Darlington College | Press

Apprentice engineer living life in the fast lane

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A YOUNG engineer’s driving ambition has seen him take pole position on the race track. Former Darlington College student Ryan Matthews is living life in the fast lane after becoming an overnight sensation in the world of stockcar racing. Ryan, 18, of Shildon, who completed a BTEC Nationa...

Mayor’s Ball Designs make a splash

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A TALENTED artist is set to make a splash at one of Darlington most prestigious charity fundraising events with her under the sea designs. Darlington College national diploma art and design student Danielle Wheatley had her artwork chosen from dozens of entries by new Mayor Bryan Thistlethwaite to ...

Young Pastry Chef of The Year

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A FORMER Darlington student’s prowess at pastry is so good he has picked up a national award from TV celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. Richard Phillips won Young Pastry Chef of The Year in a glittering event at The Dorchester in London. He picked up the top prize from the Academy of Culi...

Wood Worker Ben Marsh adds a string to his Bow

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

TALENTED wood worker Ben Marsh was ‘fretting’ about the right career when he hit the right note at Darlington College. The 23-year old joinery technician struck the right chord when he came up with the idea of making guitars from scratch. Ben, who lives at Brompton-on-Swale nea...

Outstanding GCSE results to an outstanding college

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of students turned up at college to embark on the next chapter of their lives. More than 1,000 young people aged from 16 to 18 descended on Darlington College, many clutching their GCSE results, to continue to expand their minds and skills. The College Starts Here enrolment session introd...

Football Dreams

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

DEDICATED sport students have been given the chance to use their skills on the football pitch thanks to a community training programme. Stephen Allenby and Gary Freeland are developing their skills in the Football in the Community programme in Darlington. A football and sports charity, it aims to ...

Five more excellent colleges revealed by National Skills Academy Hospitality

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The National Skills Academy Hospitality has endorsed a further five colleges after auditing the colleges for their delivery of the Professional Cookery Diploma.
Excellent content and delivery is assured by the Academy endorsement and brings the total number of colleges endorsed to 13. ...

Doors open to bright future of Funky Wood

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

NEW doors are beginning to open for a student who is using her new-found skills to help promote her family business around the globe. Darlington College student Helen Proudman is working with UK Trade and Industry to identify possible markets in the world for Funky Wood, a bespoke service specialis...

Off to Africa

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A STUDENT is preparing for a life-changing trip to Africa after being selected to volunteer in an orphanage. BTEC national diploma health and social care student at Darlington College Samantha Hayes is making final preparations for an adventure in Ghana, one of the poorest nations in the world. Sh...

College staff in cycle challenge

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

COLLEGE staff have broken the cycle of pollution by taking to their bikes to travel to work. Twenty six staff at Darlington College took part in the Cycle Challenge organised by Darlington Borough Council. They have been using their bikes instead of the car to get to work and so far have clocked u...

Connecting to Colleges

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A TOP North East DJ has been getting school leavers tuned into the benefits of further education with a Connecting to College showcase event. Galaxy Radio presenter DJ Bodg brought his mobile road show to Darlington College to help more than 1,000 prospective students get a taste of college life be...

Catering student Sam Deane lands a pukka job with Jamie Oliver

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A CATERING student has secured a pukka appointment landing her very first job with TV chef Jamie Oliver. Darlington College student Sam Deane will start work in Jamie’s Italian Restaurant, which opens its doors to the public for the very first time in Glasgow on July 5. The 18-year-old, ...

Michelin Star restaurant for Catering student Ashleigh Dale

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A CATERING student has proved to be a real star after securing a job in one of the region’s best restaurants. Darlington College student Ashleigh Dale has been offered a job as commis patisserie chef at The Star Inn, Harome, in North Yorkshire. The restaurant, near Helmsley, boasts a Mic...

Displaying Her Styling Skills Rebecca Receives Bronze

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A hairdressing student found herself in the medals after competing in a national competition. Darlington College student Rebecca Greasley took bronze in the regional heat of the World Skills event staged in Manchester. Her radical men’s and lady’s styling have now given her the...

Sophie Nails Her Design

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A beauty student nailed her design when she impressed judges with her creative thinking. Darlington College student Sophie Bingley achieved the highest score for her English country garden design in the regional heat of the World Skills competition. Her nail art feature everything from a country c...

Distance No Object For College Interview Thanks To Skype

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Distance was no object for a budding media student who was interviewed for a college place – hundreds of miles away on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean! Determined Jamie Carty lives in Cyprus with his family who are stationed on the island with the British Army. He h...

James Proves to be a Chip Off the Old Brick

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

AN apprentice bricklayer has proved to be a chip off the old block after winning through to the final of a joinery challenge. James Langstaff, who works for his father’s family building company, posted the quickest time at the North East regional heat of the Irwin Tools Ultimate Tradesman...

Beauty Picks up Bronze at the World Skills

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Beauty student Leah Kicks saw off competition from dozens of competitors to pick up a bronze award at the World Skills UK Challenge recently. Leah, won the award in the advanced beauty therapy category of the regional heat held at Newcastle College. Fellow student Emily Murgatroyd, also t...

The College Helps Salvation Army Worker Gain New Skills

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A Salvation Army worker has pledged to fight on with the skills she has developed at Darlington College. Failing a last minute miracle, Linda Chapman looks set to be out of a job when the Salvation Army hostel, Tom Raine Court, closes in Darlington over the next few weeks. And while the decision i...

Getting Switched on to College Life

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A HIGH achieving computer student has returned to his former school to help pupils get switched on to college life. Darlington College Chair of the Student Council, Andrew Seymour revisited Greenfield School in Newton Aycliffe to talk to Year 11 students on their options for further education after...

Access Student Showed Commitment And Receives A Regional Award

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Well done to Tracy Lamont, joint winner of the Access to HE Student Achievement Award! Tracy, nominated by her course tutor Elaine Allcock, picked up her prize at the Regional Access to HE Awards. Elaine’s submission was a tribute to the hard work and dedication Tracy has put into her co...

Ex-machinist Retrains and Cooks Up A New Career

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A MACHINIST has cooked up a new career at the age of 56 thanks to a North-East college. Stephen Dunn was made redundant last year after working in manufacturing for 40 years. Keen on the kitchen, he decided to retrain at Darlington College as a chef and has now been offered a job working at the hea...

Ofsted, Beacon And Olympic Games Help Art Students Stand Out

Wed, 5 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ARTS students are making sure their college stands out as an annual showcase prepares to get under way. Darlington College students have been working all year towards an event that shows off their new-found skills to the town. This year arts students had to take as a theme the college’s ou...

Former PM's Wife Cherie Blair Returns To The Childcare Centre

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A RETURN to the region was child’s play for former ‘first lady’ Cherie Blair as she stopped off to meet with staff and nursery children at Darlington College. Accompanied by college principal Tim Grant, and prospective Labour MP candidate for Darlington Jenny Chapman, ...

The College Receives Bronze For Going Green

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

AN outstanding North East college is building a greener reputation after receiving its first eco friendly honour. Darlington College was presented with the Tees Valley Green Business Network Environmental bronze award for its positive improvements to efficient use of resources and ecological perfor...

Apprentice Bricklayer Wins Gold For Good Shot

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BRICKLAYER Scott Lincoln is laying the foundations for stardom after scooping two gold medals in international athletics. The Darlington College apprentice is keeping his spirit levels high after his glittering success in Malta. After a gold win in the shot, with a personal best of 14.44m, Scott wow...

Employers Learn Barista Skills

Wed, 7 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

CATERERS have been honing their barista skills as a college forges closer links with industry over a creamy cappuccino. Delegates from cafes, hotels, inns, coffeehouses, teashops, pubs and restaurants were invited to a special employers’ session at the college to see what it has to offer....

Shaping The Future Of Further Education Funding

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

THE head of a new student finance body has visited a top North East college to see how future funding will help shape educational needs. Peter Lauener, the chief executive of the Young Peoples Learning Agency (YPLA), which is due to come into being in April 2010, took a tour of Darlington College t...

Queuing World Record Attempt

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

STUDENTS are flushed with pride after attempting to break a world record. More than 100 Darlington College students formed an orderly loo queue as part of a nationwide project to raise money for global sanitation. Every day 4,000 children die in the world because they don’t have access t...

Brushing Up On Health Knowledge

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

CHILDREN have been brushing up on their health knowledge to keep them smiling through their lives. Dentist Steven Atkinson visited Darlington College at Catterick’s childcare centre to talk about oral health. Dental care is considered essential to overall good health and wellbeing as peo...

Japanese Water Garden Showcases student’s skills

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

JOINERS, plumbers and bricklayers have captured the spiritual essence of a Japanese water garden in a project designed to hone their skills. The NVQ and BTEC National Diploma students at Darlington College have spent weeks drawing up the designs for the feature which now graces Central Point. Ever...

Students Have Designs On Mitsubishi

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

YOUNG designers have put themselves on the right road – after coming up with winning graphics for a courtesy car. Darlington College students Abbie Cleminson, and Josh McGonigal, who are both studying a BTEC National Diploma in art and design, shared the honours in a livery competition. ...

Catering Tutors At the World Famous Institute Of Paul Bocuse

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

CATERING students are receiving a whole new mix of skills after their tutors have trained with the best in the world. Darlington College tutors Donna Joyce and Becci Dougill have just returned from France where they spent time in the legendary Institute of Paul Bocuse. The Lyon institute is run by...

Engineering Students Cause A Locomotion!

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ENGINEERING students got up a full head of steam trying to tackle some of the technical hurdles faced by locomotive enthusiasts. Forty five full and part time students on the BTEC engineering mechanical manufacture course were given some of the real challenges faced by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust...

’Predator’ Actor Ian Whyte visits College

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A HOLLYWOOD giant, whose 7ft 1in frame has propelled him to superstardom, has made a big impact on North East students. The star of the £70m 20th Century Fox blockbuster Alien v Predator Ian Whyte gave a master class in movie making to media students at Darlington College. Ian, the man b...

Darlington College Raise Money For Sports Relief

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

HUNDREDS of sporting scholars have sprung into action with a host of challenges to help raise cash and change lives. More than 1,600 Darlington College staff and students got the chance to get active, for this year’s Sport Relief to help disadvantaged people, both in the UK and across som...

Six Month Unemployed Initiative helps People Back On The Career Ladder

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

DOZENS of people have been helped back into work after a North-East college launched a pioneering programme to boost job prospects. Darlington College has successfully re-trained more than 150 people who had been on Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months or more – putting many of ...

Two Colleges In Darlington Are Recognised For Leading The Way In Further Education

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

TWO outstanding North East colleges have been praised by the Prime Minister at a special reception at Downing Street for leading the way in further education. Tim Grant, Principal and chief executive of Darlington College, and Tim Fisher, Principal of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington,...

Labour Parliamentary Candidate Jenny Chapman Visits College

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Accompanied by principal Tim Grant, Labour Party candidate Jenny Chapman was given a hands on experience of Darlington College with a lesson in bricklaying and hairdressing, before being grilled in a live television studio interview by college journalism students. Jenny, who studied psychology at t...

Beauty Therapy Students Perform Massages at Age Concern

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

TRAINEE masseuses rubbed shoulders with elderly drivers at a pampering session for OAPs. Beauty Therapy students helped to relieve the muscular tension in older motorists as part of a driving awareness day for the charity Age Concern. More than 80 pensioners enjoyed a full back, neck and shoulder m...

Ofsted 2008-09 Outstanding Lunch In London

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ofsteds 2008/09 Outstanding Learning and Skills Celebratory Lunch Thursday 11 February, Trinity House, London....

Darlington College Receives Beacon Status

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Beacon – Thursday 4 March – attended by Tim Grant (College Principal), Sue Harris (Executive Director of Quality and Learning), Alasdair MacConachie OBE DL (Chair of the Corporation), Cllr Dorothy Long (Governor), Paul Richardson (LSC), Shirley Cowley (Customer Services Manager),...

Sparks Fly For Apprentice Electrician

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A ROOKIE electrician found the spark of inspiration he needed to be named the best in the North-East – and now has his sights set on national glory. Darlington College student Dave Leung beat off stern competition to take first place in the regional heat of the industry’s prestig...

Hairdressing Tutors Join Naomi Campbells ’Fashion For Haiti Relief’ Show

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

COLLEGE stylists mingled with celebrities and supermodels as they volunteered their expertise to raise vital funds to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Three professional hairdressing tutors from Darlington College travelled to London Fashion Week to help style models for Naomi Campbel...

Darlington College Backs The HSE Shattered Lives Campaign

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staff and students at Darlington College’s state-of-the-art premises are putting safety first for the benefit of everyone on site. The college, on the £35m Haughton Road campus, has always put safety first and is now supporting the Health and Safety Executive’s &ldq...

Bob The Builder Animator Inspires Media Students

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BOB the Builder designer Curtis Jobling helped media students construct their futures with a college masterclass designed to give them an insight into the world of professional animation. The illustrator and production designer of the popular TV hit joined staff and students at Darlington College t...

Smiling Faces Final Promotes The Olympics 2012

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

COLLEGE staff and students proved to be great sports in a national smiles competition that will see their beaming faces promoting the 2012 Olympics. Darlington College catering students Rebecca Gray and Kyle Lazenby and Assistant Director for hairdressing and beauty therapy Maria Harrop were among ...

Edward Legard Prospective MP Gets An Eye Opening Experience

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BEAUTY therapy students gave a prospective MP an eye opening experience as he visited one of the North East’s top colleges. Conservative party candidate Edward Legard was treated to a demonstration in eyelash perming by beauty therapy students at Darlington College before dropping in on en...

Outstanding College Achieves The Equality Standard

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In March 2009, Ofsted Inspectors said that Darlington College has ‘outstandingly effective equality, diversity and inclusion’ and awarded them an ‘Outstanding Grade 1’, making Darlington College one of the best in the country.Showing that they are not a Colleg...

Sports Students Celebrate Community Partnership

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

STUDENTS from Darlington College joined their principal at the Northern Echo Arena to celebrate a new community partnership at the town’s football club. The partnership, which includes advertising and sponsorship opportunities for the 2010-11 season at the Arena, means the college is ente...