Eluned Watson

Icing sugar snowmen, stars and gingerbread men were amongst the festive decorations adorning stunning Christmas cakes created by Derwen College hospitality students for a competition.

Teams of catering students competed in a competition which saw them bake and decorate Christmas cakes from weighing out ingredients to the magical finishing touches. The winners were picked by guest judge Mark Fisher owner of Sebastian’s Restaurant, in Oswestry.

Due to the high standard of entries, Mark found judging the cakes exceptionally hard, eventually awarding joint first place to the ‘Northern Stars’ and ‘Team Seals’.

The Northern Stars impressed with a classic white and cold star themed creation, whilst Team Seals opted for a jolly gingerbread man theme.

Mr Fisher, who has been a chef for 46 years, said that the standard of entries was very high.

He said: “It was very difficult to judge. The attention to detail on all the cakes was excellent. Students have obviously spent a lot of time creating intricate decorations, all of which were completely different and original.”

Students started making the cakes back in October, and were tasked with baking the cakes, feeding them brandy, and covering them in marzipan before icing and decorating.

Hospitality and housekeeping students learn catering skills in the college’s food production centre, Orangery Restaurant and Garden Café.

Christmas cakes handmade by students are available to buy in the Garden Centre shop along with Christmas gifts, cards, plants and decorations.

For more information regarding Derwen College’s shopping and eating facilities go to www.visitderwen.co.uk

A creative student has won a competition to see her Christmas design adorn the official greetings card of the nationwide Association of Colleges (AoC).
Amy Jude is a 21-year-old residential student at specialist Derwen College, in Shropshire. She won a Christmas card design competition organised by the Association of Colleges. As the winner, her vibrant design features on the AoC’s official Christmas greetings card for 2019 – both card and electronic GIF versions.
Amy, from Hereford, was awarded with a voucher for her hard work. She said she was happy and surprised to have won the competition with her heart-shaped creation which features iconic Christmas images such as stars, stockings, holly and a Christmas pudding.
She said: “I was really shocked when I was told I’d won. I phoned my Mum straightaway and she was shocked too. I like art and design, and enjoy using bright colours and strong shapes. For this design, I drew a Christmas pudding, stocking, holly, parcels, baubles and stars. I used marker pens to make the colours stand out.”

‘Fantastic design’

Association of Colleges Chief Executive David Hughes picked the winner of the competition.
He said: “We are delighted to be using Amy’s fantastic design on our Christmas cards. It’s great to have talented students designing cards for us and this year the standard of entries was extremely high as always. Amy’s stood out through her use of such vibrant colours and the spirit of giving and a time to celebrate was clear. We’re very proud to be circulating it far and wide this festive season and I am sure everyone will love it!”
The former pupil at Barrs Court Special School, in Hereford, is in her first year at specialist college Derwen College – a further educational college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She is following the college’s Creative Arts pathway.

Derwen College students are being supported to have their say about the running of the country in the upcoming general election.

Learner Voice and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) teams worked with students during a Derwen College General Election Workshop. The impartial workshop helped learners to gain a better understanding of each party and their election promises; supporting them to make an informed decision on who they would like to vote for on 12th December.

North Shropshire candidates supplied statements which were read out aloud to students. The students were also familiarised with each candidate’s name and party logo.

The workshop explained the different parties, party leaders, North Shropshire candidates and election promises. Statements were read from candidates for Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and The Shropshire Party

The workshop answered questions including where to vote, what help students would be allowed on the day, how to mark a ballot paper and whether or not to tell people how you have voted.

Learner Voice co-ordinator Sarah Laszlo said: “It was essential that each candidate was given a fair hearing and that we remain entirely impartial. We knew it was unrealistic to organise for all five candidates to visit at the same time. We therefore asked them to provide written statements that we could deliver.

“I was really impressed with how engaged students were by what is an undeniably complex topic. There was some passionate debate about many issues that directly concern students. Many of them are keen to have their vote on 12th December.

“As a college, we have only just had our Student Union Board elections – where candidates make a speech and students hold a secret ballot as to who they believe would best represent them – so the democratic process is fresh in their minds.”

Democracy in action

Many learners at the College will be voting in a general election for the first time.

However, students are familiar with the democratic process through the College’s robust programme of Learner Voice.

Derwen College is proud to actively promote British values including democracy. It supports students to influence decision making, at national, local and community level.

Learner Voice encourages Derwen College students to develop discussion, negotiation, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

A representative and at least one deputy representative from each department sit on the Student Union Board, with every student being part of the democratic election process each October.  Student Union Board representatives meet with the college’s senior leadership team and governors every term. During these meetings, the representatives voice and carry forward peers’ ideas.

Derwen students are active members of the National Union of Students (NUS) and are involved in Natspec’s Student Parliament.

Derwen College has been part of the National Union of Students since 2008 and was the first specialist college to join. Students vigorously lobby for the rights of all young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.