Rotation, Rotation, Rotation

Early this week, some of our Year 10 employees began their third hub rotation. They are now studying painting and decorating at Nightingale School in Tooting, where some of our Year 11 employees are already learning.

Our second Year 10 class have begun their Creative Industries taster course on site. As you can see in the video below, in their first session they made rapid progress and development in their use of line. 

Year 10 employees are exploring formal elements in their Creative Industries sessions this week... #OutsideTheBox pic.twitter.com/y9hXasHjhi

— Passport Programme (@Pp2eProgramme) February 25, 2016

Later in the week, inspired by Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, they created these fantastic faces from fruit and vegetables.

 
Year 11 employees have begun compiling portfolios for Unit 5 of their Art and Design BTEC course and we’re looking forward to seeing their final presentations in two weeks. 

As young artists, creating a strong portfolio is a vital skill that will serve our learners well if they pursue a career in this field.

On Friday, all Year 11 employees attended an interview skills workshop at Oval House. They spent the day honing their ability to present themselves as employable young adults and we’re confident that they’ll benefit from this experience in the very near future.

Congratulations to Year 11 employee Lilly! Her excellent work ethic has resulted in her second consecutive ‘Star Employee’ certificate. 

Testing... Testing...

The latter part of this week was whisper-quiet as our Year 10 and 11 employees sat mock exam papers, including speaking and listening assessments for English, in preparation for their Summer exams. All employees demonstrated excellent exam etiquette and we’re confident that their diligence will be reflected in their grades.

We’re looking forward to catching up with our Year 10 employees after the half-term break, when they’ll begin their painting and decorating taster course at Nightingale School in Tooting. As you can see, Year 11s Deaquan and Tyreal have been enjoying their time there, and their instructors have given us plenty of positive feedback.

 

Year 11 employee Luis finished the week by creating this piece of concept art for Unit 3 of BTEC Art and Design (First Certificate). His brief required him to create backgrounds for a video game inspired by art movements that he had researched. Inspired by Surrealism and Neo-Expressionism, Luis cleverly turned Magritte’s Son of Man into an obstacle for his video game character.

See you after the half-term break!

Pretty in Pink

This week, we enjoyed being trained to deliver Bronze and Silver Arts Award to our Year 10 and 11 employees. We’re looking forward to planning some exciting projects with them over the coming months.  

Shanay whipped up another treat during her work placement at Myatt’s Corner Café this week. The coming week marks the final few days of her Hospitality and Catering taster course before she and her peers move onto Painting and Decorating in the new term.

Our Year 11 employees have begun making promotional videos for ‘Passport to Employability’ as part of Unit 3 of BTEC Creative and Digital Media Production. We can’t wait to share the finished products.

Year 11 employee Lilly finished the week by creating an all-pink collage inspired by Portia Munson for Unit 3 of BTEC Art and Design; a vibrant end to a productive week.

The Force Awakens...

After demonstrating stellar commitment to his work at Myatt’s Corner Café, Year 10 employee Dylan was asked to help cater for a formal event at Park Campus on Tuesday. 

He arrived to work at 6.30am and performed in an exemplary fashion throughout the day.

He and fellow Year 10 employees Shanay and Shakai visited The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton on Thursday to watch and review ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ for their Bronze Arts Award. The force is strong with these employees…

Shanay has also worked incredibly well at Myatt’s Corner Café over the past few weeks. This week, she is our guest blogger and photographer…

‘I have been learning how to use knives the professional way, how to make cakes from scratch, how to set out garnish (how to arrange the salad), how to use a knife sharpener so knives don’t get blunt, how to interact with customers, how to use the till and how to use the coffee machine.

This is the main bit of the kitchen where we cook. Most of the time it’s just me, Shakai, Eddie (the executive chef) and Garfield (the chef) in the kitchen. Sometimes we have to switch so Dylan and Samantha will be in the kitchen or even Steph. I’m used to being in the kitchen so I’m not really on the till as much. Although this time I was serving more.

This is the machine that makes coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Dylan, Samantha, Jan and Steph are normally on it, and take it in turns.

This is the till. It looks simple but it’s not. Steph, Jan, Samantha or Dylan normally take it in turns on the till because they are much better than me and Shakai at it.

Here are some of the tables in the café where customers would eat their food but sometimes customers get a takeaway. 

One of my skills is I can now bake from scratch and don’t have to use cake mix. I have made sponge cakes and cupcakes and I will be learning how to professionally make banoffee pie from scratch.

The main thing I found challenging was having to go and serve dishes and speak to customers because it is awkward having to meet new people. 

I overcame this by watching other café employees talk to customers and I noticed it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

I think I would be able to work in a place like this in the future because I am really good at it now. It would be a good part time job whilst I’m in college.

I could improve on using the till because one day Samantha, Dylan, Jan or Steph might want to be in the kitchen and we might be short-staffed so I might have to be on till.’ -Shanay

Shanay even accepted an offer to support the staff at Myatt’s Corner Café with their Friday afternoon rush…

‘I am going to start going to the café on a Friday and I don’t normally so I will be looking forward to that.’

Pitch Perfect

Congratulations to Year 11 employees Luis and Lilly who completed Unit 2 of their BTEC First Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production. They pitched their idea for a digital media product (a promotional video for Passport to Employability) by creating a pitch video that not only featured strong verbal communication but also demonstrated their production skills; a novel way to impress their client.

Year 11 employee Deaquan has been learning on the job, studying for NCFE Level 1 Occupational Studies; Construction Skills. His employers have nothing but good things to report!

Luis and fellow Year 11 Jodi spent Friday studying and interpreting the work of artists Mondrian and Basquiat.

Year 10 employee Dylan, currently enjoying work experience at Myatt’s Corner Café, has been selected to help cater for a formal event next week. We look forward to sharing his success in our next blog post!

Let Them Eat Cake!

This week, our Year 10 employees began their new hub rotation. We stopped by Myatt’s Corner Café to see how four of our Year 10s were faring as they learned to prepare and serve food to the public in a high-pressure work environment. Pictured above is Shanay, serving a cake made entirely by Year 10 Dylan (our guest blogger this week), who arrived at work early so that she could prepare the dessert.

'My name is Dylan and I have been on the Passport Programme since September 28^th 2015.

 

At Myatt’s Corner Café, I have been learning how to use the coffee machine and work at the till. I’ve also made a Mars and Nutella cheesecake. 

I have found it challenging when customers get a bit demanding but I overcame that by noticing that in work you have to remain professional at all times. I could work in a place like this in the future but it isn’t something I’ve got a passion for. I am looking forward to working in the kitchen next week.' -Dylan

Year 10 employees also began their new Life Skills course ‘Something About Life’. This week, they learned how to wash different fabrics and which items of clothing are safe to iron. 

These skills will afford our young learners the independence they need to thrive later in life.

Happy New Year!

Huge congratulations to Year 11 Tyrese who is our first employee this year to secure a sixth form college place (at City of Westminster College). 

 
This is a testament to not only Tyrese’s efforts but to the efforts of our Exams Administrator Justin Samuels who is supporting Year 11 employees through the college application process.

Year 11 employees are moving closer towards achieving their Creative Digital Media Production BTEC (First Certificate) by beginning Unit 2 (Planning and Pitching a Digital Media Product). 

To the left, Lilly can be seen preparing for the group's first production meeting, during which they heard each other’s ideas for a promotional video for Passport to Employability. 

Working successfully in this collaborative manner is an essential skill that we strive to develop in our young learners.