Carlton Bolling College celebrates outstanding Ofsted success

Aliya Azad Y11, Head Girl commented: “Carlton Bolling is a place where teaching is outstanding and learning is enjoyable. A very safe environment for children to learn and have fun. A few of the reasons why I enjoy coming to school.”

Aniq Atif Mir Y11, Head Boy added: “Our school is built up of four walls. These walls hold tomorrow.”

A Bradford secondary school has been rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted just over two years since it was in special measures.

Carlton Bolling College has been given the top Ofsted rating in a recent report published, after the inner city Bradford school was inspected last month.

Inspectors rate the school’s leadership and management, its teaching and learning, pupils’ results and the personal development, behaviour and welfare of students as being outstanding. The school’s post-16 provision is rated as good.

At its previous inspection two years ago it was rated as requires improvement and before this was in special measures.

Now staff and pupils at the school are celebrating after Carlton Bolling was found to be outstanding in a glowing Ofsted report.

Inspectors say all staff and pupils share Headteacher Adrian Kneeshaw’s highly aspirational vision for the school and are “absolutely committed” to being successful.

Teaching at the school is said to be outstanding. Carlton Bolling’s teachers are praised for using their subject expertise and knowledge of the progress being made to ensure lessons meet the needs of all pupils exceptionally well.

The report says that as a result of the very effective action taken at the school, teaching, learning and the school’s achievements have all significantly improved and are now outstanding.

Inspectors are also full of praise for pupils at the school. Ofsted says their behaviour and attitude to learning is exemplary and that students are working hard to achieve their potential.

The report adds: “The Headteacher and his senior leaders have absolute passion, commitment and vision for Carlton Bolling College. The Headteacher has successfully created a culture and ethos in which pupils and staff are enthused and excited to excel.”

Leaders are said to ensure that pupils are prepared exceptionally well for life in modern Britain. Ofsted highlights the fact that the work done at Carlton Bolling College to educate young people on the dangers of extremism is recognised both locally and nationally.

Governors have been praised for providing excellent support and challenge to school leaders.

Bradford Council had previously helped support Carlton Bolling College with the creation of an Interim Executive Board which helped to lead on governance after Ofsted had raised concerns in 2014. Now a new governing body is in place and Ofsted has praised the way in which this process has been managed.

Headteacher Adrian Kneeshaw said: “This report shows the fantastic progress Carlton Bolling College has made. We knew that we could achieve this. Everyone at the school from our leaders, teachers, pupils, governors and parents have worked incredibly hard to ensure our young people achieve their potential. The school and its pupils can now look forward to a bright future.”

School kiddos go to college: Year 6 pupils at Bradford primary school get a taste of further education

Year 6 pupils from St Matthew’s CE Primary, Bradford, were given a real taste of what’s on offer at Bradford College when they visited the campus.

Some 60 Year 6 pupils, 30 on each day, were given an extensive tour of the College on Thursday and Friday 13th and 14th July, where they met with students who they had previously spent time at the school.

Known as College Ambassadors, they helped the pupils gain insights into a range a courses and careers, and into the general life of post-school study.

The pupils saw the engineering and technical workshops, science labs and library. From the top floor of the main building, they were able to see the Bradford cityscape. The day ended in a media studio where groups of pupils made a talk show video. They took on the roles of either hosts, guests, camera operators, sound engineers or directors. They are looking forward to seeing the short films.

Included in the tour was a visit to a hair salon, a boxing gym, and a statue of Sir Edward Appleton, who won a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1947 while working at the former Bradford Technical College, which later became Bradford College.

Last November students from the College answered questions from pupils about life as a student as part of a Year 6 Careers Week. The event was organised to encourage the pupils to have high aspirations and consider further and higher education once they leave secondary school.

A second session, called Your Future and Higher Education, was held at the school in February. It gave pupils an insight into studying Higher education and the students answered frequently asked questions about courses, entry requirements and the costs involved.

The events were part of Bradford College’s Get Involved scheme which runs the College’s Further and Higher Education Progression Packages.

Headteacher Kay Remmer, said: “Our Year 6 children had a great time at the Bradford College campus. They came back excited about what they had seen. All three sessions have helped our Year 6 pupils make well-informed decisions about their future Further and Higher education choices, aspire to engage in higher qualifications and to be the best that they can be.”

Plenty to cheer about at Bradford Sports Awards

Bradford College student Harris Akbar is celebrating after being named Bradford’s Young Male Sportsperson of the Year – for the second successive year.

The boxer, who studies sport and trains at the Bradford Police and College Boxing Academy at the college’s Trinity Green campus, was hailed as one the district’s Young Achievers at the Bradford Sports Awards 2017 that was held at the Bradford Hotel on 2nd March.

He won the same honour 12-months ago at the inaugural ceremony.

Since last year’s award, the 17-year-old has added a World Youth Boxing Championship bronze medal to his impressive catalogue of achievements.

The Great Horton teenager travelled to St Petersburg in Russia with England for the AIBA tournament in November and was the only member of the national team to bring home a medal.

He has since been called into the Great Britain Academy squad alongside Keighley-based Olympian Muhammad Ali, a former Bradford College student, who represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics last summer.

Ali was highly commended in the Sportsman of the Year category at the prestigious awards.

Akbar, who goes by the nickname Hurricane Harris, dreams of following in Ali’s lead.

"Now I am in the GB Academy squad, joining Muhammad Ali, it will hopefully bring my boxing up to the next level,” he said.

"Training hard is the path to winning."

Also celebrating was Harleen Kaur who is a Year 13 pupil at Appleton Academy, which is part of the Bradford College Education Trust. Ranked number two in the world at kickboxing, she picked up the award for Student Sportsperson of the Year.

Another former Bradford College student was among the night's big winners - shooter Michelle Smith. The 33-year-old, who achieved a distinction in her Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching at Bradford College University Centre, was named Female Sportsperson of the Year.

She won gold, silver and bronze last May at the English National Championships, was part of the Great Britain team that won the Randle Trophy in August and also became British Long Range women’s champion.

Unfortunately she was unable to be present to collect her award because to coaching duties.

The Bradford Sports Awards are organised by Active Bradford to celebrate the inspiring achievements of Bradford’s sporting heroes from professional sports clubs and future stars in the making, through to the grassroots volunteers.

Bradford ‘goes all exotic’: College hosts international fair with over 20 countries represented

20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES: Mexico, Kuwait and Kenya were amongst just a few of the places that were represented

The cultural diversity of students at Bradford College was celebrated at an international fair.

On Tuesday 6th December, the Culture Show went off with a bang at the college’s David Hockney Building and saw students of various nationalities sharing their culture and heritage, whilst discussing their personal histories and back stories.

SHARING CULTURES: Stalls and activities ensured everyone had an amazing time

More than 20 countries were represented including Mexico, Kuwait, Kenya, Brazil, Panama and China with students showcasing food, dance and traditions from their home nations.

FUN: Students had an amazing time sharing their stories from around the world

A college spokesperson said: “The aim of the event was to provide students and staff the chance to share their culture with stalls and activities demonstrating many of the different nationalities that make up Bradford College.

“Bradford College is a real international community and it was great to celebrate that diversity and vibrancy it brings to campus.

“Each culture had a stand that displayed their national colours, costumes, traditional cuisine and music.”

COLOURFUL: A fabulous day was had by all who attended

Festive open day: Plan your future with Bradford College

Bradford College is hosting a festive-themed open day on Wednesday December 7 for anyone interested in starting courses in January or September 2017.

Youngsters in their last year of school considering what to do next and people interested in a university-level qualifications are all invited to come and explore the college and its full range of courses between 4.30pm and 7pm.

The college offers a wealth of Further and Higher Education Courses.

Further Education courses offered include GCSEs, AS and A-Levels, NVQs, Diplomas, BTECs and Apprenticeships.

At the college’s University Centre students can study HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees and even postgraduate courses such as our Masters programmes and PGCEs.

The event takes place at the college’s award-winning David Hockney Building on Great Horton Road in the city centre.

Visitors will have the opportunity to speak with teaching staff, existing students, careers advisors and finance experts. They can also take guided tours of the stunning campus and see its top-notch facilities.

Lecturers from each of the college’s departments will be on hand to offer advice and guidance about choosing a course and how to apply.

For those of a creative persuasion the college’s two artistic school, the Bradford School of Art and The Northern School of Creative Industries will be open to prospective students too. Tutors will be on hand to offer advice, mini workshops will be running and budding students can bring in their portfolio for feedback.

To add a festive flavour to the event, there will be a Christmas-themed photo booth for guests to use, Christmas music playing and tasty Christmas refreshments will be served.

Explore Bradford College: November open day for sixth form students

Get Involved with Bradford College and make a date to come to our next Open Event and find out more about our range of A-levels and GCSEs at our very own Sixth Form.

We are holding an exclusive Sixth Form only Open Evening from 6pm until 8pm on Wednesday 9th November 2016 in the David Hockney Building within our main city centre campus. Come and find out how we are different from school and where our 2016 Sixth Form students achieved an impressive 98% pass rate.

As places fill up fast on our A-level courses make sure you apply on the night and you will receive a conditional offer at the same time.

On the evening you will be able to gain useful advice on how to help your son or daughter to choose the right A-levels, learn more about our wide-range of A-levels and be provided with details about the new GCSE scoring system.  There will be hands-on activities running throughout the evening which you can participate in and you will get to see how we differ from a traditional school environment.

If you want to win some Netflix vouchers you can enter our selfie frame competition and use our brand new and fun photo booth.  If you have never visited Bradford College before you might want to take a tour of our multi-million pound campus and try out some of our state-of-the-art facilities for yourself.  Our student ambassadors will be on hand to give you the low down on student life, whilst our experienced staff can offer advice and guidance – including details about financial and learning support.

Courses delivered at Bradford College are designed with employment in mind. Our links with employers help us equip you with the skills you need to land a job. That’s why 96% of our current students would recommend us to a friend and 95% achieved what they set out to do at Bradford College.  Students also say that the College has really helped them to prepare for university, better than school ever could, due to being given extra independence and greater emphasis on taking responsibility for your own learning. College life is fun too; we have a vibrant award winning Students’ Union, offering a number of clubs and societies. You can take your first step into the world of work and earn some money at the same time through our Student Ambassador Scheme, working on activities such as open days, campus tours and promotional events.

The entire campus has Wi-Fi throughout, well equipped learning resource centres, a digital and creative media centre, a restaurant, hair, beauty and nail salons, a spa and café bars.  Our superb sporting and fitness facilities are based at the state-of-the-art Trinity Green Campus and include a large sports hall, a sports and fitness testing suite; a dedicated sport therapy room; an aerobics and dance studio complete with a fully sprung wooden floor; a multi-use games area; two basketball courts designed to Sport England standard; three 5-a-side pitches and a full size football pitch, a gym and boxing academy.

To pre-book your place at our Sixth Form Open Evening on Wednesday 9th November 2016 go to bradfordcollege.ac.uk/sixthform

Be a p-ART of Bradford College: College to hold art and creative conference

Year 13 school pupils who are contemplating a career in art, design or the creative industries are being invited in to Bradford College to investigate their options.

The college is throwing open the doors of its Bradford School of Art and Northern School of Creative Industries on Wednesday November 2 and laying on presentations and taster sessions designed to help students decide what they want to study at university level.

There will be demonstrations of media make-up and special effects, workshops on interior design fashion and textiles, film, graphics and photography.

Attendees will learn about entry requirements, the UCAS application process and will also get the chance to chat to tutors and expert advisors about the huge range of Higher Education courses on offer at Bradford College University Centre.

Visitors will also get the chance to tour the multimillion campus and will receive a complementary lunch in one of our onsite cafeterias.

The event runs between 10am and 3pm and entry is free but places must be booked in advance via the Bradford College website

Studying at Bradford College University Centre will expose you to a diverse mix of people with students coming from different cultures and communities, varying in age, race and religion, guaranteed to enrich your learning experience.

Outstanding facilities include the recently built £50 million David Hockney Building, a new £10 million Advanced Technology Centre, as well as a Restaurant, Salon, spa and much more for you to enjoy.  

Bradford College is based in the heart of Bradford city centre- perfectly placed for local transport links and access to the city's night life and culture.

‘He threatened to shoot me’

OFFICE TARGETED: Paula Sherriff’s office was the scene of the shooting threat in Dewsbury earlier this year

Iraqi man in court over alleged threats to take rifle to local college

A case worker at the office of Dewsbury South MP Paula Sherriff has this week appeared in court to detail the moment an Iraqi man allegedly threatened to shoot her and students at a local college.

Julie Ward told Leeds Crown Court about the moment Jasem Saeed, 39, threatened her life if he did not obtain a passport during a meeting on Wednesday 9th March.

Saeed is said to have become aggressive and was shouting at Mrs Ward because he wanted to return to Iraq to see his family.

“He said if I didn’t give him his passport he would shoot me. This is when alarm bells started ringing for me,” Mrs Ward said

“I couldn’t see a gun - but I wasn’t to know he didn’t have one.”

After speaking with her officer manager, who subsequently warned Saeed to calm down or he would be asked to leave, she later returned with fellow case worker George Flesher.

Mrs Ward told the court that Saeed continued being aggressive and also threatened to shoot Mr Flesher.

She added: “He mentioned some type of rifle that he would go away and get - a rifle that had 30 rounds and he would go to a local college and shoot 29 students and then shoot himself.

“Although he had threatened us that was my main concern, if he did not get what he wanted, which I knew I couldn’t give him, that he would actually go into the community and do what he said he would do.”

Saeed was escorted out of the office with staff contacting the Home Office and West Yorkshire Police to report the incident.

In court this past week, Saeed admitted affray but denies two charges of making threats to kill in relation to Mrs Ward and Mr Flesher.

He claims he was misunderstood as his English was not very good, adding that he did not threaten to shoot either case worker or the students at a local college.

Instead, Saeed says he told staff that he wanted to travel back to Iraq to fight against Daesh. He said he told Mrs Ward that he would go to a college in Mosul that trained Daesh soldiers and kill 29 people there before killing himself.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, told the jury: “You wanted them to be in such fear they would help you because you didn’t think they were trying enough.”

Saeed was previously granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK until 2025 yet had been attempting to obtain the necessary travel documents to visit home.

He had previously contacted the MP’s office but says nothing had happened.

In response to Mr Adlington’s claims, he said: “I am not a child to behave like a child,” adding: “That is your interpretation of this incident, not mine.”

Arts and smarts: College and arts group commit to working together

PARTNERSHIP: Bradford College Group CEO, Andy Welsh, and Kala Sangam CEO, Ajit Singh, shake hands after signing the memorandum

Bradford College has signed a collaboration agreement with one of the city’s most established south Asian arts programmes in the UK as they aim to ‘enrich their student’s learning’.

Kala Sangam promotes the arts, heritage and culture of south Asia, both nationally and internationally, and was set up in Bradford in 1993.

Building on a strong existing relationship, the two organisations have committed to work closely together on projects for the benefit of both organisations.

Speaking for Bradford College, Damien O’Keeffe, head of its Northern School of Creative Industries, said he was delighted to see the partnership strengthened.  

“The aim of signing the memorandum of understanding is to create clear links between Kala Sangam and the College that will enrich the curriculum, extend opportunities for our students to gain experience of working with an arts organisation of national and international significance and to share good practice in arts-based teaching and learning,” he said.

“The potential for artistic and research collaboration is great and could really enrich our students' learning, and the city's cultural offer.”

Kala Sangam is an award winning organisation, whose co-founder, Dr Geetha Upadhyaya, was recently named as a recipient of an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Ajit Singh, chief executive of Kala Sangam, said: “Kala Sangam is delighted to have agreed a memorandum of understanding with Bradford College.

“This is all the more special to me being an alumnus of the College but also as it will mutually benefit both organisations with regards to educational enhancement, vocational training opportunities and creative cross collaborations.”

Dozens of staff members and students from the College discovered more about the arts group when it threw open the doors of its centre at St Peter’s House in Forster Square for an open day earlier this month.

Workshops in classical Indian dance, south Asian percussion and storytelling were all held with real enthusiasm from all in attendance.

Apprenticeship awards: Kirklees College student’s hard work is recognised

RECOGNISED: Maariyah Rawat Syngenta with her certificate

Apprenticeships are essential to the economy and can be found in businesses both large and small. 

Proving an immediate solution to staff shortages, bringing enthusiasm to the workplace, new skills and commitment to their employer’s business, they are proven to help businesses grow and be invaluable to succession planning.

Now three apprentices from Kirklees College have been awarded at the Kirklees Apprenticeship Hub Awards at the John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield to mark their achievement of apprentices working or living in the area.

The apprentices have been nominated by their employer or learning provider because of their commitment, hard work and achievements whilst being an apprentice.

The awards also recognise businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to their apprenticeship programme and the young people they employ.

Suki Singh, from Huddersfield, who works at Kirklees College as an admin assistant and is studying a L2 Apprenticeship in Business and Administration, was named as 16-18 Intermediate Apprentice of the Year.

AWARDED: Suki Singh has been rewarded for his hard work

Maariyah Rawat, from Batley, is studying an L3 Process Manufacturing Apprenticeship at Kirklees College and won the 19+ Intermediate Apprentice of the Year.  Her employer Syngenta won the Apprentice Employer of the Year award.

And Mary Wroe, from Quarmby, Huddersfield, was named 16-18 Advanced Apprentice of the Year. She works for Kirklees Active Leisure and is studying a L3 Engineering Apprenticeship at Kirklees College.

The event included speeches from Kirklees Council’s Assistant Director of learning Gill Ellis and Deputy Assistant Director Martin Green. The awards were presented by Commercial Director of Huddersfield Town Football Club Sean Jarvis.  

Apprenticeships are essential to the Kirklees economy and can be found in businesses both large and small.  They provide an immediate solution to staff shortages, bring enthusiasm, new skills and commitment to their employer’s business. They are proven to help businesses grow and be invaluable to succession planning.

Appeal to help pay off debtors as paralysed mum returns home

APPEAL: Mohammed Yeasin was forced to borrow around £40,000 to cover the expense of medical bills after his mum was involved in a car crash in Bangladesh

‘Help me help my Mum’

A college student from Bradford, who was forced to borrow tens of thousands of pounds to pay for his mother’s medical bills, says he is in urgent need of support to pay off his family’s debts.

Twenty-year-old Mohammed Yeasin was loaned money from friends, family and acquaintances in 2014 after his mother, Mahfuza Khatun, was paralysed in a serious car accident during a visit to Bangladesh.

With no travel insurance, the family, who relocated to the UK in 2009 as refugees, were paying between £600 and £1,000 a night for Ms Khatun’s treatment.

Although she was eventually moved to a cheaper hospital, bills could still top £200 a night, and Mohammed was left with no choice but to borrow funds.

Today, Ms Khatun is back in her Bradford home where she is cared for by Mohammed and his two siblings, Jasmin Yeasin, 16, and 18-year-old Mohammed Ismail.

It has been a ‘very difficult time’ for the family to overcome and Mohammed says he has had to undertake a new role in the house.

“We are definitely still struggling,” he said. “It’s very hard for all of us but I thank God that my mum is home safe.

“I never expected to be responsible for the house, gas, electricity, all the benefits, when I was just 20-years-old - but I am. I also have to balance all of this with my college and it does get very hard.”

Mohammed says he is being asked daily for repayments of loans from members of the community but he does not have the money.

Previously, he struggled to ensure food was on the table for his brother and sister yet now, with access to his mum’s disability benefits, he is able to ’just about’ care for the household.

“When my mum was involved in the accident, all I wanted to do was bring her back and in order to do so I had to loan money from people,” he added.

“I understand that the people who helped me with funding are not rich people – most of them are refugees like me, from Burma, living here in Bradford.

“They gave me the money for my mum but they need it back. They need to apply for their citizenships and have costs of their own. Every week I am being told ‘we need our money’ but I don’t know how I am going to pay them.”

He continued: “What money we do receive from my mum’s disability benefits are spent on bills and on her health. I want to look after my mum but we are stuck. If anybody could help it would be amazing.”

The family have previously attempted to apply for governmental support but were unsuccessful.

“I have tried so many ways to get support from the government but they are just no use,” Mohammed added.

“I thought this was the UK, where families who have so many troubles and problems can get help. We have not.”

To add to Mohammed’s financial troubles, he is still waiting for a refund from the holiday operators, who organised the Bangladesh trip in 2009, and says he is owed in excess of £2,500.

After being told that his mother could not fly because of her inability to sit up, the flight company refunded the travel agents. However, Mohammed says this money has still not been returned to his family over 18 months later.

“They have no right to keep that money,” Mohammed said. “That should be helping my family. It should be helping my mum.”

If you are able to help Mohammed and his family please contact him via email at mohammedyeasin93@yahoo.com

Over 180 years of excellent education makes Bradford College a top choice

 Come down to the college’s Open Day in March 2016

Bradford College has delivered quality education and training to the public for over 180 years. With a wide range of Further Education courses, Bradford College delivers hundreds of courses to over 20,000 students per year.

Our award-winning college is a friendly, welcoming place to study with a good reputation for offering outstanding support to our students in all areas of College life. Our proven reputation is based on industry experience, excellent teaching and a commitment to student success.

We pride ourselves on providing exceptional student support, so if you are considering your next steps into education, we are here to help you every step of the way to ensure you are on the perfect course.

We help our students to secure relevant work placement opportunities on full-time courses and many of our students have gone onto enjoy successful careers in their chosen field after studying with us.

Our teaching staff are dedicated and highly qualified, as well as being totally committed to ensuring every learner develops to their full potential.

Our 2015/2016 Further Education Prospectus provides information about our huge range of career-focussed courses for people aged between 16 and 18.

We offer courses in a wide range of subjects including: Access to Higher Education, Apprenticeships, Arts and Media, Beauty Therapy, Business, Computing, Construction, Education, Early Years, Engineering, English, Entry Pathways, ESOL, Film, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Hospitality and Catering, Mathematics, Public Services, Science, Sport and Travel and Tourism.

If you are unsure of what you want to do next then come and talk to us.  We are here to help you every step of the way.  We have years of experience and you can choose from a staggering choice of courses, a variety of career focused subjects and qualifications to start you on the right career path.

Our teaching staff are dedicated and highly qualified, as well as being totally committed to ensuring every learner develops to their full potential! 

Visit our next open day on Saturday 19th March 2016 between 11am – 2pm to find out more about our courses, meet our tutors, talk to our students and try hands-on activities which will give you a flavour of what your chosen subject is really like. You can also take a tour of our impressive new campus.

For more information about Bradford College or details about courses starting September 2016, please contact our friendly Course Enquiries Team on Tel: 01274 433333, Email: information@bradfordcollege.ac.uk or visit: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk. You can also be part of the College community by liking us on Facebook, or following us on Twitter.

Bradford Muslim College

TEACH: Yusuf, 1st Year full time student at Bradford Muslim College

Creating young and dynamic scholars, academics, teachers and imams

A group of young Muslims from Bradford came together earlier this year to launch a new Islamic College for the benefit of the Muslim Community.

The Bradford Muslim College was launched in November by friends, Hamzah Khan, Muddasir Ul Haq and Hafeez Aziz with the intention of creating young and dynamic scholars, academics, teachers and imams who would be able to teach and educate the community and represent Muslims well in politics and the media.

The College will officially begin classes in January 2016, offering a number of courses including a one year Foundation Diploma for students who want to learn the basics of Islam such as the rules of prayer and the message of the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an.

The flagship course that the college will be offering is the four year undergraduate Alimiyyah Degree for students who want to study Arabic and Islamic Studies at an advanced level with the intentions of becoming teachers and Scholars.

Hamzah Khan, one of the Directors of the College, explained more about why the college has been set up.

“For countless years the Muslim community has been crying out for well spoken, highly educated leaders and representatives who can teach the traditional message of Islam and give clear and unequivocal information about what the Islamic stance is on some of the very complex and challenging situations the world faces today,” he said.

“These leaders have not been forthcoming, so we decided to do something about it by setting up a College with lecturers of the highest calibre in areas such as Arabic, Islamic Law and Quranic understanding.

“Our College is determined to develop great teachers and leaders who can defend Islam from the extremes on both sides of the spectrum – far right extremism and radical religious extremism.

“We hope and expect that our graduates will be able to go out in to society and spread the real message of Islam which is one of balance, tolerance, mutual respect, harmony and selflessness – it is such an important message of reassurance that needs to be delivered in the times of conflict, tension and worry that we live in.”

One of the unique aspects of the curriculum that the Bradford Muslim College has devised is the balance between the study of very traditional subjects such as Arabic Grammar, Fiqh and Hadith (taught for hundreds of year in Islamic Universities from Fez in Morocco to Baghdad in Iraq) with that of very new topics such as contemporary affairs, Islam in Britain, History and Heritage, and the History of Muslims in the UK.

Hafeez Aziz, who teaches at the College, explained the reasoning behind this bold move.

He added: “The whole purpose of the college is not to simply produce people of knowledge, but to produce people of knowledge who have an acute awareness of the context and needs of the community and society in which they will work and the political and social challenges that they will need to address.

“We want to produce teachers who can make the way they teach Islam relevant to people’s lives and in touch with all of their problems and needs. We are hoping that this curriculum will achieve that for us.”

To find out more about the Bradford Muslim College or to apply for one of their courses starting in January 2016 visit www.BradfordMuslimCollege.org.uk

College chief defends Prevent strategy

DEFENCE: Kirklees College Principal, Peter McCann, says the college has been applauded for its work on the Prevent agenda

‘At this moment in time, going to ISIS is like the new trend’

A BBC documentary, featuring views from students at Kirklees College in ‘support’ of extremist organisations such as the Islamic State, has been slammed by the institution’s principal.

Peter McCann says the college’s work with the government’s Prevent agenda has been ‘applauded’ by the Home Office and said he was proud of the ‘social cohesion work’ provided for the local community.

The college had been selected to feature on BBC Radio 4’s Today Show after being designated as a priority area for the government’s counter-extremism strategy amidst concerns of the influence of online grooming via jihadi propaganda.

One student, who is not named in the feature, says that joining the extremist group is the ‘new trend’.

“In a way I don’t blame them for going because they are looking for a better life,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today Show.

“They fantasise that they are going to have this luxury life. At this moment in time going to ISIS is like the new trend. You get all the young lads going.”

The documentary team also interviewed Polly Harrow, head of student’s services, who spoke about the college’s work with the Prevent scheme.

Mr McCann said this work has always been taken ‘very seriously’ by staff and students alike.

“As is the expectation of all educational establishments, the Prevent agenda is taken very seriously at Kirklees College,” he said.

SPOTLIGHT: A BBC Radio 4 documentary heard accounts from pupils at Kirklees College labelling the action of joining IS a ‘trend’

“We recognise that as part of West Yorkshire, we are based in a priority area for our Government to work with all young people. We are part of a network of local and national organisations who are responsible for safeguarding those who are vulnerable and at risk of radicalisation.

“Kirklees College has been applauded by the Home Office for the positive work it has been doing with the local authority on the national Prevent programme, providing support for young people at risk of radicalisation.

“The college is a harmonious community with students from very many social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and we are very proud of the social cohesion work we provide for the community of Kirklees.”

Earlier this year, Mirfield Free Grammar pupil Talha Asmal, from Dewsbury, Kirklees, was named as Britain’s youngest suicide bomber after fleeing to join IS.

Cooking up success

SIGNED UP: Students currently on work placements in the catering sector celebrate with Stafflex and Kirklees College staff, (l-r) Jude Flatley, KC Works project manager for Kirklees College; student Humairaa Ghazan; Maggie Netherwood Stafflex business development manager; student Mercy Dengure; Linda Kitson, HR manager for Polyframe

Work experience scheme launches at local college

Kirklees College have joined forces with employment experts, Stafflex, to provide students with a platform to gain valuable work experience and help employers create their future workforce.

‘KC Works’ gives employers the opportunity to ‘try before they buy’ by taking prospective employees on for work experience to see if it works out first.

Meanwhile, students will get a better understanding of individual organisations and the workplace – giving them valuable employability skills for when they leave college to work.

Local employers were invited to a launch event in the college’s Landings 72 Restaurant on Monday to find out how they can get involved either though offering work experience or placements or taking on an apprentice.

Kirklees College vice principal Melanie Brooke told employers the scheme was about developing work-based employability skills.

“Too often we hear that young people aren’t prepared for work,” she said.

“We can give them the knowledge, skills and techniques but you’re the people who can mould them into the employees of the future.

“Kirklees College is a high performing college specialising in vocational training. We are not a last option, we are the first choice for the right students and together we can get young people into employment and help regenerate the local area.”

Jude Flatley, KC Works project manager for Kirklees College, added: “Stafflex are experts at employer engagement and Kirklees College are experts in education so hopefully together we can give students exciting work placements and help employers fill the gaps in their workforce with skilled people.

“We are really passionate about this project and giving our students the best opportunity for work when they leave college.”

The Stafflex team will help to prepare the young recruits for employers from across the region, many of whom are already clients of the long-established recruitment firm.

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney also attended the launch and said he would be supporting the scheme by taking on an apprentice.

College has TATA-Talent

LEARN: The PETA team from Bradford College are currently developing a skills curriculum for workers at Tata Motors

New links forged between Bradford and India

Indian automotive giants, Tata Motors, have been forging new links with a leading Yorkshire college recently as the next generation of Indian workers step into 21st century learning.

Bradford College has been strengthening its international links with the industry leaders, working with their suppliers, the Lucknow Excellence Cluster, on helping to train up the south Asian workforce.

The Indian automotive industry is facing intense competition at the moment, with the skill shortage highlighted as one of the key areas of concern by the Indian business community and government.

Established in 1945, Tata Motors Limited is India’s largest automobile company and employs over 60,000 people.

With a strategic alliance established with Fiat in 2005, it now has dealerships, sales, services and a spare parts network of over 6,600 touch points across the world.

And now, with support from British Council, and the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, the Lucknow Excellence Cluster is working with Bradford College’s Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) team to develop an appropriate skills curriculum for the Tata group.

There have been two previous visits, initially a team from Bradford College set up the project and this was followed by a visit to Bradford College from a group from Tata Motors and the Lucknow Excellence Cluster.

Visits to local firms were arranged and the delegation was introduced to the concept of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle. Attendees felt the visit was a success and returned to Lucknow, in India, to continue developing the curriculum.

Bradford College is now half way through the project and have started the professional development process of turning Engineers into trainers.

The Lucknow Excellence Cluster employ thousands of staff, so potentially 100 trainers are needed. In order for the project to be sustainable, a programme of training ‘Master Trainers’ was developed and delivered over four days by Kirstin Sawyer, Cathy Mitchell, Richard Nelson and Andy Naylor from the PCET Team in India.

The attendees were drawn from a range of businesses and developed the skills to plan, deliver and assess teaching and learning.

As well as the training sessions, the PCET Team experienced wonderful hospitality, with visits to famous sites in Lucknow, such as the Bara Imambara and the British Residency. The team also learnt about Chikan, which is the traditional embroidery of Lucknow.

Andy Naylor, Curriculum Team Leader for PCET said: “Working with the group was a really rewarding experience.  People were friendly and respectful and importantly the food was great.

“The most rewarding aspect of the trip was that the training we delivered had a significant impact on how people viewed teaching and learning.

“The approach to training in India is often quite traditional but this didn’t stop them taking on board new ‘learner-centred’ approaches to teaching and learning.”

Two more visits from the Lucknow Excellence Cluster to Bradford College are planned before summer, in order to further develop the curriculum and continue building the Moodle site.