Steering their way to success

The 14-16 year old Motor Vehicle group went go-karting on 16 June at the international race track at Wilton Mill, Northamptonshire.

The group has been at College now for two years and built the go-karts themselves with the help of tutor Mick Cox.

The go-karts comprise a fixed rear wheel drive system with a single rear disc brake. They run a 5.5 horse power Honda lawn mower engine; this gives the students more than enough speed to have a good time and negates the need for a clutch, so anyone can have a drive.

The students started out slowly and gradually built up their speed, until they achieved some very good lap times. Tutor Matt Hall comments, "It was a very nice way to finish with a very pleasant group of students. Derek and I wish them all the best for their future careers."

Great British Hero Ride

Ricky Murphy, Public Service Student, reports

On 1 June three students from Dunstable College Public Services department grabbed our bikes and made our way to London Whitehall for a sponsored bike ride. Joining a further 3,000 riders, the aim was to raise money for a charity HELP for HEROES that supports injured troops across the country and helps them back onto their feet.

Chris Robinson, Joel Freeman and I arrived in London and made our way to Whitehall. We were met by 3,000 other riders, a TV crew and the press. We chatted to other riders who had just completed a 350 mile ride around Europe visiting WW1 and WW2 battle sites and laying reefs.

At 1:45 an RSM from the army gave us a final talk on the ride and then a representative from HELP for HEROES set us off and 3,000 riders entered the roads of London surrounded by the public and veterans. Every so many miles we stopped and laid a reef at different memorials on the way.

We arrived at the horse guard parade just after 3:30 where we were applauded by hundreds of bystanders and then received a final talk by the chief of the army who congratulated all the riders on the amount of money that had been raised so far. After the talk, we spoke to more of the riders and had photo opportunities with the horse guards.

We all agreed that this was an experience of a life time and were proud to have been applauded for the effort and money we had raised.

We are all signing up for next year to complete the 350 mile ride across Europe and hope to double the money we have raised this time, which is estimated at just under £400.

Student lays the foundations of success!

The Year 10 first years on the City and Guilds 6217-01 have had a go at Bricklaying on a recent taster. The students have just completed their first year with Paul Bailey on Joinery. Paul wanted to extend the course to let them have a taste of another trade. Paul comments, "This was very successful and excellently run by Tony Summers. We will include this in the curriculum next year and maybe extend it."

Success again for students at NOAH

Students based at the NOAH outreach centre in High Town, Luton, have had another successful year.

The City and Guilds Furniture Making courses Levels 1-3 have just had their yearly visit from the external verifier. A very high pass rate was achieved, with the majority of students gaining Distinctions and Credits. The EV praised the work commenting that the products were made to "industrial and marketable standards" and the Level 3 veneered jewellery boxes were "exquisite".

Course tutors Judy Eaton and Mick Thomas were delighted with the achievements and praised students for all their hard work.