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Your Best Experience: Take a Tip from a Cadbury Student
What can I tell you to make Cadbury Sixth Form College your best experience yet? Well here are my best tips for really making the most of your time and preparations for the big move!
3 TIPS FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE (Trust me, you’re going to want to know the last one!)
Number 1: Do Your Research
Make sure you seek advice and visit open days to see the college for yourself.
Number 2: Apply Early
The earlier you apply, the sooner you can secure your place and concentrate on your exams. Makes sense right?
Not only that, you can take advantage of exclusive support available to offer holders.
Number 3: Pick Subjects That You Enjoy And That You’re Good At
Not everyone knows what they want to be when they’re older – and that’s fine!
Cadbury has one of the largest course offers in the region. And for that reason you don’t have to compromise what you enjoy.
5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE
Number 1: Pick A Subject You Enjoy
The subjects you choose will be your primary focus for the next two years. Why don’t you make those next two years as enjoyable as possible?
Number 2: This Isn’t Like School
Say goodbye to assemblies, morning registration, and most importantly detention. You’ll be treated like an adult here.
Number 3: Time Management Is Super Important
Free periods aren’t always about catching up with your mates. They should be used to get ahead, whether that’s revising or studying certain subjects.
Number 4: Everybody’s Too Caught Up In Their Own Appearances To Worry About Yours
In College you finally get to wear your own clothes and express yourself. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying what other people think. Trust me!
Finally, Number 5: Take Care Of Yourself
College can be a big step from school and whilst it does involve a lot of study and work time, it’s really important that you take care of yourself and your wellbeing. And just enjoy it – you’ve got this guys!
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CADBURY STUDENT
8am: I left the house – I’ll never get used to these dark mornings. I got on the bus with my free bus pass because Cadbury girlies do not pay for their transport 😊
9am: I headed to my first health class which I’m doing a T Level in. I’d love to be a nurse someday and this course is the first step to getting there.
11am: Ok, this is when my day got weird. Our college has a brand-new building and it’s kitted out with loads of hi-tec stuff, including VR. This was actually the most fun lesson ever. We even printed out Lego!
1pm: VR made me so hungry, so it was time for lunch. On the menu today was my favourite cheesy pasta bake with a cheeky bit of garlic bread.
2pm: I had a free period where I caught up with some coursework because I really do not want to be falling behind.
3pm: I headed over to music club which is always such a laugh. What a tune!
4pm: I grabbed a drink and headed home.
I BET YOUR COLLEGE DOESN’T HAVE THIS!
This is Cadbury College’s brand-new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths centre – and I am loving it!
This huge centre supports students looking to enter careers in manufacturing, life sciences, digital media and loads more. And it even has digital learning labs and virtual reality suites which offer coding and robotics opportunities for T Levels and A Levels.
My favourite part has to be the flexible studying and social spaces – absolutely perfect for catching up with your mates. If you fancy having a look around, make sure to check our upcoming open days.
Turn Esports Passion into Profession
Gamers looking to turn their passion for Esports into a profession now have the chance to do just that at Cadbury Sixth Form College.
A brand-new Level 3 Esports course is launching at Cadbury in September 2024, providing students with an introduction to the fast-developing world of Esports. The College group has invested in esports gaming rooms, editing suites and enterprise pods to ensure students have access to the most inclusive and dynamic growth environment in an industry already worth over £1 billion.
Over two years students will gain valuable hands-on experience and discover more about the unique crossover of subjects such as enterprise, game design, marketing, business, teamwork and event management in the rapidly growing Esports industry. As they continue to develop their understanding of the industry, learners will also cover the technical aspects of Esports including programming, 2D & 3D graphics and live-streamed broadcasting, culminating in the design and delivery of their own competitive Esports event.
Learners taking this qualification will study topics ranging from skills, strategies and analysis to health, wellbeing and fitness for Esports players and responsible gaming. They will also benefit greatly from interaction with professional teams, guest speaker talks and work experience opportunities.
Head of Sport, Scott Thomas, said: “Esports is a rapidly growing industry around the world and within the education sector. This generation of students have grown up online and their sights are set on a digital future. Many UK universities now offer Esports as a degree course. Our students will have access to players and expertise which will enable them to turn their passion into a profession, learning employability skills including digital, problem-solving, teamwork, organisation and analytics to support them in whichever pathway they choose to progress.
“If you’re passionate about gaming and want to turn it into a career, this is the perfect opportunity for you.”
Don’t miss out on this chance to turn your passion into a profession!
Cadbury Is Not Like School
Studying at college is not like studying at school or moving onto a school sixth form. There’s so much more to life at Cadbury!
By joining us at Cadbury Sixth Form College, you’ll become part of one of the most diverse and vibrant college communities. Here you’ll develop and enjoy independence, make lifelong friends and experience our fantastic facilities and unbeatable support.
Here are the Top 5 best things about college life:
You’re in charge
From picking your courses, deciding when and where to do your additional study outside of lessons, to what you wear to college. At college you’ll be treated like an adult and enjoy the benefits of independence. You get to take control of your learning and your future and most importantly you get to be yourself.
There is support for you everywhere
Some people can’t wait to leave school and for others it can seem a bit daunting. If the idea of independence and moving somewhere new scares you, then don’t worry. First of all, you’re not alone, loads of people feel anxious, but more importantly there’s even more support on offer than you’re used to at school. We have staff to help with everything from catching up with homework, applying to university, welfare, finance and mental health – the list goes on. You can find more about support here.
There is always something going on
Life at college is much more than just what goes on in the classroom and there’s always something new to get involved in, from trips abroad to experience new cultures to cultural celebrations in college, freshers’ fairs and activity days. College life is jam-packed and never boring. We offer a wide range of enrichment courses too from sports clubs to societies – you can find out more here.
The best facilities
Your school may have a good library or even some new sports equipment, but at Cadbury Sixth Form College the facilities are next level! Using the latest technology and design we have everything from science labs, libraries, gym and sports facilities to nursing wards, film studios and robotics labs. Our brand-new £6.6million STEM building is a must see. Find out more here.
Make college pay!
From our free college bus pass to bursary and welfare support, college doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact it’s the opposite – you can make it pay – whether it’s taking advantage of all the student discounts on offer to getting support with job applications with our careers team. Being a Cadbury student comes with lots of added benefits.
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The Sandwell Colleges is delighted to announce the appointment of Emma Brannen as Senior Vice Principal, Quality and Student Success. Emma brings a wealth of experience in further education, having served as Vice Principal Quality at Stoke-on-Trent College.
During her tenure at Stoke-on-Trent College, Emma was instrumental in driving curriculum development and quality assurance, ensuring students achieved exceptional outcomes. Her leadership has been widely recognised, including overseeing national award-winning projects that celebrated participation and inclusivity.
Emma is also well known for her community-focused work, having served on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board for Stoke City Football Club. Her contributions have inspired confidence and inclusion across local communities, particularly through initiatives empowering women and girls.
In her new role, Emma will focus on enhancing curriculum strategies and maintaining the highest standards of quality across The Sandwell Colleges’ programmes, including Sandwell College, Cadbury Sixth Form College and Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form campuses. She will work closely with staff and stakeholders to ensure the College continues to deliver exceptional education and training opportunities for all learners and employers across the West Midlands, fostering an environment that promotes success for all.
Emma commented on her new position, saying: “I am thrilled to join The Sandwell Colleges, which is renowned for its commitment to learners and community impact. I look forward to working with the team to build on its successes and drive further innovation and excellence.”
Lisa Capper MBE, CEO and Principal of The Sandwell Colleges, said: “We are proud to welcome Emma to The Sandwell Colleges. Her experience, leadership and dedication to educational excellence align perfectly with our vision to support all learners, apprentices and our community. Emma’s expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our senior leadership team as we continue to grow.”
Emma joins Asa Gordon, Deputy Principal Curriculum and Skills, who was appointed in November. Emma’s appointment marks another exciting milestone for The Sandwell Colleges as it continues its mission to deliver outstanding learning opportunities to over 12,000 students annually.
We’re delighted to share that Khalid Daley, a former learner at Cadbury Sixth Form College, has seen his latest play, Choir Boy, win three Black British Theatre Awards – Best Production, Best Director, and Best Male Lead Actor.
Khalid’s journey is truly inspiring. After training at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received the prestigious Laurence Olivier Bursary, his career has gone from strength to strength.
His impressive theatre credits include:
– Hamilton
– Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
– War Horse
– Matthew Bourne’s Lord of the Flies
Khalid has also made his mark on screen, with appearances in The Great War, Doctors, and 4 O’Clock Club: Hollywood.
Huge congratulations, Khalid – you continue to inspire us all!
Two budding graphic designers at Cadbury Sixth Form College have created a new logo for NHS surgeries in South Birmingham.
Two of our first year A Level Graphics learners, Josh and Imogen, have designed the new logo for Rea Valley Health Partnership, which will soon feature across NHS surgeries, including Kings Norton Surgery, Ashtree Surgery and Keynell Covert.
One of the directors of Rea Valley Health Partnership, Rajiv Kalia, commended the design duo’s professionalism and the high standard of work they produced.
Josh said: “By working with a real organisation, it makes you think about what will work and the kind of image the surgeries wish to present.”
Imogen said: “We also get to work with the business to understand what they do and how the logo will help others recognise their brand and purpose.”
Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal of The Sandwell Colleges, said: “Well done Josh and Imogen – a fantastic achievement! This kind of ‘live brief’ really brings learning to life for our students. Thank you to the team at Rea Valley Health Partnership. Working with local businesses and community organisations like yourselves supports our mission to ensure our learners meet the skill needs of the workplace while providing invaluable real-world opportunities.”
