From horticulture student to world class landscaper

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Talented Reaseheath College trained landscape gardener Matt Beesley has proved he is among the world’s best by taking silver at the WorldSkills finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Matt, from Winsford, and fellow team member Jonathan Gill, from Northern Ireland, achieved Britain’s first ever medal in landscape gardening at the global, Olympics style final. The pair had to prove their skills and stamina in hard landscaping, plant knowledge and management by building a garden from scratch in four days under the gaze of 259,000 spectators.

WorldSkills runs the competition bi-annually for students aged 23 and under to showcase the skills and value of young professionals in industries ranging from construction, engineering technology and transportation to IT, communications and social and personal services. The GB team recorded its best ever performance with 33 medals.

WorldSkills Sao Paulo closing Ceremony Team UK Matt Beesley with Rianne Chester

WorldSkills Sao Paulo closing Ceremony Team UK Matt Beesley with Rianne Chester

Matt, 21, completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture at Reaseheath College in Nantwich in 2012. He now runs his own successful business, Beesley’s Landscapes in Winsford, and employs two apprentices. He first competed in the British selection rounds for WorldSkills while a Reaseheath student and has continued to train intensively as a potential squad member.

The former Hartford High School pupil said: “Winning silver in the world finals has been the best experience of my life. The whole WorldSkills programme has been awesome. I have learned so much and gained such a lot of confidence. I’d particularly like to thank my hard landscape instructor at Reaseheath, Jason Hinks, and my parents for their support.”

Said Jason: “I’m really proud of Matt and how he’s developed as a professional landscaper through WorldSkills. This programme is all about benefiting the students through training and helping them to realise their potential.”

Header caption: Matt Beesley (right) and Jonathan Gill celebrate at the WorldSkills finals in Sao Paulo

Student satisfaction soars at Reaseheath College

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Higher Education student satisfaction has risen for the second consecutive year at Reaseheath College according to the National Student Survey (NSS).

Overall student satisfaction has risen by 12% on the previous year with the results showing an 86% satisfaction score for teaching and 83% for the academic support provided to its Higher Education students.

Dean of Higher Education, Rachel Ellis-Jones, commented: “I am absolutely delighted at yet another increase in our student satisfaction. This is evidence of our staff’s commitment to ensuring our students have a successful academic outcome, but also really enjoy their time at Reaseheath College.”

Commenting on the results of the NSS, Professor Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said: “The survey provides detailed and robust data which is used extensively by universities and colleges to improve the quality of their teaching and learning. It is also valuable in supporting prospective students and their parents and advisors in helping choose which higher education institution to select.”

With two commendations from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for student learning opportunities and enhancement of student learning opportunities, there has never been a better time to study at Reaseheath College.

The Reaseheath equine experience

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Ever wondered what it’s like to be an equine student at Reaseheath College?…

If you have any questions about life as an equine student, the industry, university or on-job training, we’re here to help. Join our live Horse and Hound web chat today 12pm-2pm. Reaseheath’s senior equine science lecturer Kate Douglas-Dala and Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care course manager, Jess Denham, will be ready to answer any questions you may have. 

Find out more about our equine courses at: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/equine


Careers webchat, live with Horse and Hound

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If you’re waiting for your results and wondering whether a college course will get you that dream job with horses, check out our live careers webchat in association with the UK’s leading equestrian magazine, Horse and Hound, on Wednesday 12 August, 12 noon – 2pm. Catch up and take part here:

www.horseandhound.co.uk/live-careers-chat

While you are waiting for the webchat why not check out our students as they provide the arena party at Bolesworth International:

 

Reaseheath’s senior equine science lecturer Kate Douglas-Dala, who has been involved in the development of Reaseheath’s degree programmes, and Jess Denham, who manages the college’s popular Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care, will be online to answer your questions on university, on-job training and life in the equestrian industry.

Both have extensive experience of working in the industry previous to joining Reaseheath. Kate, who lectures on horse nutrition, welfare and behaviour, was a veterinary nurse specialising in grass sickness cases at the Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital in Edinburgh. Jess was an equine yard supervisor at another college, responsible for the welfare and care of 40 horses as well as supporting students.

Kate has an MSc degree in Equine Science while Jess has a BSc (hons) degree in Equine Studies. Both hold a PGCE teaching qualification and are horse owners themselves.

For more details on our equine degrees and diplomas visit https://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/horseandhound or phone 01270 613242

About Reaseheath College

Recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialist colleges, Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Cheshire, works closely with industry bodies to ensure that the skills of its students match the demands of the world of work. This ensures a high rate of employment for equine graduates and opens up opportunities for young people, whose practical skills and knowledge are appreciated by employers.

Reaseheath has invested £50 million into cutting edge technology and world class facilities on campus, with a further £30 million planned over the next four years.

Our equine students tell us they most enjoy:

  • Riding in our fabulous indoor arena or two outdoor arenas, all with synthetic surfaces
  • Working horses from the ground in our round pen, purpose built for natural horsemanship
  • Our range of 60 horses, in small yards and for all standards of riders
  • Flicka, our mechanical horse!
  • Their supportive and experienced tutors and lecturers
  • Preparing for extra qualifications such as BHS exams and college certificates
  • Joining our Riding Club with its competitions and clinics
  • Helping to organise masterclasses and national shows or joining our arena team at the Horse of the Year Show and Bolesworth International Show Jumping

Triple gold for Reaseheath at Nantwich International Cheese Show

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Reaseheath College trained dairy technologists struck gold three times at the record breaking Nantwich International Cheese Show.

Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David presents the Student Cheesemaker award to Sarah Hinchliffe and Sam Clarke

Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David presents the Student Cheesemaker award to Sarah Hinchliffe and Sam Clarke

The students, who are studying on the Nantwich college’s unique Eden programme, took gold awards in the Specialist Cheesemakers section in classes for cheddar and crumbly territorial cheeses and also won the highly competitive Student Cheesemaker class.

They also took a further silver and two highly commended awards in the Student Cheesemaker class and a highly commended in the open cheddar cheese class.

The Eden programme is a unique, ground breaking, education initiative driven and supported by leading dairy companies who recognise the importance of investing in talented employees.

The technicians attend Reaseheath on a block release basis to study for an internationally recognised Foundation Degree in Dairy Technology which includes practical training in the college’s industry standard dairy processing halls. They spend the rest of their time extending their experience in the workplace.

Matt Salt assists Peter Sidwell on the Cathedral City stand

Matt Salt assists Peter Sidwell on the Cathedral City stand

Now in its seventh year and delivered exclusively by Reaseheath, the three year course covers relevant topics ranging from dairy chemistry and microbiology to cheesemaking.

The cheese show this year attracted record entries and the students’ entries were up against world class competition. The Student Cheesemaker class was newly sponsored by Reaseheath College.

Said course manager Debbie Heritage-Brill: “We were delighted at the success of our students, particularly against such strong competition from within the industry.”

Apart from competing, the Eden students demonstrated the process of cheesemaking at the show, giving families the chance to see how the nation’s favourite food is produced.

Celebrity chef James Martin with commis chefs Elysha Emberson and Kieran McLean

Celebrity chef James Martin with commis chefs Elysha Emberson and Kieran McLean

Three students who have just completed their Level 3 Diploma in Bakery and Patisserie supported celebrity chefs James Martin, Will Holland, Jonathan Harrison, Sean Wilson and Peter Sidwell as they demonstrated how to cook tasty dishes in the international cheese marquee.

Elysha Emberson, Kieran McLean and Matt Salt worked as commis chefs, preparing ingredients and cooking equipment for the chefs as they cooked in front of an appreciative audience.

Elysha said: “It was very interesting working with the chefs and being part of the action. It was a really good experience and a great thing to put on your CV.”

 

Reaseheath celebrates success at the Nantwich Show

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Reaseheath College’s visitor friendly exhibition was judged runner-up best professional trade stand at the Nantwich Show after impressing judges with the enthusiasm of its staff, the diversity of its activities and the effort it made to involve show visitors.

The Nantwich college’s stand encouraged families to take part in a diverse range of activities including riding a mechanical horse, operating a digger and meeting a calf.

Judge David Blackhurst, who presented the award, said: “Reaseheath’s stand was the very diverse. Its mix of livestock, machinery and horticulture really caught the eye.

Winning line-up in the cattle marquee: Lecturer Julie Baskerville and agriculture students Jess Pearce, Lydia Diamond, Joe Riley and Siobhan Rutter with Reaseheath Holstein heifers.

Winning line-up in the cattle marquee: Lecturer Julie Baskerville and agriculture students Jess Pearce, Lydia Diamond, Joe Riley and Siobhan Rutter with Reaseheath Holstein heifers.

“But more importantly it was very interactive and offered visitors a lot to do. There was a good range of activities, supported by attentive staff. The Nantwich Show is all about families and it was obvious that visitors were spending a lot of time on the Reaseheath stand.”

Deputy Marketing Manager Faye Thomson-Butt said: “We were delighted at the success of our stand. It’s always a great pleasure to support Nantwich Show, as it contributes so much to the local and farming community.”

Agriculture students and staff, who prepared and showed four heifers from the Reaseheath Holstein herd, were also celebrating after taking first prize for the best cattle line in the cattle marquee along with a 2nd, two 4ths a 6th and 7th in the handler and breed classes.

Header image caption: Judge David Blackhurst and Show Vice President Jerry Purcell hand over the trade stand award to Faye Thomson-Butt and Marketing Administrator Sophie Bell

Access agreement decisions for 2016-17: universities set themselves stretching new targets

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Universities and college have set themselves challenging new targets to make further and faster progress on fair access to higher education. The new targets, agreed with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), form part of the 183 access agreements approved today, and will help meet a Government ambition to double the rate of students from disadvantaged background entering higher education.

Professor Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said:

“The access agreements I have approved toady show that universities and colleges are setting stretching and ambitious targets to attract students from disadvantaged areas and then support them through their studies”.

“I am enormously heartened to see the significant level of ambition in this set of access agreements. By making progress towards their own fair access challenges, universities and colleges will contribute to the Government’s national fair access goals. The Prime Minister and Minister for Universities have set a goal to double the rates of students from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2020, and these agreements send a clear message that universities are ready to do the hard work to make this target a reality.

“The work and ambition univerisites and colleges have committed to today will transform lives. The outreach work universities have planned will open the door to higher education for people who might otherwise have thought it was not for them. The people that universities work with now will go on to be the doctors, business leaders and engineers of the future”.

Rachel Ellis-Jones, Dean of Higher Education at Reaseheath College, said:

“The access agreement for 2016-17 approved by OFFA shows the continued commitment by Reaseheath College to promote higher education to students from disadvantaged areas and groups. This access agreement demonstrates a renewed focus on supporting students while they are with us with an additional financial support package aimed to ensure progression and success”.

Reaseheath garden catches the eye at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

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Pupils from The Dingle Primary School, Haslington, enjoyed the limelight when they appeared on Reaseheath College’s eye catching garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

Thomas Atkinson, six, his seven year-old sister Beau, Poppy Beeson, eight, and seven year-old Ruby Deaville, who were dressed as ‘bug hunters’, posed on the garden with a giant aphid for photographers on press day.

The flower show, which showcases the best of British gardening talent, was enjoyed by 80,000 visitors before closing on Sunday (July 26). Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, a regular medal winner in previous years, chose this year to put on an educative feature so was not judged in the show garden category.

Beau Atkinson, Ruby Deaville, Poppy Beeson and Thomas Atkinson

Beau Atkinson, Poppy Beeson, Ruby Deaville and Thomas Atkinson from The Dingle Primary School with Reaseheath College’s giant aphid

In line with the RHS’s aim to inspire the younger generation into careers involving horticultural science and viable food production, the garden – called ‘The Leaf’, took visitors on an exploration through the structural layers of a leaf and showed how the plant might try to avoid predators.

The garden was sponsored by Pochin Construction, who are the contractors on Reaseheath’s £8.5 million national centre for horticulture, sustainability and environmental management which is currently being built. The giant aphid was manufactured by Nantwich firm Harbrook Engineering.

The garden itself was designed and built by Foundation Degree in Garden and Landscape Design undergraduates Matthew Kent, Nigel Barber and Sam Lawton. Matt said: “We wanted to step outside the box and design something which was young and interesting. We really enjoyed the reaction of visitors when they were viewing the garden.”

RHS Robyn Longden

Floristry student Robyn Longden shows off the RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year award

Reaseheath floristry students were also celebrating after winning the RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year Competition for the second year running.

The prestigious competition is open to UK based floristry colleges and training providers and showcases the talent of students.

Reaseheath’s victorious team were Level 3 Diploma in Floristry students Carol Edgington, Robyn Longden and Rachel Collinson-Fletcher, who were supported by Head of Floristry Sue Poole.

The students, who were commended by Chairman of Judges Ian Lloyd for their contemporary design skills and for the impeccable condition of their flowers and foliage, have now qualified for the national finals at the Chelsea Flower Show 2016. Reaseheath’s student team took the ‘runner-up’ title at Chelsea this year.

The challenge at Tatton was to create four designs which represented ‘Musical Through Time’. Reaseheath’s florists chose ‘My Fair Lady’ as their theme and created a hat, a wired bouquet, a buffet table arrangement and an arrangement for the entrance of the theatre.

As well as winning the college competition they also won a silver gilt medal for their stand.

Ian Lloyd, who is a senior RHS floristry judge, said: “The stand was immaculate and the finish and presentation were excellent. The whole exhibit was a real credit to Reaseheath’s students and all the judges were extremely impressed.”

Three Reaseheath horticulture students also contested the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening semi finals at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Chris Shore, 20, who has just completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture, qualified for the national finals, to be held at The Skills Show in November.

Reaseheath was also one of partners on the Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction exhibit and ran a series of demonstrations in the Discover and Grow section.

Second win for Reaseheath florists at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

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Reaseheath floristry students were celebrating after winning the RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year Competition for the second year running.

The prestigious competition, which was launched in 2014, is open to UK based floristry colleges and training providers and showcases the talent of students.

RHS Robyn LongdenReaseheath’s victorious team were Level 3 Diploma in Floristry students Carol Edgington, 45, from Kidsgrove, Robyn Longden, 19, from Stockport and Rachel Collinson-Fletcher, 26, from Shawbury, Shropshire. They were supported by Head of Floristry Sue Poole.

The students, who were commended by Chairman of Judges Ian Lloyd for their contemporary design skills and for the impeccable condition of their flowers, foliage and materials, have now qualified for the national finals at the Chelsea Flower Show 2016. Reaseheath’s student team took the ‘runner-up’ title at Chelsea this year.

RHS Carol EdingtonThe challenge at Tatton was to create four designs which represented ‘Musical Through Time’.  Reaseheath’s florists chose ‘My Fair Lady’ as their theme and created a hat, a wired bouquet, a buffet table arrangement and an arrangement for the entrance of the theatre.

As well as winning the college competition they also won a silver gilt medal for their stand.

My fair lady displayIan Lloyd, who is a senior RHS floristry judge, said: “The stand was immaculate and the finish and presentation were excellent. The whole exhibit was a real credit to Reaseheath’s students and all the judges were extremely impressed.”

Visit our winning student design in the Floral Design Studio at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, open until Sunday July 27.

For more about our floristry courses visit www.reaseheath.ac.uk/floristry

 

 

 

 

Reaseheath supports Crewe Alex fitness programme

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Crewe Alexandra Football Club is continuing to use cutting edge sports science equipment at Reaseheath College in Nantwich to help players gain peak fitness.

All first team players have recently visited Reaseheath’s campus for maximal fitness testing in the college’s sports science laboratory. As well as using a medical treadmill, the elite athletes went through field based lactate threshold tests in the laboratory and used top-of-the-range equipment in the campus gym for their warm-up and cool down routines.  The procedure was repeated the following day with the Under 21 and Under 18 squads.

The data will be used by Andy Franks, Head of Sports Science and Conditioning at Crewe Alex, to check the base level of fitness of each player and to set personalised training programmes. The squads will return to check their progress a further three times in the next twelve months. The data collection was carried out by Reaseheath Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Performance students, many of whom will progress to careers in coaching or sport fitness.

Reaseheath’s gym was refurbished to professional standard last year and Crewe Alex FC was one of the first to use the sports science laboratory to help train its athletes. The results were so positive that the club has decided to increase its number of visits to the college gym over the coming season.

Andy Franks said: “By using Reaseheath’s sophisticated testing equipment, we have been able to set accurate training zones for our pre-season training programmes, individualised for each player.  We found this was very helpful in getting the teams to maximum fitness last season and plan to increase our use of the sports lab this year.”

Reaseheath Sport Performance Course Manager Richard Brooke said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to practise and develop their skills by working with local, talented, professional athletes. Our students learn sports science and coaching techniques as part of their course and this has been a chance for them to see how critical these skills are in the industry they plan to join. We have also been delighted to support Crewe Alex.”

Reaseheath College and Crewe Alex FC have a long established partnership. Reaseheath delivers the academic training to Crewe Alex Academy apprentices, with scholars achieving the best grades in the country. This year graduating apprentice and Crewe Alex first team striker George Cooper was crowned ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in a national competition run by the League Football Education.

In return, many of Reaseheath’s sports performance students complete work experience with Crewe Alex, gaining an insight into the possibilities of career progression within the football industry.

In September Reaseheath is launching Ladies’ and Men’s Football Academies in partnership with Crewe Alex which will enable talented young footballers to enhance their football skills while studying for a nationally recognised sport qualification.

For further details on Reaseheath’s sports courses and academies see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/sport-performance