exciting opportunities to explore new skills and hobbies, including multi-sports, arts and crafts, music production, drama, console gaming, and Warhammer. Workshops will also feature hip-hop, graffiti, and drawing sessions led by Creative Birmingham Arts Therapy UK, encouraging creativity and cultural expression.
West Midlands Police played a pivotal role in securing funding from Clarion Housing, which was used for resources such as uniforms and gaming equipment, which will enhance the programme’s accessibility and engagement.
PC Constable Matt Shakespeare, West Midlands Police, said: “SafeHaven is a wonderful initiative that will provide young people with positive outlets for self-expression and growth. Our collaboration with Cadbury Sixth Form College on this project reinforces our commitment to supporting Birmingham’s youth and fostering a safer, more connected community.”
Lydia Maher, Principal at Cadbury Sixth Form College comments: “We are delighted to launch SafeHaven as a space where young people can feel empowered, safe, and inspired. This project aligns with our mission to not only educate but to actively engage with the community and help build brighter futures for the young people in our local area.”
This initiative will be a significant addition to Cadbury Sixth Form College’s community offerings. To book your space, please click here.
An incredibly exciting and pioneering new partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome is set to give Sandwell College and Cadbury Sixth Form College learners exclusive access to one of the city’s biggest theatre brands.
Creative Arts leaders at the college are embracing the extremely promising prospects of the partnership and the vital insights into the performing arts industry it will give to current and prospective students.
Valuable work experience opportunities will be a major plus for Performing Arts and Musical Theatre students keen to experience life in the spotlight.
Learners will also benefit from behind-the-scenes access to theatre productions and companies, and special appreciation of what goes into set construction and assembly, scenic painting and prop-making.
As a taster of what the future has in store, Sandwell Performing Arts students were recently treated to an exclusive preview of musical spectacular Play On! at the Hippodrome.
Set in the jazz scene of New York’s Cotton Club, this stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Talawa’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong, fuses the thrilling music of Duke Ellington with street dance choreography.
Michelle King, Sandwell College’s Head of Creative Industries, said: “This new partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome is incredibly exciting for us – it will allow our current and prospective students to gain valuable experiences and insights into the performing arts industry, providing them with exclusive access to one of Birmingham’s biggest theatre brands and internationally-renowned productions and companies. We can’t wait to develop our relationship with the Hippodrome and offer so many more opportunities as part of the creative industries curriculum.”
Chris Sudworth, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Creative Director concluded: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sandwell College and Cadbury Sixth Form College to inspire the next generation of creative talent. By providing exclusive access to our productions, backstage experiences, and industry expertise, we aim to ignite students’ passion for the performing arts and equip them with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams. Collaborations like this are vital in nurturing a vibrant arts community, and we are excited to see the incredible opportunities this partnership will bring to life.”
A talented linguist from Cadbury Sixth Form College has achieved national recognition, winning the prestigious Stephen Spender Trust Prize for Poetry in Translation: KS5 Portuguese Spotlight.
Dennis Casey’s translation of Fernando Pessoa’s Mar Português, will be published in the Stephen Spender Trust Prizewinners’ Booklet 2024 and online. This achievement is particularly remarkable as Dennis had no previous knowledge of the Portuguese language.
Dennis, who is studying A-Levels in French, Philosophy, Maths & EPQ, expressed delight at the accolade.
“I was really surprised to have won this award, especially given that I’ve never studied Portuguese before. The fact that it was on a national scale as well was massive – I definitely wasn’t expecting to win.”
The competition required participants to translate a poem and provide a creative interpretation that captured its essence. At last week’s online award celebration, the judge spoke warmly of the sensitivity of language used in Dennis’ translation, and in the
remarkable watercolour with its striking image that Dennis painted for the creative response activity.
Reflecting on life at Cadbury Sixth Form College, Dennis credited the Languages department’s supportive environment and enriching activities for nurturing linguistic passion and skills.
“The Languages department is a community – we do a lot of extra-curricular and enrichment activities that have boosted my confidence socially as well. This year, I am a Languages Mentor helping within the department, and one of my roles is as editor of our multilingual poetry anthology.”
Sue Simson, Languages Lecturer, who organised entries to the competition, was delighted at the result: “we are very proud of Dennis’ superb achievement in gaining this outstanding award. It is well deserved, and I hope it will inspire Dennis to further literary heights in the future.”
Lydia Maher, Principal of Cadbury Sixth Form College, also commended on Dennis’ accomplishment:
“This national recognition is a reflection of the dedication and excellence we cultivate at Cadbury Sixth Form College. Dennis’ achievement not only highlights his exceptional ability but also the outstanding support and opportunities provided by our Languages department. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing his continued success.”
For further information about Cadbury Sixth Form College and its Languages department, visit www.cadcol.ac.uk.
