Six Longley Park students have recently graduated from the Career Academy of Finance, following completion of the two-year programme.  The graduation ceremony was held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds and was a great opportunity to celebrate their success with other students from Colleges across the North of England.  The occasion was particularly special as ex-Longley Park student and Career Academy graduate, Sofia Amer was Mistress of Ceremonies.  Current students Sameena Kauser and Rhoda Nanevie also delivered a speech on how the programme had benefited them.

Longley Park Sixth Form College is currently the only Career Academy in South Yorkshire. This unique programme provides students with direct access to members of the local business community through ‘Guru Lectures’ and visits to organisations.  Each student is also allocated a ‘Partner in Business’, with whom they will meet regularly during their time at College to discuss ways in improve their employability, career planning and academic performance.  The jewel in the crown of the Career Academy experience is a 6-week paid internship for students to complete during the summer holidays.

Students involved in the Career Academy benefit massively.  Sofia Amer commented, "The Career Academy has given me the confidence to know that I can achieve anything if I’m prepared to work hard for it.  When I first started College, I was very quiet and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.  I’ve now got the confidence to speak in front of 200 people, as I did at the graduation ceremony.  I’ve also set my sights on working for a top company in London, and have recently been offered a work placement at Goldman Sachs, beating 10,000 applicants for the post.  Without the Career Academy, I would never have developed the skills and confidence that are essential for success.  I now believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to."

Sameena has just come to the end of her Career Academy journey: "The UK Career Academy is a great scheme to be a part of.  Students gain so much in terms of knowledge and experience required in the business world.  The Academy has provided me with an opportunity to create business links, as I have done with my mentor, Ryan Keywoth, who has supported me throughout the programme.  I have recently undertaken an internship at Aviva where I was able to improve my confidence and interpersonal skills.  The UK Career Academy has helped me tremendously."

Longley Park’s Career Academy Coordinator Bernadette Edge commented, "We are very grateful to the many companies who have supported us.  The passion and commitment of our Advisory Board members, Internship Supervisors, Partners in Business and Guru Lecturers have helped make the programme so successful.  On average Career Academy of Finance students achieve at least a grade above their target grades, so it is clear that the scheme has a huge impact on their academic performance."

Longley Park Sixth Form College is once again proud to present our annual Creative Show, a celebration of the work completed by our students studying creative courses including: Art & Design, Photography, 3D Design, Graphic Design, Textiles, Product Design, Dance, Media, Music, Performing Arts and English.

You are cordially invited to our VIP preview evening on

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
(5:30-8:00pm)

Art & Design work will be displayed throughout the week.  Further events include:

Monday 21st June (5:30pm)
Performing Arts

Wednesday 23rd June (2:00-3:00pm)
Dance Show

Thursday 24th June (6:00pm)
Media Film Premiere (Sharp Reflections)

Friday 25th June (12:30-1:30pm)
Music Performances

We hope to see you there!

Thirteen students from Longley Park Sixth Form College have just finished making a hard-hitting film about the issues surrounding knife crime.  The pupils, all aged 16-19 produced the film as part of a Major Project for their BTEC National Diploma course in Media Production.  Roles including Director, Producer, Camera Operator and Sound Technician were allocated to the students.

Following the success of previous College productions including 'Joyride' and 'Hoax', which highlighted the issues of car theft and prank calls to emergency services, the project attracted funding from the Home Office and South Yorkshire Police as part of the 'Tackling Knives Action Programme'.

The theme for the 8-month project was selected based on the highly topical issue of knife crime.  The film interweaves a drama about the risks associated with carrying a knife, as well as the story of a victim whose mother has campaigned heavily in an attempt to combat the issue.  There is also an emphasis on current projects taking place throughout South Yorkshire, and the positive impact they are having.

A private preview screening for the Lord Mayor will be taking place at the Town Hall next week.  This will be followed by the official premiere at Longley Park Sixth Form College at 6pm on Thursday 24th June 2010.  This is an open event and forms part of the College's annual Creative Show, an event celebrating the work of students studying creative courses at Longley Park.

Longley Park tutor, Bernadette Edge has recently been nominated as a 'Rising Star' in TES Magazine.Full details of the nomination can be found below:  

Who?
Bernadette is ICT teacher and Career Academy co-ordinator at Longley Park Sixth Form College in Sheffield.

Why?
Longley College opened in 2004 in a deprived area of Sheffield that previously had very poor sixth form provision. Five years on, with the installation of the Career Academy programme, Bernadette has helped the college to raise the aspirations of young people.

In her role as Career Academy co-ordinator, Bernadette has combined the tasks of teaching and tutoring students with developing business links to deliver the practical elements of the programme, thereby significantly improving their career prospects.

She has organised student visits to Prague, London, and many local businesses, and arranged for experts to come into the classroom and deliver "Guru Lectures" and workshops. Bernadette has also arranged social events to help students network with business people and helped to provide practical guidance to the young people.

Without her efforts it is doubtful that the Career Academy at Longley Park would have been so successful.

Nominated by?
Martyn Drain, Director, Career Academies UK, who says: "Bernadette is an incredibly enthusiastic and inspirational member of staff, who has really helped a group of young people from Sheffield raise their aspirations. She has been the driving force behind the Career Academy programme, which transforms students' career prospects by introducing them to a kind of first-hand business experience they would never have otherwise had the opportunity to see."

Alan Gillingham the Teacher of History at Longley Park became a published author this month when the AQA AS history textbook on Anti-Semitism, Hitler and the German People, which he has co-written was published by Nelson Thorne. The book is designed as study aid and classroom textbook to accompany the AS history Module Anti-Semitism, Hitler and the German people, 1919-45 for which Alan is the Principal Examiner.

The module looks at levels of Anti-Semitism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe and looks at the themes of racism and discrimination. The stages of persecution up to and including the Holocaust are examined with students looking at the responsibility of different individuals and groups. Alan teaches the module at Longley Park and believes that it is a hugely significant piece of European history and that it helps students understand the need to stand against discrimination and bigotry.