Celebrating the first academic year at Shaftesbury Millie College
Shaftesbury Millie College, our newest centre, has had a tremendous first year in operation. The Dorset college, which caters for students aged 16-25+, welcomed over 100 guests to a special ‘Millie Fest’ this summer, to celebrate students’ achievements. Everyone did an amazing job, from creating games, running a plant workshop, making decorations, providing music and producing a buffet for their visitors.
The students were awarded certificates for their specific achievements throughout the year. One post-19 student had been practising using her walker down the long drive so that she could achieve her sponsored walk on the big day. She was accompanied by glamorous cheerleaders and Fifi, one of Millie College’s rescue donkeys.
Animal husbandry is one of the disciplines offered at the college, along with catering, conservation and other skills which can lead on to work. The college supports young people with disabilities and barriers to learning to access a range of work-based opportunities and enrichment. The goal is for students to develop independence, confidence and self-advocacy.
And there’s plenty to look forward to this autumn term, with an October visit planned by Shaftesbury’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal. The event will focus on ‘young futures’ and what that means for the young people we support at Shaftesbury Millie College. The Royal Patron will be invited to review the impacts to date for young people, made possible by dedicated staff, volunteers, supporters and local partners.
College receives Good Ofsted result
Over at Shaftesbury Nash College in Bromley, Kent, students return to their college which was recognised as ‘Good’ in its latest Ofsted inspection, an achievement which rewarded outstanding effort and improvement from the Nash team. The college supports students aged 19-25, with moderate to profound disabilities, providing a personalised curriculum for each student.
College visitors this term can take a look at a new mural created by students, which represents and celebrates the identity of each student. Part of the piece is constructed with tiles decorated by students, which together showcase the unique identities that make up Nash’s diverse community. And the title of the piece? ‘Nash-ional Identity’, which forms part of wider curriculum work around respect, diversity and British values.
Music therapy at Shaftesbury Victoria School
Music therapy is a big hit with students at our education centres – and Olly and friends, at Shaftesbury Victoria School, are looking forward to getting back to their Friday jamming sessions. Olly plays the drums using Eyegaze, a programme that enables him to control his computer with eye movements, at which he excels. His bandmates William, Deniz and Daniel are part of the band, playing synthesiser, Soundbeam and percussion. Soundbeam is a cutting-edge device that enables students with very little movement to independently choose from a huge palette of sounds, adding to the band’s musical makeup.
The band rocks out every Friday in the music room and can be heard on the school’s VIBE Radio, run by the students. Not only that, but Olly has mastered solo xylophone, with a piano accompaniment. The lads’ achievement has reaped rewards – they are number six in the Mixcloud global charts.
Shaftesbury Victoria is home to students aged 3-19. The school has received numerous national awards for its arts and sports achievements, and students are given wide opportunities and experiences, including taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Student successes
As well as celebrating students’ achievements in class, we also love to hear about their interests and accomplishments outside school and college:
- Seb joined Shaftesbury Millie College last September. As part of his personal learning programme he joined Wareham Golf Club, where he has been practising his skills on the green. Those extra rounds each week are clearly paying off, as Seb recently won the Dorset County Golf Union Cyril Nash Trophy with an impressive score of 42 points.
- Congratulations also go to Jeremy at Shaftesbury Nash College who received a Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award in recognition of his commitment and progress in dance.
- Jeremy was nominated for the award by his teachers at Magpie Dance and was one of six students to be recognised. Nominating Jeremy for the award, his dance facilitator said: ‘Jeremy comes to class every week with real enthusiasm, he has built on his social skills in class, often seen laughing with his friends whenever we have a break in class. He has wonderful co-operation skills and his dance skills have really been improving. He pushes himself to offer new name and shape moves more often now. He did really well in our visiting artist African Dance workshop. He also participated in a performance we did for the Queen’s Jubilee.’
We wish all our students, parents and carers well as they embark on the 23-24′ term.