Former Bilborough College student opens Coronation concert
One of our former Music Tech students Gideon Akpovi (aka JERUB) opened the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday. (more…)
One of our former Music Tech students Gideon Akpovi (aka JERUB) opened the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday. (more…)
We are delighted that Simon Holland, Head of Faculty for Geography at Bilborough College has received the Ordnance Survey Award.
Commenting on his award Simon said “I am deeply honoured to receive this RGS Ordnance Survey Award. Geography is an amazing, engaging, empowering and ever-changing subject which opens so many doors for young people. It is a real privilege to teach the subject I love every day and share my genuine passion with so many students over the last 18 years of my career. I work hard to open the eyes and minds of my students, encouraging them to fully explore all that the subject has to offer, including engaging with the many wider opportunities on offer to them. In recent years, my students have won awards including the RGS Young Geographer of the Year and the GA award for NEA Proposals. Seeing my students go on the achieve enormous success in their diverse careers, often engaging with Geographical career paths directly and indirectly, including at COP26 for example, is extremely rewarding and inspiring. Receiving this award was a wonderful surprise and I am immensely proud to receive this unexpected recognition for my hard work and huge enthusiasm for Geography education over so many years – without geography you are nowhere!”
You can find out more about the award below.
It can be a difficult task! We’re here to help you choose the right college courses for you throughout the application and enrolment process.
You need to pick THREE subjects to study at Bilborough, at least one of these has to be an A Level (we have some great BTECs too!). Some uni courses will ask for two or more of your choices to be A Levels so make sure you take a look at the entry requirements if you have a particular course in mind!
It can be really hard to decide which courses are right for you when you’re applying to college! Here are 3 tips on helping to pick your courses….
This may be obvious but there is really no better way to find out about each course than by seeing the classrooms where it’s taught and chatting to the teachers who teach it. You can ask anything at our Open Days and many people come away with a much clearer idea of what they want to study.
If you’re not sure about the next step, think about the end goal. If you’re thinking about uni, make sure you look at some uni courses you might be interested in on the UCAS website and see what the entry requirements are. This can help make sure you’re on the right path to where you want to be! Some university courses will accept a maximum of one BTEC, others might accept 3 A Levels only or have specific courses that must have been studied (e.g. Medicine courses usually require Chemistry A Level and other specific requirements).
Think about what subjects you are naturally motivated and do well at! A Levels require hard work both in and out of the classroom so make sure you’re doing subjects that you want to spend a lot of time studying! You will always do your best when you’re enjoying yourself, that’s not to say it won’t be challenging but give yourself the best chances by choosing your best subjects.
If you need anymore guidance on how to choose your college courses, you will have the opportunity to discuss them at enrolment with a member of staff. If you are given a provisional offer, you will also be invited to our Taster Days in the summer, when you will be able to try out all of the subjects you have applied for to see if they are right for you.
For more information about applying to college, please email [email protected].
We are aware of reports of an increase in the number of cases of Strep A and Scarlet Fever across the country in recent weeks. Below is some useful information from the Department for Education.
Scarlet Fever and Group Strep A Infections
The Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, is closely monitoring the increased cases of Group A streptococcus (Strep A) and scarlet fever. As a Department, we are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who are leading on the response.
UKHSA is reporting an increased number of cases of Group A streptococcus (Strep A) compared to normal at this time of year. There is no evidence that a new strain is circulating, and the increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing.
What are scarlet fever and Strep A?
Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called Group A streptococci (Strep A). The bacteria usually cause a mild infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics.
In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).
What are the symptoms of Strep A/scarlet fever?
Strep A infections can cause a range of symptoms that parents should be aware of, including:
Sore throat
Headache
Fever
A fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel
On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel
If a child becomes unwell with these symptoms, please advise parents to contact their GP practice or contact NHS 111 (which operates a 24/7 service) to seek advice.
If a child has scarlet fever, advise they stay at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Encourage parents to trust their own judgement and if their child seems seriously unwell call 999 or go to A&E if:
a child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
there are pauses when a child breathes
a child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
a child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.
Managing confirmed cases
Early years settings and schools should contact their UKHSA health protection team if there is an outbreak of 2 or more scarlet fever cases within 10 days of each other and the affected individuals have a link, such as being in the same class or year group.
Further information for staff on how and when to do this can be found here: Managing outbreaks and incidents – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If there are confirmed or suspected cases in an education or childcare setting, there is no reason for children to be kept at home if they are well.
How to help prevent Strep A?
To prevent the spread of Strep A, UKHSA advises children, young people and staff to implement good hand and respiratory hygiene practices.
For more information please visit the UKHSA website
Where can languages take me? Ex-Bilborough student, Matt, used his Geography and Language A levels to kickstart a career in the charity sector as well as travelling around the world. We caught up with him recently to find out how he got there!
Matt Cooke, Supporter Engagement & Income Generation Officer at Framework Charity.
It’s a job where no two days are truly the same. I work as part of a small and amazing team and our primary goals are to increase the profile of the charity in the areas within which we work, raise awareness of homelessness and raise funds so that we can continue to provide the vital and lifechanging services that Framework offers.
I primarily look after our relationships in the community and so spend much of my time working with schools, youth groups, colleges, universities, faith groups and other community groups to facilitate opportunities for them to support our work.
I also help organise events and work with individual supporters to make sure they are happy and feel included in what we are doing, especially those who choose to make a major donation to Framework or to leave us a gift in their Will.
I studied Spanish, German and Geography at Bilborough from 2011-2013.
Having studied languages at Bilborough and continued these at University, I always intended to pursue a career in which I could use my language skills on a daily basis. I did do this for a few years whilst at University and after graduating, spending time living abroad in Germany and in Central America and working for large multinational corporations where I was able to put my language skills to good use. This was really fun and a great experience, but for personal reasons I wanted to try something a bit different and ended up making a move into the charity sector.
Whilst I am not using my language skills directly in my current job, studying languages taught me so much more than just the language and has allowed me to develop some really important skills and build my self-confidence. It is only because I studied languages that I have been able to have all the experiences I have had to-date and am able to do such a good job in my current role.
After leaving Bilborough I went on to study Translation Studies with German and Spanish at University and spent time working and volunteering in Germany and Nicaragua. These were some of the best experiences of my life so far, but it was studying at Bilborough that gave me the confidence and belief to go out there and grasp these opportunities.
Take every opportunity that comes your way and keep an open mind. There are so many paths you can follow when you leave Bilborough – not just in terms of the working world but in terms of life as a whole – and if you work hard and dream big at Bilborough, you could find yourself walking down any of them. You’re incredibly lucky to be studying in such an amazing environment, so enjoy it and have no regrets.
I would also say that, when it comes to the world of work, find a job that makes you happy and don’t be afraid to experiment and try different things. There is nothing worse than not wanting to get out of bed every morning to go to work. Find something you are passionate about because, when your job becomes a passion, you’ve won.
I don’t think I have a particular highlight or moment that I look back on. I just loved my two years at Bilborough and would say that, by taking every opportunity available to me, I was able to get the very best out of my time at college.
Who knows – I am loving working in the charity sector and for now am looking to make a career out of it. But life takes you to unexpected places and I know there will be other opportunities and different paths that become available. I plan to keep an open mind and enjoy the ride!
With thanks to Matt Cooke for sharing his career story with us!
If you are an ex-student of Bilborough and you would like to share your story, please email [email protected].
5 Years on since leaving Bilborough, we caught up with Sara to chat about what she’s up to and find out how Bilborough, particularly Music Technology, played a role in her journey to studying her PhD in Artifical Intelligence and Music.
Hey! I am Sara Cardinale, I am a PhD Researcher in Artificial Intelligence and Music at Queen Mary, University of London. Specifically, I am researching and inventing new ways to use AI to generate music for film and videogames.
There is no average day! One of the benefits of the job is that I set my own schedule, so I can work on what I like when I like (unless a paper deadline is looming!). This brings its own challenges, I have to efficiently manage my time to keep on track but the freedom I have to explore such an interesting area is worth it.
My time is usually split into reading papers to make sure that I am aware of other research in my area, sending/replying to emails and other admin tasks, attending seminars and research group meetings, and… doing research! I have my own research projects that will end up becoming my PhD thesis, and side projects. When I spend time working on my research project, it usually starts with reading some interesting papers in my area that inspire me and give me ideas for a new project or an insight on how to improve something that already exists. When I am excited by a new idea, I start thinking about the details such as what is the motivation for this new tool or improvement I am making, and how will it work.
Not all ideas work! Sometimes I have to find ways to overcome problems, and sometimes it’s back to the drawing board. Not every step is forward, but that’s the nature of research. Then, after a few weeks (or months), the project starts taking shape. When I’ve finally solved my problem, it’s time to write. I submit research papers to all sorts of venues, journals, conferences, and workshops to share my work with other researchers.
I love how creative yet scientific this job is. Although it is hard and mentally tiring at times, I love being a researcher and wouldn’t change it for anything!
Sara Graduates from Bilborough in 2017
I attended Bilborough college from 2015 to 2017. The subjects I chose were Music Technology, Psychology and Ethics and Philosophy. I had just moved to the U.K. from Italy, where the education system is very different. I had studied music theory and performance for most of my life, so I wanted to try something new that Italy’s education system did not offer.
Absolutely not! I knew I wanted to go to university and that’s about it. I remember thinking that I wanted to take a break from music and maybe consider a career/degree in something else. After taking music technology at Bilborough, I decided to stay in the music world, but I would have never thought I would end up where I am now!
I studied Creative Music Technology at the University of Surrey, then straight onto the PhD. During my time at university, I was exposed to academic research and realised how much I enjoyed it.
I would probably tell college Sara to be more confident in herself and her skills.
Absolutely! I owe a huge thank you to the Music Tech 2015-2017 staff. Before attending Bilborough College, I had never done any music production or composition, and they made me fall in love with the subject. I had the best time attending lessons and working on my projects. If it was not for them, I probably would not have chosen music technology as a subject at university, and maybe would have continued with music performance, or even chosen a completely different field.
Right now, I am in my second year, out of four, of my PhD. After I graduate, I plan to become a lecturer, teaching AI and music techniques and creative computing to undergraduate music students.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Sara for sharing her story and taking time from her busy research schedule to talk to us.
If you are an ex-student of Bilborough and you would like to share your story, please email [email protected].
Our students are celebrating outstanding results again this year, rewarding the huge effort they have made over the last 2 years of study.
Click the link above to read the full press release.
Newly released figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that former Bilborough College students who graduated from university last summer went on to achieve a higher proportion of first-class degrees than the average for those who had previously attended private schools.
A total of 43.4% of Bilborough College students from the most recent cohort to graduate from university achieved first class degrees compared to an average of 40.7% for the independent sector and 37% for the state sector. Of those who went to Russell Group universities, 97.4% achieved either a first or a 2:1, compared to 94.3% for the independent sector and 92.1% for the state sector.
Of that Bilborough College cohort, 120 students came from areas with the lowest HE participation rates, who also outperformed the national averages both for first class degrees and for firsts and 2:1 degrees combined. The entire independent sector only sent 570 students from areas with the lowest HE participation rates in total out of over 30,000 students who went to university from this sector. This demonstrates that Bilborough College is a true engine of social mobility for the region.
Dave Shaw, Principal at Bilborough College, said: “This is a significant achievement for those Bilborough College students who go on to university. We are extremely proud of our outstanding examination results, and in many ways these figures represent an even bigger success as they show that we have helped our students to develop the necessary independence, resilience and perseverance to succeed beyond the age of 18. These are skills that will serve them well in the workplace and in wider aspects of their lives, as well as in exams. We are proud that Bilborough College, which serves students from Nottingham, Derby and beyond, provides such a positive benefit to the local community.”
This latest positive news follows on from Bilborough’s recent successful bid to build a new teaching block to cope with the increase in student numbers that the college has seen over the last few years. A new 10-classroom building housing Maths, Physics, Electronics and Esports is scheduled to open in September 2023.
For more information contact David Shaw on 0115 8515843
Notes to editors: Bilborough College is a specialist, publicly funded sixth form college located on the west side of Nottingham in a purpose-built study campus. It has approximately 1900 16-18 year old students on individual programmes of study centred around A Levels and Applied General Qualifications. The large majority of students go to university, including many to Oxbridge and the Russell Group, where data suggests that are more likely than average to complete and achieve first class and upper second class degrees. The remainder go into higher level Apprenticeships, employment or further training. The college is part of Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT) which is sponsored by Coventry University and is the only MAT to have Sixth Form Colleges and sixth form education as its focus.
A group of five Bilborough College A-level Geography students played a key role at the recent Young People’s Green Growth Assembly event at East Midlands Conference Centre, organised by the Midlands Engine. The students presented their ideas to a group of local business leaders, politicians, and experts. They found the event exciting, empowering, and challenging, and a great opportunity to make their voices heard. The students were enthused and energised by the event and even featured in a piece for the TV on the BBC East Midlands Today programme.
Simon Holland, Course Leader for Geography at Bilborough College said, “We are passionate about offering our wonderful students opportunities to go beyond the basic exam specification and prepare them for life. In Geography we have developed a wide range of such projects and links. I also think the experts, politicians and business leaders also got a crucial insight into the views and concern of young people about the future and how this can be made brighter, greener and more sustainable for all.”
Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine who organised the Assembly said, “Our region is already at the forefront of delivering world-leading low carbon innovation. The Midlands Engine Young People’s Green Growth Assembly has demonstrated the huge appetite, of our Midlands Engine partners and our region’s young people, to go even further and take steps right now to shape a greener, cleaner and better future. The discussions we’ve had here today will be essential to inform how we mobilise and deliver this plan – a vital milestone in our region’s journey to net zero.”
The latest issue of the college magazine – Folio is below.
https://view.publitas.com/p222-16718/folio-issue-3-final-version/page/1
Read more stories.. Simon HollandBilborough is a vibrant, positive and supportive place to work. The staff and students are wonderful to work with. In short, Bilborough has something special about it.