Welcome to the Northampton College blog, giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at life at Booth Lane, Lower Mounts and Daventry.
This blog features the thoughts of both staff and students, providing invaluable advice on student life as well as reporting on all that's happening on campus, whether that's the latest sports events, a fashion show or theatre performances.
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This time of year is awards season. From glitzy red carpet affairs in a swanky London theatre to a bit of fun at end-of-year office parties, it’s a time to celebrate success and look back on the hard work undertaken throughout the year.
Here at Northampton College it’s no different. Our annual awards ceremony is always a highlight of the curriculum calendar and this year was no exception.
We had some great news in the most recent edition of FE Week, the newspaper for the further education sector. Northampton College was rated joint second in its NICDEX, a ranking of all FE colleges in England. Here, we’re in pretty lofty company, with some of the very best UK colleges around us. The NICDEX uses UK data to rank colleges based on student and employer satisfaction as well as the proportion of younger and adult students who move on to good quality work or further study.
Today was my first experience of a Remembrance Day two minute silence.
It was really thoughtful and impressive to see my peers pay their respects.
Seeing students and staff with the poppy flower on their chests come together in the Courtyard was incredible. At the front our Public Services students saluted and marked in remembrance the lives that were lost during the war. I thought to myself this was really impressive and peaceful.
Beginning the process three students read a few words to the waiting crowd. One was read in Russian and the rest was English.
Make friends and support your fellow students. Here are a few top tips for helping shy or self-conscious students feel safe and supported.
• Why not try approaching students sitting alone in the canteen or in class. Remember, some people can appear unsociable or confidence, so it is important to reflect on your choice of words before making an approach.
• Talk about your hobbies first to help the person also talk about something. This helps to create a comfortable and friendly conversation where there is no tension.
Northampton College’s Year 1 Media and Year 2 Journalism and PR students were given the chance to go to the Warner Bros Studio in London for ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ tour.
Being a relatively knowledgeable fan of the Harry Potter franchise and part of the generation that felt as if they grew up with the child actors, I was embarrassingly excited.
However, my typically cynical self wasn’t expecting too much. Maybe a room of some props used in some of the later films, a set or two and a canteen to buy the infamous Butterbeer. I was ignorant to say the least. It was massive. I was unaware that the whole studio (so, basically an air bunker) had been taken over by film sets, green screen, costumes, visual effects, props, prosthetics, and of course, a Starbucks.
