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Derwen College hospitality students are perfecting their catering and table laying techniques hoping to impress judges in the finals of a national skills competition.

Students Adam Ffoulkes-Fenner and Carter Gough have made it through to the Inclusive Skills national competition final at WorldSkills UK at Birmingham’s NEC on 17th November. WorldSkills UK Live is the UK’s largest interactive apprenticeships, skills and careers event.

The duo will be demonstrating their skills in catering and restaurant service after winning Gold in their categories in the West Midlands regional finals which was hosted by Derwen College – a specialist college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Adam will be showcasing his catering skills with a breakfast theme of bacon, cream cheese and pesto bagel, granola with Greek yogurt and strawberries and pancake with mixed berry coulis. He will also be asked to prepare a fruit bowl using a selection of fruit chosen by judges.

Carter is demonstrating his table laying skills with a sophisticated silver Winter Wedding themed table for two. The dramatic table will include spotless silver cutlery and white crockery finished off with white roses and some Christmas sparkle. To complement the sense of occasion, Carter will be dressed in a shirt, bow tie and white gloves.

Catering finalist Adam – whose ambition for the future is to be a chef – said he was thrilled to be going to the competition.

He said: “In the regional finals I just did my best and didn’t expect to win. I am very excited and nervous to be in the national finals and have been working hard. My parents will be coming from London to watch me, too.”

Teacher Graham Perry ­­– who has been training Adam and supported him towards the final – said he was extremely proud of his efforts.

He said: “These students have done phenomenally well to get to the final of this national competition. I am very proud of the work they have put in and how far they have come in their time at Derwen through their hard work, ambition and enthusiasm.”

Derwen College principal Meryl Green said: ‘We are so proud of Adam and Carter – reaching the finals of this extremely tough national competition is a massive achievement and clearly shows the level at which they are working – the atmosphere at the NEC on finals day will be electric and they will have to master their nerves as well as perform to their very best under pressure ­– we wish them, and the staff team supporting them, all the very best.”

Inclusive Skills Competitions enable young people with learning difficulties and disabilities to showcase their work skills and growing independence. Working in partnership with WorldSkills UK, Natspec – the lead organisation for specialist further education – has developed the Inclusive Skills Competitions programme.

For more information regarding Derwen College and the vocational pathways and work experience opportunities that we offer click here or telephone 01691 661234 for information.

Students from Derwen College @ Craven Arms have created a poignant poppy display outside their college building to remember those who fought and died during World War I. 

Working together with learning support assistant (LSA) Claire Crippin, learners from Craven Arms created a montage to mark 100 years since the end of WW1, and remember all those who have died in wars since then. 

The display – which was supported by local hardware firm Cyril Bason Ltd and Craven Arms town councillors – was made as part of the students’ enrichment activities. It can be seen on the front of the Derwen College @ Craven Arms building, situated on the A49 in Craven Arms, and has been remarked upon by many appreciative onlookers. 

Derwen College @ Craven Arms LSA Claire Crippin explained how students had made a commitment to the project as part of their enrichment activities. 

“Students and tutors have worked tirelessly collecting materials, mostly recycled, towards the overall display. Following a visit to Cyril Bason Ltd of Craven Arms to source other materials, the students were introduced to Sharon Demos and David Evans, both directors of Cyril Bason and also Craven Arms town councillors, who then kindly donated products and poppies towards the display. Cyril Bason has also committed to donating to future projects of [email protected] Arms,” she said. 

The local community are already showing their appreciation by stopping to take photographs and pass on thanks to the students. One local resident remarked: “What a delight to see – how proud the students should feel for their hard work.” 

Derwen College works with young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, providing inspirational learning, development and care to enable the achievement of aspirations which transform lives. The college has a satellite site for South Shropshire day students at Craven Arms.  Students at Craven Arms focus on Vocational Studies, Functional Skills and Employment Skills including work experience, and independence living skills. 

Derwen College has a main site near Oswestry and satellite sites at Craven Arms, Baschurch and at Higher Penley near Wrexham. The college has received three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted gradings. 

For more information regarding Derwen College go to www.derwen.ac.uk or telephone 01691 661234.  

Zombies, ghouls and scary spooks danced through the campus of a specialist Shropshire college for some frighteningly fun ghostly goings-on for Halloween.

Students and staff from Derwen College, near Oswestry, were invited to dress up in Halloween outfits to perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller for the national Dance for Dignity campaign.

The event, which will be edited into a film, involved screams of laughter more than fear but had an underlying serious message to highlight dignity in care.

The students and staff performed the moves to Thriller down a path lit up with Halloween pumpkins that students had made during the week.

Other fun Halloween activities included prizes for the best pumpkin carving created in Independent Living Skills classes. The college also ran a special Halloween pumpkin soup offer for visitors to its Garden Café, and organised a Halloween charity quiz to raise funds towards the college’s new hydrotherapy pool.

Helen Owen, Independence, Health & Wellbeing Manager, said that everyone had enjoyed working together to create the shocking showpiece.

She said: “This year’s Dance for Dignity is a whole college event where everyone had the opportunity to get up having a great time to highlight dignity.”

A spokesperson for Dignity in Care said: “Most of us at some point in our lives will be in contact with care services, be that in our work, as a service user, carer, relative or friend and when we do we hope we will be treated with dignity and respect. More than 88,000 Champions from all walks of life have joined forces to provide a more dignified service for everyone.

“The Dignity in care Campaign, which launched in November 2006, aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care and create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of adults.”

Derwen College, in Gobowen, is a specialist college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college offers students the opportunity to learn new skills in real work environments and to learn life skills which will enable them to live as independently as possible. The college has received three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted gradings.

For more information on Derwen College go to www.derwen.ac.uk or telephone 01691 661234. To see the full video click here.