Gobowen

Happy to serve up delicious dishes

13th October 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College’s Garden Café has been open since July, providing a delicious menu of home-made lunches, breakfasts, snacks, cakes and drinks.

The café has been adapted to ensure visitors, staff and students are kept safe. But you can still expect the same quality fare and service with a smile that we’ve always served up. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Customers to the café are expected to wear masks until they are seated at their tables, with service now all provided at the table. Tables are limited to six unless a group are all from one family bubble. And all surfaces and facilities are regularly sanitised.

Regular customers have said how nice it is to see homemade meat and vegetarian specials are back on the menu again, alongside a variety of fresh, home-made food. The usual Garden Café menu includes lunches, light bites, breakfasts, cakes and drinks.

Front of house shift leader Fiona Owen says that customers are getting used to the new way of eating at Garden Cafe. She says, most are really happy with the measures in place.

She says: “Customers are welcomed by the main door by a member of staff. We then take contact details or asks visitors to scan the ‘track and trace’ barcode if they have it on their mobile phones. We take everybody’s temperatures before showing to a table.”

Fiona and the team have been delighted with comments from customers who have appreciated the efforts they’ve gone to.

Here are just a few:

“The café was well presented and I felt it was a safe environment,” – a visitor who works locally

“It’s so nice to see that homemade specials are on the menu again” – a regular customer

“ I feel safe and welcomed, “ – a customer with COPD

“I think this is the cleanest place I’ve been to!” – a first-time customer

“That was the best homemade veg pie I’ve ever had, and the scones are delicious” – lunchtime customer

Gold standard for Derwen College

30th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Students Tom and Courtney with Work Experience Co-ordinator Abi Baker.

Derwen College has been awarded a top Gold standard award in recognition of its work experience opportunities and work programmes for students.

The specialist further education college, near Oswestry, has received a Gold certificate and trophy from Fair Train – an organisation which champions high quality work-based learning throughout the UK.

Derwen College, in Gobowen, provides vocational learning and work experience for 16-25 year olds students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The College has developed strong external business opportunities with national and local businesses.

Hospitality and Housekeeping students work in Premier Inn housekeeping and Gobowen Station Café in a partnership with Severn Dee Travel; Horticulture students work at Oswestry Cemetery and Treflach Farm; Retail students work at Spar, in Llanfyllin and Severn Trent Water; and Performing Arts students work at Gobowen Playgroup, and as part of sign, song and dance group Derwen on Tour and inclusive storytelling group DC NarraTours.

The college also offers internal work experience on site in commercial areas which are open to the public including the Karten Print Shop, Garden Centre and Shop, and Garden Café.

The college houses a Premier Inn training facility where students learn the skills needed to work in a Premier Inn hotel. This experience then leads to work experience at Premier Inn hotels in the area. This has gone on to become paid work at Premier Inn for 20 former Derwen College students.

Derwen College has achieved Fair Train’s Gold Standard.

Derwen College’s Work Experience and Transition Team are pleased to have received the nationally respected Work Experience Quality Standard at the highest Gold level.

Abi Baker, Work Experience Co-ordinator, said she was delighted that the hard work of staff and students at Derwen College had been recognised at the highest possible level.

“We are really pleased to have received the Fair Train gold quality standard award which shows we are following Fair Train’s high standards of practice at the top Gold level. Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard is a widely and highly respected accreditation. We have worked closely with Fair Train to ensure we maintain the highest possible standards.”

Fair Train was created in 2009 by a group of people from the voluntary and community sector to address the lack of availability and uptake of apprenticeships in the sector. More than 400 organisations – employers, learning/training providers and facilitators – have now achieved Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard. Sadly, this is Fair Train’s final year of operation, due to the impact of Covid-19 on the sector.

Derwen College continues to work with businesses to provide quality work experience opportunities for students working in Hospitality & Housekeeping, Retail, Performing Arts and Horticulture.

Meet Derwen’s new Head of Technology

23rd September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Shropshire specialist FE college Derwen College, in Gobowen, has appointed Dan Rowley in a new position as Head of Digital Services and Technology.

The college, which teaches vocational and independence skills to young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), started a new academic year with Dan in his new role as head of technology.

Dan has a wealth of experience working in IT in educational settings. He has held previous positions as Strategic IT Manager at Thomas Adams Secondary School, in Wem; worked as IT support at Concord College, near Shrewsbury; and at Adams Grammar School, in Newport.

Dan was delighted to accept the role which sees him further establish and grow the college’s technological expertise. Technology is used for student support, management information systems, data collection and staff communications.

“We will be building on existing systems and upgrading where necessary. My role encompasses all technology at the college from management information systems to technology that support students in their learning, care and wellbeing.

“I am particularly excited to be looking into technology to assist students’ learning,” he says.

Impressed by current innovations

Dan says he was very interested to work at Derwen College, especially after doing his research on the college which provides work training, work placements and independence skills.

“I was very impressed to see the work the college had already embarked on. The college has developed some innovative apps to support students into work, which I’m very interested in. As well as systems to streamline information across college departments.”

In addition to his IT and networking knowledge, Dan hope to bring his expertise in education and working with young people to the role. He has previously worked as a boarding tutor, and is interested in getting to know and understand students and staff.

He said: “With current Covid safety guidelines it has been difficult to interact with students and staff as much as I’d like immediately. However, I believe it is important to all work together to achieve the very best for the college.

“I am keen to move away from the ‘IT Crowd’ type stigma of the IT team hidden away. It’s vital that we are visible, and listen and react to student and staff feedback.”

Dan is married – he and his wife-to-be eloped to New York last Christmas. He has two young children, a two-year-old son and a new-born daughter. When he has time (and isn’t exhausted) he likes getting out on his bike to relax.

Natalie Bellis, Derwen College Director of Human Resources, said:

“It is a pleasure to welcome Dan to his new role at Derwen College.

“We value his expertise in IT and experience in a wide variety of educational establishments.

Derwen College uses technology to support students and staff in many different ways, and it is vital that we keep abreast of the latest systems and technological advancements.

“We are confident that Dan and our existing IT team, in collaboration with staff and students, can enhance Derwen’s position as a leading light in technology in specialist further education.”

A message from Derwen College’s Principal

2nd September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College Principal Meryl Green welcomes students back to College:

“Welcome to the Autumn term and the start of a new academic year 2020-21.

We have all had quite a year, with everyone adapting to new circumstances on a constant basis throughout 2020. Now though, we are all looking forward to seeing returning students back in college and welcoming our new learners beginning their college life at Derwen. As always, our students continue to inspire and amaze us with their ability to adapt and their resilience to change. We have witnessed some fantastic learning at home, and the link between college and families has been strengthened.

Things will look a bit different at college for the foreseeable future. Student and staff safety is paramount, and measures have been put in place to support our learners in understanding and adhering to government guidelines around Covid-19.

We hope that this new ‘normal’ can be achieved with as little disruption as possible.

Derwen College Admissions team are pleased to be back fielding enquiries from potential new students and their families, and we are gradually reintroducing tours of our college site (albeit slightly differently to usual).

Our online prospectus can be viewed here.

You can also revisit our recent Virtual Open Day.

And finally, some exciting news to share – back in July we were absolutely thrilled to win the Natspec Award for Innovative Use of Technology. This was for our continuing work around developing apps to support students in the workplace. You can find out more on our latest news section.

Yours sincerely,

Meryl Green

Principal

874-mile walk in aid of Derwen Charity

31st July 2020 by Eluned Watson

Intrepid teams of Derwen College Charity students, staff and supporters have signed up to a virtual walk which covers the length of Britain in just one month.

Teams of six are walking 874 miles in 31 days. That’s an average of five miles every day throughout August for every participant. Walkers are taking on the challenge to raise money to support students at Derwen College.

Each walker will be logging individual walks every day to make up the distance from Land’s End to John 0’Groats (LEJOG).

So far four teams of six are taking on the challenge to walk and raise funds to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at the Gobowen college. The funds help finance their learning, work placements and independence skills. And it’s not too late for anyone else keen for a summer charity challenge to join #DerwenLEJOG! Just email fundraiser Anna at anna.evans@derwen.ac.uk

Some of the teams are students and their families, keen to do their bit to support Derwen College Charity while keeping fit over the summer months.

Fundraiser Anna and daughter Gweni made it to the top of Oswestry Hillfort as part of the Derwen LEJOG Challenge.

Many of the walkers joined after a planned Snowdon charity challenge was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity has also suffered losses from the cancellation of its top fundraising events, the annual Sponsored Walk and Summer Fete.

Derwen College fundraiser Anna Evans is taking part, and is keen for supporters to join in the challenge or back walkers by making a donation.

She said: “Like most charities, we have felt the impact of the pandemic with a huge loss of funds in 2020. Sadly, we have had to cancel our main fundraising events. We estimate that we have lost more than £50,000 in donations this year.

“I am over the moon that students, staff and other supporters have agreed to take on this difficult challenge to help recoup some of our losses. With the backing of sponsors, we believe the blisters will be worth the effort.”

You can make a donation to Derwen College Charity LEJOG walkers here.
To find out more about entering a team or joining an existing team, email anna.evans@derwen.ac.uk

Nest Box Week at Derwen’s Garden Centre

13th February 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College National Nestbox Week — Retail students have created a Derwen Nest Box Week display and a special bird lovers’ hamper.

We’re marking Nest Box Week at Derwen College Garden Centre with shopping, activities and special offers for fans of Britain’s much-loved feathered friends.

There’s something for ornithologists of all ages to do over the school half-term holiday week. Because, at Derwen College Garden Centre Shop, we’re celebrating Nest Box Week from Monday 17^th February to Sunday, 23rd February 2020.

We’re calling on young ‘twitchers’ to enter into the spirit of National Nest Box Week with a bird-spotting competition of our own. So, there will be five metal robins hidden around the shop for you to find. Every person who manages to identify all five will receive a sweet treat. Then all entries will be entered into a prize draw to win a special mini Nest Box Week hamper.

The shop is also offering 10% off the college’s upcycled birdboxes. These birdboxes were created by students as part of their work experience. There’s also a ‘buy one get one free’ offer on bags of bird food. So shoppers can to keep bird feeders and bird tables stocked through until spring.

Bird spotting

Over the winter months, Derwen College staff and students have been filling bird feeders outside the Garden Centre. Because of our effort we have spotted many regular visitors. These include two robins, a couple of plump pigeons, Great Tits, jackdaws and a little Jenny wren.

Garden Centre Shop commercial supervisor Sharon Jones says the team have enjoyed getting to know their winged visitors.

“We have lots to do over the half term week for bird lovers. We’d love shoppers to come and join in the competition, support birds in their own gardens, and spot some of the regular birds who visit the Derwen bird feeders. We even have a huge buzzard who regularly flies over the football field. We think he’s after the moles.”

Derwen College commercial areas provide work placements for students with special educational needs and disabilities. The site offers a Garden Centre and Shop, Garden Café with outdoor play area, Orangery Restaurant and a popular Woodland Walk.

National Nest Box Week is an annual event that takes place every year from the 14th to 21st February. It has been running for over 20 years and is now an important part of the ornithological calendar. St Valentine’s Day was chosen for the start of National Nest Box Week as it’s the traditional date when birds pair up for the new breeding season.

Gobowen