News
Nex-T Level Maltese Experience for Cadbury Childcare Learners
A life-changing adventure for Cadbury Sixth Form College students! Twenty of our T Level Education & Early Years and BTEC Travel & Tourism students recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to the stunning island of Malta for a work experience programme like no other!
Learners swapped the classroom for real-world settings, gaining hands-on experience in schools, nurseries, hotels, and travel agencies across the island for two weeks. They not only put their knowledge into practice but also developed invaluable skills to boost their future employability—all while soaking up Malta’s rich culture and breathtaking scenery.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience was made possible thanks to our partnership with TravelEdventures, which focuses on combining education and travel to unlock students’ potential.
Becky Westwood, Travel & Tourism Lecturer and Curriculum Lead, said: “It’s such a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only expand their learning outside the classroom but also experience a new culture and create memories with their friends that will last a lifetime. They all fitted into their work placements really well and did the college proud.”
College Tech Demonstrator in Spotlight at Meta’s first VR Educators Summit
An Emerging Technologies Demonstrator at The Sandwell Colleges was a featured speaker at Meta’s inaugural VR Educators Community Summit hosted at its London headquarters.
Ben Haddock, part of the Fab Lab team, delivered an inspiring lightning talk on their ground-breaking research into smart glasses and education to an audience of top academics and industry figures including former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Nick Clegg, now Meta’s President for Global Affairs.
The event brought together educators and professionals in the field of extended reality (XR) to discuss the current landscape and future prospects of virtual reality (VR) in education and highlight how innovation is shaping the future of learning.
Ben delivered a compelling presentation on how futuristic smart glasses are being used at the College for innovative learner assessments across a wide number of departments, including Professional Studies, Teacher Education, Construction and Automotive.
In 2021, the College’s Fab Lab received a £50,000 grant from the West Midlands Combined Authority to carry out a research project to investigate the use of smart glasses for assessment in further education. The project was led and managed by Debbie Grace from the College’s Teacher Education team.
Last year their work was published in a leading global research journal: “Human Data Interaction, Disadvantage and Skills in the Community” co-authored by a number of prominent university professors, researchers and doctors from around the world.
Sandwell College was the first institution to trial and demonstrate Bodyswaps’ Job Interview Simulator in VR, now utilised by over 250 universities and colleges globally.
Ben says: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people cannot change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
We’re Celebrating T Level Week!
It’s T Level Week, and we’re ready to celebrate all things T Levels at the Sandwell Colleges!
This week, we’ve got a jam-packed schedule of activities for our T Level students at Cadbury Sixth Form College and Sandwell College. Here’s what you can expect:
– Inspiring experiences and successes of our T Level students and alumni
– Exciting T Level events, including breakfasts and Q&As
– Showcases of our incredible T Level teachers who make a real difference every day
We’re looking forward to spotlighting the achievements of our students and staff. Stay tuned to see all the amazing things we get up to!
Older News & Event Articles
Which Careers Did Our Amazing Alumni Choose?
If you need inspiration for choosing your degree destination after sixth form, take a tip from Cadbury’s Class of 2023. Creative, scientific, business, health and humanities – they’ve got them all covered – along with the most popular career choices. In fact, there’s everything from nursing, criminology and architecture to data science, forensic psychology and film-making.
Sometimes it can feel like you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding on that final degree direction, but it needn’t be a case of choosing one or the other. Our 2023 class found their perfect matches by combining Business & Marketing, Ancient History & History, Criminology & Psychology, Civil & Transportation Engineering, International Relations & Economics, and Radiotherapy & Oncology.
Enrich your experience
Want to investigate and really get under the skin of something new? If you’re looking for a completely new challenge, do some outside the box thinking and opt for higher study in Artificial Intelligence, Construction Project Management, Paramedic Science, Marine Biology, Professional Policing or even Horology.
Never work with children or animals the old saying goes. But that hasn’t deterred our alumni from going into teaching and studying Early Childhood Education and Care, Education and SEND, Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status, Working with Children, Young People and Families, or even Zoology with a (wait for it) Year Abroad!
Sandwich Placements 🥪
Looking to fill up your CV before you even graduate? Well degrees like Biochemistry, Computer Games Technology, Cyber Security, Digital Media Computing, Media and Communication can offer you a professional placement year or industrial experience as an integral part of your course. Food for thought!
So if you want to follow a similar path to our amazing alumni, or start your very own career trajectory, we’ve got some incredible courses that will set you on your way.
Bon appetit! Cadbury was the first of a series of colleges in the region to thank their local community with food and friendship by hosting the Big Community Lunch.
Cadbury students and staff were saying thank you to more than 60 guests from Kings Norton Primary School and local care homes, with a picnic-style lunch attended by HM The King’s representative, the Deputy Lieutenant Dr M Sakhawat.
The special occasion involved delicious food, creative craft activities, face painting and live music from students. Students were also responsible for helping to organise the event and make it as sustainable as possible.
Executive Director for Human Resources and Organisational Development, Becky Beaty, said: “The Big Lunch is a wonderful opportunity for neighbours and communities to come together for a few hours of friendship, food, and fun. It aims to connect people and foster friendlier, safer communities where conversations, ideas, skills, resources, and friendship can be shared.
“A big thank to our hosts, the hugely committed student support team who are key to our positive learning environment and to ensuring all learners have full access to their studies through a broad range of pastoral and welfare services.”
The project, which is being organised and run by the West Midlands Lieutenancy, means Cadbury will join fellow further education colleges in the region in hosting community events throughout June.
More than a thousand people are set to attend lunches, afternoon teas and picnics, which will coincide with the year’s Big Lunch project to celebrate everything that makes our communities great.
The Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, said; “I’m delighted that so many colleges from right across the region are getting involved with this year’s #FE Big Lunch.
“Launched last year to coincide with the Coronation, the initiative has really taken off and is set to be bigger and better than ever.
“With a sustainable and environmentally friendly theme this year, the West Midlands Lieutenancy is pleased to be supporting these important community events and we hope everyone has a great time.”
The Sandwell family of colleges – of which Cadbury Sixth Form College forms part – is delighted to announce the appointment of its new CEO and Principal Lisa Capper MBE.
Lisa takes up the position from Graham Pennington, who has held the post since 2014, transforming the family of colleges into one of the largest providers of education to young people in the country.
Lisa joins from her role as CEO and Principal at Stoke on Trent College where she has transformed the quality of provision and financial health of the college, securing significant partnerships and profile for its continued success in meeting the skills needs of learners and employers.
Campus Principal Lydia Maher continues to lead the highly successful Cadbury Sixth Form College as it celebrates 40 years of tradition and innovation.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Capper said: “I am delighted to be joining the Sandwell family of colleges at such an exciting time. The college offers great opportunity for the young people and residents of Sandwell and Birmingham to achieve their education and skills’ ambitions and develop their careers. I am looking forward to working with the talented and dedicated teams across all sites and hope that I can bring my skills and experience to build on their tremendous achievements.”
Alan Taylor, Chair of the Governing Board at the College said: “Lisa brings extensive experience of senior leadership and governance in further education, and through the roles she has held in colleges, charities and in government, a demonstrable commitment to the learners we serve. We are delighted to welcome Lisa to the Sandwell family of colleges and look forward to her joining us in the autumn.
“On behalf of the Board, I should like to extend our thanks to Graham for all his work and contribution to the progress of the colleges over the past decade.”
