Latest News

Students have put together a delightful collection of Derwen Handmade produce and crafts for this very special Easter Hamper.

The condiments have been produced in the Bradbury Food Centre using (where possible) Derwen grown ingredients and the craft items have been created by students in the Creative and Performing Arts department.  The hampers are packed, processed and distributed by our students at our Craven Arms site.

Our Derwen Easter Hamper contains:

• Lemon Curd
• Marmalade
• Blackberry Jam
• 2 large meringues
• Simnel cake
• Handmade gift (may vary)
• Handmade card

Click here more information and to order on-line

The Autumn 2015 newsletter is now available.

Click on the image below to view the newsletter.

Great news!  Our 2015 Graduation photos have arrived.

You can now purchase the graduation photos from our online shop.

Emails have been sent out directly to parents and carers of our leavers.  If you haven’t yet received an email notification, please ring us on 01691 661234 or email us on [email protected]

We are delighted to confirm this fantastic opportunity for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities to take part in competitions at The Skills Show, Saturday November 21st 2015.

The competitions will be in Cabinet Making and Data Processing

Find a Future, in partnership with Natspec, AoC and AELP have selected two Abilympic competitions and have tailored the criteria to challenge UK learners with learning difficulties and disabilities who are working at or towards level 1.

You can see from the Abilympics link www.abilympics-france.fr/bordeaux2016 that there are competitions in a range of skill areas.  We have taken the decision to select from the range described as ‘basic’ as we believe it is about ability rather than disability – we are keen to develop an inclusive approach for learners who, due to their disability and or learning difficulty are studying at lower levels.

After The Skills Show, we will be looking at the possibility of taking a small team of individuals to Abilympics in Bordeaux in March, to observe and potentially to take part in the competitions.

Entry criteria

Contestants must be:

• aged 16 to 25
• working at or towards level 1
• able to provide official written evidence of their disability

Please express your interest to [email protected] 01691 661234 by 16th October – spaces are limited so allocation will be on a first come first served basis. Laura will be able to give you more detail and take you through next steps.

The WorldSkills finals were held in Sao Paolo, Brazil from 11^th to 16^th August and Louise Keevil, Director of Corporate Services at Derwen College, joined the UK delegation, where UK competitors gained an amazing three gold, four silver and 2 bronze medals.

Natspec have been the driving force behind the fight for developing the model for an inclusive approach to competition for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities. It is our vision that these learners will compete at international level in vocational skills competitions, alongside their mainstream peers, at their appropriate level.

Working in close partnership Natspec, Find a Future, AELP and the Association of Colleges are hoping to take the first UK competitors to the Abilympics in Bordeaux in March 2016.

Abilympics is currently the only opportunity for competing internationally available to learners with disabilities. First held in Japan in 1981, it is very much eastern influenced, but has been embraced by Skills Finland who train the Finnish national team for WorldSkills.

It will be the first time that Abilympics have been held in Europe since its conception.

The WorldSkills 2015 finals proved to be the ideal opportunity for the dynamic group that was Natspec, Association of Colleges, Find a Future, Finland and France to come together in discussions to move the vision forward.

It is anticipated that the selection process for the chosen categories will take place at the Skills Show being held at the NEC in Birmingham 19-21 November 2015.

 

 

 

 

Image shows: UK delegates meeting with members of the Abilympics movement at WorldSkills finals in Sao Paolo, Brazil.  Left to right Matti Kauppinen (Finland), Noel Roger (France), Louise Keevil (Derwen College/Natspec), Jill Goddard (Find a Future), Benoit Roger (France), David Smith (Association of Colleges).