News
First Student Conference Unites All Campuses for a Powerful Student Voice
Wednesday 26th June marked a significant milestone at Sandwell family of colleges as we hosted our first-ever student conference, bringing together students from across all three campuses (Sandwell College, Cadbury Sixth Form College and Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form). The event aimed to amplify our students’ voices, providing them with a platform to share their perspectives and contribute to shaping our colleges communities.
Graham Pennington, CEO and Principal of Sandwell family of colleges attended and expressed his excitement about the conference. “It was inspiring to witness our first ever conference and hear from the students themselves. Their enthusiasm and insights are invaluable as we aim to create an inclusive and responsive educational environment”.
Raza Hussain Spoken word Artist and former Cadbury Student joined us as our guest speaker who spoke about his journey and his home City Birmingham. Additionally, Tarenpreet student president of Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form and Central Campus and Bilal, student president of Cadbury Sixth Form College shared their personal thoughts and journey at the college.
A key highlight for all attendees was the breakout sessions where students had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions which had a particular focus on the family of colleges values; Respect, Responsible and Ready, the content of tutorials and mindfulness. The students were able to delve into these core values, exploring their relevance within the community. The feedback from these discussions will play a key role in guiding our future initiatives.
We are already looking forward to next year’s conference as this year’s event has set a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration between students and the college ensuring student voice remains at the heart of what we do.
National Recognition for College’s Health & Wellbeing Support
The Sandwell Family of Colleges – of which Cadbury forms part – has been recognised for its commitment to Health and Wellbeing support at the annual Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) awards.
The Health and Wellbeing category specifically acknowledges initiatives and programmes that prioritise the mental and physical wellbeing of the college community, including students and staff. We are extremely proud to announce that we have been awarded recognition for our dedication to Mental Health & Wellness.
Principal and Chief Executive Officer Graham Pennington said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our mental health and wellness initiatives. I’m incredibly proud of the extensive and tailored support we have in place across The Sandwell Family of Colleges to support our learners, staff and the wider community with issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing. The impact is enormous and real, and it’s all made possible by the passion and commitment of individual staff members who work so hard to remove barriers and realise potential. It’s a real privilege to lead a College with mental health support truly at the heart of its culture and it’s encouraging to see the positive impact we are making year on year. This achievement is down to the tireless efforts of so many of our staff whose commitment and dedication is unwavering.”
Every year, the SFCA provide this sector-wide opportunity and select a small number of providers nationally, who shine within eight areas of work. This is an invaluable way to share the successes of the sector and celebrate the achievements and impact of individual Colleges.
Culture Day and One World Make Summer Unity Fest a Hit
Cadbury Culture Day and One World hugely contributed to the success of Summer Unity Fest – a celebratory week across the Sandwell family of campuses for everyone to unite, reflect and have fun.
Culture Day was an incredible day filled with cultural exchange, interactive quizzes and delicious food at our Cadbury campus. We then joined with Sandwell College to celebrate the festival week with a showcase of diversity, talent and togetherness at the annual One World event. Central Saint Michael’s very own A Level Science lecturers Dr Ross Cooper and Dr Avtar Singh also performed a duet on the vibrant main stage.
A host of talented artists and performers performed on the colourful main stage, from Wen Sheung dancers, Eternal Taal drums, Giddah, Kathak, Ecuadorian, Columbian and Congolese dancers to K-pop, street dance, storytelling and Afrobeat, and so much more besides, while learners and lecturers wore their national and regional dress.
A series of speakers opened the inspirational event, including Principal and CEO Graham Pennington and Councillor Ahmed Bostan. Stalls were also selling a wide variety of handmade crafts and gifts and serving delicious food from around the world.
One World Organiser Manjit Johal said: “This event is a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate our global community. Every year we make One World a more memorable one.”
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Here at Cadbury we’re big believers in choice and think that students shouldn’t have to compromise on what they enjoy when deciding what to do after school. For that reason we have one of the largest course offers in the region with over 50 subject areas to choose from.
Applied Science BTEC with an Art A Level? No problem. Some university courses and careers will require you to study certain courses at Level 3 after you leave school but lots of them won’t. The most important thing to remember when selecting your courses is to concentrate on what you’re good at and what you enjoy.
In theory you are free to do any combination of courses you want here at Cadbury – you just need to do a combination which adds up to the equivalent of three A Levels. We do however have recommended combinations that provide pathways into careers and university courses.
Due to high demand we will be hosting a series of Talk & Tours at Cadbury Sixth Form College to help you plan your next move when you leave school. Our next events will be happening on Tuesday March 5, 4-7pm, and Saturday March 9, 11am-3pm.
Here’s why you need to book your place now!
- The Personal Experience: You’ll get a real feel for where you’ll be studying in September when you come to campus.
- Our knowledgeable student ambassadors will be there to share their own experience and insights with you and take you on a personal tour of the college.
- You’ll get to experience life through the eyes of a current student, ask all the questions you need answers to, and see all the facilities we have to offer you.
- We’ll cover many different areas on the tour including our brand new £10 million Science City campus, Psychology, Law and Art rooms, plus the IT suite, learning centre, drama theatre, science labs for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Forensic and Biomedical Science. You’ll also be shown the individual study pods and learner coaching spaces. We’ll visit the Media, Film, Design and Photography areas for some creative and cinematic inspiration, before the tour concludes in the Eat Central dining area.
- Careers advisers and Student Mentors will also be there to offer specialist advice and guidance to help you navigate your next steps. It’s important to do your research and understand what’s involved in studying certain subjects and which professions they lead to before you commit to your final choices. We can give you lots of support with this.
Remember also that you can apply there and then at Talk & Tours, if you haven’t already. If you have applied but your plans have changed since you signed up, you can still update your choices.
Whether you have favourites in mind, or would like to try something brand new like Psychology, Law, Politics or Criminology, Talk & Tours offer you the perfect time to apply and continue your career journey.
So come and join us, and book your place here.
Here at Cadbury Sixth Form College we offer a wide range of Level 3 programmes combining A Levels and BTECs, as well as T Levels and several Level 2 courses if you need to improve on your GCSE grades. Picking the right route for you post-GCSEs is important, so it’s good for you to understand the different types of qualification on offer to work out which route works best for you.
If you’re unclear about which route to opt for, here are some things to consider when choosing your options after school:
– What do your current studies at school tell you? Do you love Maths and working with numbers and theories, or are you creative? Do you enjoy more hands-on learning? Thinking about what you are good at can help you choose the best route.
– Select subjects you enjoy – studying a subject you are genuinely interested in will greatly improve your chances of succeeding at college.
– What are your plans for the future? Whether you intend to go to university, on to an apprenticeship or straight into employment, different routes may require you to study specific courses at college – so make sure you do your research.
– Seek advice – ask our Careers Team questions weekly via our web chat facility or discuss your choices with a member of staff at interview.
– Visit the Sixth Form – attend Open Days, Taster Sessions and Applicant Days to meet your subject teachers and current students.
What’s the difference?
All of our Level 3 programmes are equal to A Levels and are accepted by universities if that’s your goal. What’s important is matching your ambitions and strengths to the options available to ensure you get the best results for you.
A Levels
A Level courses are predominantly assessed by examinations, although some subjects may have a coursework component as well. All A Level courses are linear, meaning examinations are taken at the end of two years. These are Level 3 courses, ideally suited for progression into University or Higher Level Apprenticeships.
To study an A Level course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs (with two at grade 6, and three at grade 4). Due to the advanced level most subjects will have additional individual entry requirements.
BTECs
Because BTEC courses are vocational in nature they are more practical routes of academic study. Each course will have a larger coursework element to the assessment method. All our BTEC courses are studied at Level 3, meaning they are ideally suited to progression to University or Higher Level Apprenticeships. BTEC courses come in different sizes and are the equivalent to either one, two or three A Levels.
To study a BTEC Level 3 course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4. BTECs can also be studied alongside A Level courses if you meet the entry requirements, making them an extremely flexible option that can be tailored to your demands.
T Levels
T Levels are an alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and BTECs. Combining academic study of A Levels with a focus on vocational skills can help students into skilled employment, university or higher level apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an industry placement of at least 45 days giving students valuable experience in the work place.
