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Three talented Beauty Therapy students from Southern Regional College competed in WorldSkills UK which took place at Belfast Metropolitan College on Tuesday 17th June 2014. Lorren Ganley from Lurgan Campus, Shannon Moran from Newry Campus and Aisling Hillen from Newry Campus took part in the intermediate heat alongside the best Beauty Therapy students from across Northern Ireland.
Competitors were judged on waxing, manicure and make up techniques. Shannon who studies on the Newry campus of Southern Regional College beat off stiff competition to be crowned winner in her section. High scoring competitors will progress onto the WorldSkills UK live final in November in NEC Birmingham.
The WorldSkills UK competition offers students and trainees the opportunity to benchmark their abilities against industry peers, perfect their skills and demonstrate their Beauty Therapy talents. They also have the opportunity to go on the represent their country at Worldskills in Abu Dhabi.
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There are still a few hurdles (or competitions) to negotiate but three of Southern Regional College's finest apprentices have been selected for the UK Worldskills Squad from which the UK Team that will compete in São Paulo will be selected. Worldskills is held every two years and in 2015, like the World Cup now and the Olympics in 2106, it will be held in Brazil. Worldskills is a showcase of the skills of young people. Every 2 years over 1000 18-25 year olds across the globe compete in over 40 skills ranging from Aircraft Maintenance and Beauty Therapy to Web Design and Welding.
At the recent squad Selection Competition Shane Brannigan, Hilltown, Gary Doyle, Ballyward and Brendan Magee, Mayobridge, fought off competitors from across the UK to make it into the Squad. To make it to Brazil, the trio will have to undergo intense training programmes supported by Training Managers and Performances Coaches between now and May 2015. This will be nothing new to the trio who have had previous successes in skills competitions: Brendan who is employed by Ryan O’Gorman Painting and Decorating won the Northern Ireland Gold medal for Painting and Decorating in 2013; Gary who works for Kieran Trainor Plumbing won this year’s Plumbing Gold medal and was crowned Young Apprentice of the Year at the recent Northern Ireland Skillbuild competition; and, Shane, employed by Martin Johnston Plumbing and Heating is the best plumber in the UK having won UK Gold in Birmingham last November ( Gary got the Silver).
Mr John Quinn, Director of Employer Engagement & External Relations at Southern Regional College, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Shane, Gary and Brendan are in the UK Squad for Worldskills. Their commitment and professionalism as well as the support of their employers and our staff will give them opportunity of making it onto the UK Team and participating in the experience of a lifetime in Brazil. The only disappointing aspect is that Shane and Gary are competing with each other – the best two young plumbers in the UK! Brendan faces a challenge from two other apprentices from England. I wish Shane, Gary and Brendan every success in the year ahead, may the best apprentices win! ”
Keith Smith, Official Delegate, WorldSkills UK said: “By taking part in international competitions, the UK is able to showcase the high levels of performance that can be achieved by individuals and organisations through high quality further education, skills training and Apprenticeships. I offer my congratulations to everyone who has been selected to compete in the Squad UK Selection for WorldSkills Sao Paulo 2015 and I wish them the best of luck in their preparations for the Competitions.”
Participating in WorldSkills enables countries to share best practise in Apprenticeships and vocational teaching, raising standards on a global scale. The competitions showcase the high levels of performance that can be achieved by individuals and organisations through quality training, inspiring young people and adults to be ambitious in their pursuit of skills to the highest level.
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With local school pupils getting their A Level results today staff and students at St Mary’s High School are celebrating another successful year of excellent results at ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Level.
The Principal, Mrs Margo Cosgrove, praised the 100% pass at ‘A’ Level with 71% achieving the highest grades A* - C.
She commented, “the students have maintained the high standards within the school and these excellent results reflect their dedication and commitment to their studies. These students have also made a very positive impact on the life in the school through their many achievements and fine leadership qualities. Hard work, excellent teaching, pastoral support and the dedication and support from parents ensured the students achieved their potential, allowing progression onto their chosen course at University, College or Higher Education”.
The Principal also acknowledged the enriching effect of St Mary’s collaboration with St Colman’s College, St Mark’s High School and the Southern Regional College.
Newry City Sinn Féin Councillor Valerie Harte sent her congratulations to the School commenting "Well done to all the students, principal Mrs Margo Cosgrove and her staff. There was 100% pass at "A" Level with 71% achieving the highest A-C grades" said the local Councillor who continued "We are all very proud of this school and the continuing high standards it is maintaining".
Mayor of Newry & Mourne Dáire Hughes commenting of the achievements of students from throughout the area said "I would like to congratulate all those young students getting their results today, well done to you all. The results also are a credit to the professionalism and commitment of teachers and parents
The Mayor added "For those who did not achieve the grades you wanted, there are many avenues open to you and I would urge you to explore these by talking to your teachers and parents".
He concluded by stating"I sincerely wish you all every success for the future, whether you decide to go on to study A Levels, take up a new course, go into training or employment.”
Top St Mary's students 2014
Michaela Doherty A* A B Sports and Exercise Sciences, Business Studies and Religious Studies
Shannon Doyle A A B Business Studies, ICT, Moving Images Arts
Nicola O Gorman A* B B Sports and Exercise Sciences, Business Studies, Health and Social Care
Lauren Carrol A B B Health and Social Care, Business Studies, Religious Studies
Kate Madine A* A A Sociology, Business, Health and Social Care
Danielle Kinney A B B Child Development, Business Studies , Art
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Education Minister John O'Dowd spent today in the Newry area visiting schools on results day.
Visiting Newry High School and St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, Education Minister John O’Dowd said: “I would like to offer my best wishes to all those who have received their exam results today. I know that these results are the culmination of many years’ hard work by pupils, with support from their teachers and families. I congratulate all involved.
“This year, there have been 31,600 entries for A levels, representing a 3.8 percentage point (pp) decrease on last year, however it looks like a short-term decline as entry figures for AS level have increased by 5.2pp to 45,751 this year, the highest entry for AS here since its introduction in 2001. It is encouraging that more pupils are continuing with their education after the age of 16 and I hope this trend will continue in the coming years.
“The implementation of the Entitlement Framework has opened up a world of choice for pupils sitting A levels. Every pupil is different and they stand the best chance of succeeding if they follow courses that interest and inspire them. Pupils here continue to perform particularly well and I am delighted to see STEM subjects such as biology and maths ranking amongst the most popular choices for pupils.
“However, not all pupils will get the results they were hoping for today and I urge those young people not to worry. Help and advice is available to you and I encourage you to speak to your teachers, careers advisers and parents to discuss your future career or study path.”
Results at A level remain relatively steady with a slight increase in the percentage of entries being awarded the top A* grade, rising from 7.2% last year to 7.3% in 2014. At A*-A there was a slight decrease of 0.8pp from last year to 29.9% whereas entries achieving A*-C rose slightly to 83.7% (83.5% in 2013). The percentage of entries achieving the overall A*-E pass rate has remained broadly similar at 98.1% as opposed to 98.2% in 2013.
Commenting on the achievements of students from throughout the area the Mayor of Newry and Mourne Dáire Hughes said "I would like to congratulate all those young students getting their results today, well done to you all. The results also are a credit to the professionalism and commitment of teachers and parents".
The Mayor added "For those who did not achieve the grades you wanted, there are many avenues open to you and I would urge you to explore these by talking to your teachers and parents".
He concluded by stating "I sincerely wish you all every success for the future, whether you decide to go on to study, take up a new course, go into training or employment.”
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said: “The importance of making an informed decision following exam results is imperative to effective career planning. Taking time now to explore options will pay dividends in the future. There are many opportunities available to you and I would urge you to examine these fully. My Department’s Careers Service can help you unlock your potential.
“Careers Advisers are located across Northern Ireland and offer professional, impartial advice and guidance on the options available. Careful consideration should be given to these as they are the first step towards achieving a fulfilling career. I would urge you all to visit NIdirect careers webpageexternal link for a wealth of useful information and the location of your nearest careers adviser or, alternatively, you can call 0300 200 7820.
“Northern Ireland’s further education colleges also offer you the opportunity to study from a wide range of part and full-time courses to suit your career path, with options including Foundation Degrees, A Levels, GCSEs, NVQs and apprenticeships. You may want to consider an apprenticeship, where you have the opportunity to develop specialist skills, giving you the chance to earn while you learn and gain qualifications that are recognised worldwide. I recently launched the ICT Apprenticeship Scheme so for further details visit NIdirect apprenticeships webpageexternal link relating to their exam results eg appeals, remarks, re-sits, please contact your exam centre or the CCEA helpline on Tel No: 028 9026 1260 or email: helpline@ccea.org.uk.
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Cllr Dáire Hughes, Mayor, Newry and Mourne District Council has congratulated young people from the area who received GCSE results yesterday noting the number of students achieving A*-C grades increased this year.
Commenting the Mayor said "Well done all from the Newry & Mourne area who received GCSE results today. They should be proud of the hard work they have put in towards their GSCEs. It can be an emotional time for young people and I would encourage anyone with concerns about the results they have received today to work with careers advice providers to help them make the best choices about their future."
This year:
78% of entries at GCSE here achieved grades A*-C, an increase from 76.5% in 2013.
The top grades, A*-A, were awarded to 28.2% of entrants, a slight increase from 28% in 2013.
The A* grade was awarded to 8.9% of entrants compared to 8.7% in 2013.
The overall pass rate has remained the same as last year, with 99.2% of grades awarded at A*-G.
Compared to 2013, the proportion of entries for English getting grades A*-C rose by 4.2 percentage points to 73.0%.
Compared to 2013, the proportion of entries for maths getting A*-C rose by 1.6 percentage points to 66.2%.
Department of Education Minister John O'Dowd noted that local young people have performed strongly yet again, with increases in the proportion of students achieving the A*-C grades and in those achieving the very highest A* and A grades.
Congratulating those who got results, Minister O’Dowd said: “Today is a momentous occasion in the lives of thousands of local young people. It can be a time of high emotion but it should also be a time for young people to be proud of the hard work they have put in over the last two years towards their GCSEs.
“These young people now face choices about their future. Many will decide to continue their studies, either at their current school or perhaps in a new one. For some, the best choice will be to move into further education or into training or employment.
“Whatever choice they make and whatever grades received, I offer my sincere congratulations to all who have received results today.
“Inevitably there will be some who may feel disappointed that they did not achieve the grades they had hoped for. To those I say, do not panic; this is only one chapter in your life, seek advice and move on to the next chapter. Talk to your teachers, to your parents and families and make use of the services available that can provide useful help and guidance. There is a future pathway for every young person and these services can help identify the right one for you.
“Those who do stay on at school will experience even greater choice in their post-16 studies. From the new academic year, the Entitlement Framework policy will ensure that young people have access to at least 24 courses, both general and applied, offering clear progression routes to further and higher education, training and employment.”
The Minister went on: “I am encouraged to note that attainment by local pupils has again improved in English and maths, and overall, and that our young people continue to outperform their counterparts in other jurisdictions. This is down to their hard work and commitment and the sound support and encouragement they have received from their families, friends and teachers.
“I strongly believe, however, that progress remains to be made in future years to continue to raise standards and narrow the performance gap between the highest and lowest achievers. The number of pupils leaving school without five good GCSEs, including English and maths, has fallen in recent years and still too many finish their time at school without reaching this important benchmark. It is a key commitment of mine to continue to tackle this ongoing issue.”
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said: “The importance of making an informed decision following exam results is imperative to effective career planning. Taking time now to explore options will pay dividends in the future. There are many opportunities available to you and I would urge you to examine these fully. My Department’s Careers Service provides professional, impartial careers help to people of all ages, tailored to individual needs. This includes assistance with CVs, job applications and interviews and advice on job trends, including industry sectors and occupations which will be important in the future.
“Young people and parents can also access a wealth of useful information through the Careers Service www.nidirect.gov.uk/careersexternal link which also contains contact details of all careers advisers throughout Northern Ireland. Alternatively you can call 0300 200 7820.
“Northern Ireland’s further education colleges also offer you the opportunity to study from a wide range of full-time courses to suit your career path, with options including A levels, GCSEs, NVQs and apprenticeships. You may want to consider an apprenticeship, where you have the opportunity to develop specialist skills, using new technology, giving you the chance to earn while you learn and gain qualifications that are recognised worldwide.
“Training for Success can also provide you with an opportunity to gain the skills necessary for employment, letting you enter at the level that matches your needs, develops your employability skills and allows you to gain nationally recognised qualifications. Further information is available on the www.nidirect.gov.uk/skills ”
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Year 8 team students at the Young Enterprise “Your School Your Business” seminar held in St Mary’s High School on Friday 19th September.
Students were given an opportunity to meet new people, learn about enterprise capabilities, reflect on their own capabilities and set goals for the future.
They also learned about different jobs within the school, teaching and non-teaching and were introduced to the idea of the school as a business. The morning culminated in the groups applying their enterprising characteristics to problem solve. A fun learning experience had by all!
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Thomas Davis GFC Golf Classic 20th September 2014
This weekend Thomas Davis took on their very first Golf Classic. There were a few teams who took to Ashfield Golf Course on Friday evening but the majority of our teams came on the Saturday. Saturday was a perfect day, the weather was glorious and all our teams arrived on time and in style!!
The teams battled it out on the golf course, a few Rory McIlroy’s in the making…… All in all everyone enjoying the craic!!
Congratulations to Sid Fallone and his team (La Dolce Vita) on winning the overall competition, winning by only 1/2 point.
We would like to thank everyone who took part. The day was a great success for Thomas Davis GFC and we hope to have many more in the future.
A big thank you to our sponsors and to everyone who helped out over the weekend. There is always a lot of organising in events and praise goes to all our volunteers. Thank You!!!
All Ireland Draw
Congratulations to David and Kevin Lenaghan who won the All Ireland Tickets at our draw on Friday evening, I hope you both had a great day yesterday at the match.
Lotto
Lotto Winning numbers w/e 14/09/2014 23 24 25 26 No winners Next Week’s jackpot £2,800
We would like to thank everyone who week in week out takes time to sell our lotto tickets, buy our lotto tickets and just generally supports the lotto. Your help and generosity is greatly appreciated.
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Southern Regional College were one of six regional Further Education (FE) Colleges to visit The Long Gallery at Stormont to showcase their roles in widening participation to higher education.
The event, sponsored by the Committee for Employment and Learning, was attended by key stakeholders including business and trade unions representatives, MLAs, as well as staff and students from the six regional Further Education Colleges.
A number of interactive exhibitions highlighting the range of Foundation Degrees, Higher Level Apprenticeships and Higher National Diploma courses offered by the FE sector were on display.
The exhibitions included courses from right across the priority skill sectors, namely, ICT, financial services, advanced manufacturing, life and health sciences and creative industries & digital media.
Employers were at hand to talk about their role in engaging with the Colleges. Norbrook Laboratories are involved in the Higher Level Apprenticeship in Applied Industrial Sciences (Chemical Science) offered by Southern Regional College
The event also included a musical recital from Southern Regional College students studying towards a Higher National Diploma in Music.
Robin Swann, MLA and Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee said: “On behalf of the Committee I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students and staff from our local colleges for attending today’s event and for showcasing the range, the breadth and superior level of Further Education (FE) courses available.
“The Committee is very supportive of the Department for Employment and Learning’s ‘Widening Participation Strategy’ and as such we are keen to promote the opportunities available through Further Education Colleges for those students wishing to continue towards Higher Education courses and qualifications.
“It is crucial that we ensure that all prospective students are provided with a fair and equal path towards Higher Education. Sometimes, the most able people are the least likely to participate in education and we must do all we can to encourage, promote and support their access to and involvement in Higher Education. Today’s event is an important step in highlighting the opportunities that exist in Further Education and my Committee was delighted to be involved. We look forward to working with the FE sector to promote and support future initiatives geared towards increasing participation.
Colleges Northern Ireland, the representative body for the six regional FE colleges organised the event. Gerry Campbell, their Chief Executive said “The FE sector offers an alternative route to obtaining a third level education. The sector supports over 11,000 Higher Education students annually and offers them the opportunity to progress on an undergraduate degree – in most cases this means potential progression on to the second year of such a course. In terms of success – our statistics are impressive - 37% of our higher education students are from the most deprived areas in NI and despite this we rate of 95% for retention and 91% for achievement”.
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Pupils from Newry High School, St Colman's College, St Paul's High School and St Mark's High School were just some of 270 pupils from 10 local schools to have taken part in the southern heat of this year’s Step ‘N’ Zones competition.
The Competition organised by Invest Northern Ireland as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014 (17–24 November), Step ‘N’ Zones is a series of events across Northern Ireland designed to inspire young people to be entrepreneurs.
The competition is aimed at students aged 11–14 (Key Stage 3) and challenges them to develop a business idea during a 2.5 hour session.
Sharon Polson of Invest NI’s Enterprise and Employment Team said: “This is the fourth year we have run this competition as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week and yet again we have been very impressed by the enthusiasm of all the students who took part.
“Entrepreneurship is vital to the future of our economy so it is important that we inspire our young people and provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need to pursue their ambition. The Step ‘N’ Zones competition is a great way to introduce young people to the idea of entrepreneurship and to help them develop skills such as communication, negotiation and problem solving.”
To help them with the process, the students pass through four Step ‘N’ Zones (Ideas & Research, Brand & Customers, Resources & Finance and Our Business) where they get expert guidance. The zones are facilitated by W5, YENI, Advantage NI, Sentinus and HDB Deign.
Following the event the students can further develop their idea before finally submitting it online in December. Up for grabs are cash prizes of up to £1000 for the winning school and up to £100 in high street vouchers for each member of the winning team.
One group from each local event will be shortlisted to compete in a final Northern Ireland-wide event on Friday 23 January 2015.
The local heat of the competition was held in the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh yesterday.
Participating schools
St. Colman's College, Newry
Newry High School
St. Paul's High School, Bessbrook
St. Mark's High School, Warrenpoint
St. Patrick's College, Dungannon
St. Mary's High School, Lurgan
St. Louis' Grammar School, Kilkeel
The Royal School Armagh
St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon
The Royal School Dungannon
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