Cadbury Design Graduate Wins Global KSI Competition
One of Cadbury’s successful alumni, Hamza Ali, has won a competition to create a new Reddit icon for social media superstar KSI. Hamza, who is set to graduate from Birmingham City University as a Graphic Designer in the summer, has been praised for his “passion, imagination and huge flair” by the famous YouTube influencer.
Hamza saw off thousands of rivals from around the world with his entry, which will now be viewed by KSI’s army of 2.9m followers. KSI, who also has more than 20 million subscribers on YouTube, added: “I’ve seen Hamza’s work all over Reddit. I love his passion, imagination and huge flair for artistic design. I know his work is in hot demand by other YouTube influencers. He is very talented. Hamza managed to whip up a madness of colours and energy, combining all the things I love in this icon. The design is super awesome and sick.”
Hamza, who goes by the name Ballpoint Papi on social media and has more than 40,000 followers across TikTok, X and Instagram, said: “It’s pretty amazing and it’s hard to put into words what this means. KSI rarely changes his icon for Reddit, so it’s really massive. It means the entire KSI community will know my work. KSI is very into Dragon Ball Z, so the icon was inspired by this and the Reddit logo.”
Hamza hopes this competition win will improve his chances of impressing leading design agencies in the USA when he heads to New York later this year with a group of fellow creatives from the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media at BCU. He also plans on travelling to Japan to publicise his work next summer with a series of exhibitions.
He added: “Apart from my academic pursuits, I have arranged studio visits in New York City. During my visit, I will be exploring ‘SlangInc’ and Design Bridge to broaden my knowledge and gain real-time exposure to the professional world of graphic design. This opportunity follows a similar experience I had last year when I met with esteemed designers such as Michael Beirut at Pentagram and Georgia Stout at 2×4. These visits have shaped my approach to design and have inspired me to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity.”
Hamza credited his experience and lecturers at Cadbury for paving the way to his growing success. “The A Levels I chose have played a significant role in shaping me into the designer I am today. Stuart, my former graphic design tutor at Cadbury, challenged me creatively, and I am incredibly grateful for him pushing me beyond the boundaries of what is considered ‘normal’ for a graphics designer. He encouraged me to pursue a career in graphic design, and I attribute my success in this field to his guidance and unwavering support.”
You can view Hamza’s winning icon here
New £6.6 million STEM Centre at Cadbury
A new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) Centre has opened to its very first students at Cadbury Sixth Form College.
Due to the overwhelming demand for places at Cadbury Sixth Form College, the £6.6 million centre is focused on delivering a new technical curriculum, responding to a growing demand for specialist teaching facilities and learning for students. The centre aims to ensure that Cadbury Sixth Form College can offer students the broadest choice of advanced courses, including A levels, T Levels and vocational qualifications, across Birmingham.
The 1,000 sqm, two storey STEM Centre supports the education of young people looking to enter careers in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other critical sectors of the economy. It houses dedicated suites for Digital Media, Health, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Employee Engagement. Digital learning labs and VR suites will offer robotics and coding opportunities for new T Level and A Level courses, alongside a media suite, a practical healthcare learning space, extended classrooms and flexible study and social spaces.
The project marks Phase 2 of Cadbury College’s ambition to position itself to support as many young people as possible who aspire to advanced learning and university; and continues the multi-year investment following the opening of its £3.5 million Science City facilities in 2021. This new facility will support the growing need for new skills and jobs across Birmingham and the West Midlands for both universities and employers.
Julia Stevens, Principal of Cadbury Sixth Form College, commented: “We’re so excited to open the doors to our new STEM Centre, providing local students with even more opportunities to study in state-of-the-art facilities.
“The new building allows students to get hands on and see what their industry looks like, preparing them for life after college – whether that be for university or straight into employment. By providing specialist teaching facilities in growth areas such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences, the new STEM Centre will be a huge benefit to the wider community and the regional economy.”
To find out more about the new STEM Centre at Cadbury College, sign up now for one of our next open days.
Images © Speller Metcalfe
Cadbury 2023 Wrapped!
Excellent Results
We celebrated record results this year at Cadbury and our pass rate went UP for the third year running!
BBC Breakfast visited us ahead of A Level Results Day to film an interview with our student Zeeshan, who was nervously (but confidently!) awaiting his exam grades.
Among our star students were:
• Florida who achieved A*AA and is now at the University of Birmingham studying Biochemistry
• Arun who got AAA and is now studying Law at the University of Nottingham
• Sherika who achieved A*AB and started an apprenticeship with tax, audit and advisory firm Grant Thornton
• T Level students Lucy and Jessica, who both achieved Distinctions. Lucy is now studying Primary Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and Jessica is studying Counselling at Newman University.
New Developments
Our state-of-the-art STEM centre is now complete and students are now beginning their first year of studies in this brand-new £10 million Science City campus.
Perfect Partnerships
Thanks to Old Friends Care Ltd – a local domiciliary care company, our Level 3 Health and Social Care students were able to complete their moving and handling training, and learn more about care assistant and care manager job roles in the healthcare industry.
Criminology students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in mock crime scenes and discover the fascinating world of collecting and analysing evidence at a CSI day with CSI Training Events.
Next-Level Events
• Cadbury Culture Day celebrated the amazing diversity of our college.
• King Charles III’s royal representative Deputy Lieutenant Ian Sargeant OBE was a special guest at the Cadbury Big Coronation Party and tree planting ceremony.
• Creative Arts students wrapped up their studies in style with a striking End of Year Show.
Landmark Visits
• Spanish A Level students put their language skills to effective use in Malaga
• English Language & Literature, French, and Early Modern History students explored the cultural and historic sights of Paris
• 3D Design students got a chance to catch the quirky Arnifurniture exhibition at the Design Museum and the inspirational Herzog & De Meuron exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts
• Science students spent an incredible day at BBC Birmingham where they teamed up with BBC STEM Ambassadors, who are experts in using and communicating science
• Performing Arts students went to see an immersive-style production of Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre in London and had fun interacting with the cast members
• Ex-professional football player Luke Staton and entrepreneurial success David Baldwin hosted an Empowerment Day for Business and Finance students. David shared his story of building up his family business and selling it for £250m!
• Stage star Nic Myers worked with our Performing Arts Students on a Cabaret Masterclass. Nic, who has just returned from a four-mouth residency at the Lido in Paris performing in Cabaret, taught students choreography
• Law students from Cadbury got real-life Crown Court experience in a Bar Mock Trial Competition.
Inspirational Projects
Cadbury’s new Fab Lab was awarded funding from Millennium Point to invest in emerging technologies. The funding has been used to set up a 3D Immersive Learning Lab, introducing innovative STEM-related learning projects, such as virtual reality programming.
Stars of Tomorrow
• One of Cadbury’s Star Alumni Khalid Daley – currently starring in Hamilton – returned from the West End to run a musical theatre masterclass for Performing Arts students
• Science student Zainab Mallah was one of the 2023 finalists for Further Education/Higher Education Student of the Year in the Titan Awards at Aston University.
We’re looking forward to even more in 2024! Join us on our journey 😊
Older News & Event Articles
What can I tell you to make Cadbury Sixth Form College your best experience yet? Well here are my best tips for really making the most of your time and preparations for the big move!
3 TIPS FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE (Trust me, you’re going to want to know the last one!)
Number 1: Do Your Research
Make sure you seek advice and visit open days to see the college for yourself.
Number 2: Apply Early
The earlier you apply, the sooner you can secure your place and concentrate on your exams. Makes sense right?
Not only that, you can take advantage of exclusive support available to offer holders.
Number 3: Pick Subjects That You Enjoy And That You’re Good At
Not everyone knows what they want to be when they’re older – and that’s fine!
Cadbury has one of the largest course offers in the region. And for that reason you don’t have to compromise what you enjoy.
5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE
Number 1: Pick A Subject You Enjoy
The subjects you choose will be your primary focus for the next two years. Why don’t you make those next two years as enjoyable as possible?
Number 2: This Isn’t Like School
Say goodbye to assemblies, morning registration, and most importantly detention. You’ll be treated like an adult here.
Number 3: Time Management Is Super Important
Free periods aren’t always about catching up with your mates. They should be used to get ahead, whether that’s revising or studying certain subjects.
Number 4: Everybody’s Too Caught Up In Their Own Appearances To Worry About Yours
In College you finally get to wear your own clothes and express yourself. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying what other people think. Trust me!
Finally, Number 5: Take Care Of Yourself
College can be a big step from school and whilst it does involve a lot of study and work time, it’s really important that you take care of yourself and your wellbeing. And just enjoy it – you’ve got this guys!
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CADBURY STUDENT
8am: I left the house – I’ll never get used to these dark mornings. I got on the bus with my free bus pass because Cadbury girlies do not pay for their transport 😊
9am: I headed to my first health class which I’m doing a T Level in. I’d love to be a nurse someday and this course is the first step to getting there.
11am: Ok, this is when my day got weird. Our college has a brand-new building and it’s kitted out with loads of hi-tec stuff, including VR. This was actually the most fun lesson ever. We even printed out Lego!
1pm: VR made me so hungry, so it was time for lunch. On the menu today was my favourite cheesy pasta bake with a cheeky bit of garlic bread.
2pm: I had a free period where I caught up with some coursework because I really do not want to be falling behind.
3pm: I headed over to music club which is always such a laugh. What a tune!
4pm: I grabbed a drink and headed home.
I BET YOUR COLLEGE DOESN’T HAVE THIS!
This is Cadbury College’s brand-new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths centre – and I am loving it!
This huge centre supports students looking to enter careers in manufacturing, life sciences, digital media and loads more. And it even has digital learning labs and virtual reality suites which offer coding and robotics opportunities for T Levels and A Levels.
My favourite part has to be the flexible studying and social spaces – absolutely perfect for catching up with your mates. If you fancy having a look around, make sure to check our upcoming open days.
Cadbury Sixth Form College has officially opened its new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Centre.
To mark the official launch of the £6.6 million STEM campus building, guests enjoyed an exclusive tour of the centre and its state-of-the-art facilities. The new sign was even unveiled by our robot dog Toto!
Due to the overwhelming demand for places at Cadbury, the new centre is focused on delivering a new technical curriculum, responding to a growing demand for specialist teaching facilities and learning for students. Funded by the Department for Education and the College, the 1,000 sqm, two-storey STEM centre supports the education of young people looking to enter careers in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other critical sectors of the economy.
It houses dedicated suites for Digital Media, Health, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Employee Engagement. Digital learning labs and VR suites offer robotics and coding opportunities for new T Level and A Level courses, alongside a media suite, a practical healthcare learning space, extended classrooms and flexible study and social spaces. The project marks Phase 2 of our multi-year investment following the opening of our £3.5 million Science City facilities in 2021.
Lydia Maher, Campus Principal, said: “We’re incredibly proud to open the doors to our new STEM centre, which supports the growing need for specialist skills across the region, so we can continue to foster leading talent for advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other critical growth sectors of the economy. In line with our commitment to provide exceptional teaching standards, our new centre empowers students to capitalise on the hugely exciting career opportunities in STEM, with practical, hands-on experience in their chosen field that will equip them with the future-proof skills they need for their next step – whether it’s university, an apprenticeship, or their first job.
“Cadbury College celebrates 40 years of success this year, and we can now offer students the broadest choice of advanced courses, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational qualifications, across Birmingham, and the opportunity to study in industry-leading facilities.”
Cadbury College Careers team is celebrating the culmination of three years’ hard work by clinching a prestigious award for its high-quality provision.
The Quality in Careers Standard recognises the team’s outstanding contribution to enhancing the employability of the college’s alumni, focusing on personal development, industry partnerships, and innovative career workshops.
Three years ago, the journey began when the team started working towards the quality award, creating a holistic careers programme that prepared and empowered students to pursue their passions and enter the job market with confidence as part of its strategy.
Schools and colleges are all strongly recommended to achieve and maintain the Quality in Careers Standard, which is the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in secondary schools, colleges and work-based learning.
Careers Coordinator and Adviser for Cadbury Sixth Form College, Andrew Farthing, said: “For the past three years we have been collecting evidence about the quality of our Careers delivery and content, and students’ understanding.
“This included mapping what we do cross-site, cross-curriculum and within the careers team, against extensive criteria. Two external professional assessors spent the morning with students and staff after trawling through masses of documentary evidence submitted by the team.
“We are delighted to see that our perseverance and commitment to excellence have helped us gain the national standard.”
Assistant Principal for Student Services, Angela Tombs, said: “This award is something for us to be very proud of. This is not just a testament to the team’s hard work but also a beacon of inspiration for our current and future students.”
The Standard is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance and fully complies with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.
Learning providers must supply sufficient current evidence to demonstrate that they meet all national accreditation criteria in their overall careers provision to gain the national Standard.
