Since face-to-face teaching and learning has transitioned to online studying at the campus, teachers have uploaded a variety of online, interactive resources and media for the students to continue their studies from home. Teaching staff have also been holding individual and group tutorials to support assignment work and to keep learners motivated on CWA’s online learning platform, LEARN, which is currently averaging around 30,000 logins per day.

Programme Manager of Art and Design at the campus. Paul Gibson, said:

“Our students have been having virtual learning sessions using Zoom. These are being recorded and shared with learners for future reference.  We are meeting learners on an individual basis to hold tutorials and check on their work, progress and well-being.”

James Fox, media lecturer at the college, teaching a virtual class. 

Art and Design student, Holly Craske, is adapting well to online learning. She said:

“During lockdown I have been working on my final major project for art and one area I have decided to work on is the evolution of flower painting and photography.  The support from my tutors has been great. I receive emails from my Maths tutor and my Art tutor with the work I need to do, and I know I can contact my tutors if needed, while I work on the final project for the college year.”

Holly Craske 

Holly Craske’s images from her final project, looking at the evolution of flower painting and photography.

Jo Evans, Learning and Skills Lead for the Air and Defence College at the campus said:

“With lockdown in place, students have been investigating the role of the Royal Air Force in previous times of crisis and predicting what they might be called on to deal with whilst the coronavirus is ongoing. Students have put forward some great ideas, such as repatriation of UK citizens, delivery of resources where required and RAF medics helping on the front line, as well as Red Arrows flybys to help boost moral!”

Performing arts students are also coming up with novel new ways to hold singing, dancing and acting rehearsals since lockdown, using Facetime and Zoom to hold collaborative warm-ups, workouts and rehearsals, as well as sharing their meals as part of learning and understanding how to be a healthy performer.

Musical Theatre student, Olivia Crane, said:

“Personally, I believe I have adapted well working at home, And I’m also starting to teach myself the piano which I hope will help with the singing side of the course. It has been great completing college work in my own home, as I don’t have distractions, although I do miss my peers and teachers in the studio. I have had regular zoom calls with singing and maths teachers which have been really beneficial as well!”

Dance student, Tyler Woodhouse, said:

“Even though we are in a very difficult situation, I have adapted around work commitments to do my college work. I have completed my theory and I am up to date with daily journals, these are showing the progress I am achieving over the week. We have had constant emails with corrections of all work and the tutors are really helping me with my theory, which I struggle with.”

 Tyler Woodhouse 

Musical Theatre student, Emma Rear, said:

“Every week, we receive work from our singing and dance teacher to keep our skills improving. I am specifically working on my research and journal for what would be our final show. This is something I need to work on lots due to this contributing to my final grade.”

Paul added: “There is a real sense of college community being shown during these challenging times.”

Performing Arts lecturer ,Annette Connolly, said: “I’m exceptionally proud of the students who are making the best of a difficult situation by challenging themselves with workouts, learning new skills and continuing to keep in touch with tutors. “

Two level 3 performing students, Madison Cole and Taylor Dinnis, have participated in a ballet barre set by English National Ballet, which they have uploaded to LEARN to receive corrections and advice, so they can continue to improve their classical technique. 

Students, staff and, even, family members have recognised the importance of looking after their physical health and mental well-being at this time. Staff members from CWA’s Sports Campus have been setting weekly sports challenges for their learners and exercise workouts.

Jo Evans said: “Our learners have been participating in daily PT sessions with me using online workouts including; strength, conditioning and kickboxing workouts and sometimes, getting their families involved as well.  This is important for their physical fitness, as many of our students will go on to join the RAF when they leave us, and their mental well-being at this time.”

Student, Emma Rear, said: “To make sure I don’t lose any physical stamina throughout this time I have been working out every day. This has also given me the opportunity to work on my flexibility more. This not only helps for my course it has also given me a reason to go out in my back garden and get some sunshine. That is definitely one of the positives of being in lockdown, I can go outside, spend time with my family and get fit.”

Students have also been finding ways to keep motivated and stay positive during the crisis.

Olivia Crane, said:

“I have joined Gareth Malone’s Online Great British Home Choir, which is so much fun learning different songs, also once or twice most weeks we have been having special guests joining us as well for part of the sessions, including a couple of cast members from the Military Wives Film, they spoke to us about some of the experiences they had in the making of the film. I have had regular exercise to make sure I keep healthy, finding new workouts online to do as well as taking the dog for a walk. I have done bedtime yoga with Adrienne classes on YouTube, which are very relaxing and gets rid of all negative energy.”

Health & Social Care Students 

Many students from the Health & Social Care and Nursing and Paramedic courses are currently working in key worker roles while balancing their studies, including in QEH, care homes, as first responders and in supermarkets, as well as some students shouldering the responsibility of being young carers for family members.

Level 2 Health and Social Care students celebrated Captain Tom Moore’s landmark birthday last week, making birthday cards for the 100-year-old veteran, including messages such as “Thank you to Captain Tom Moore for raising money for the NHS and for serving our country” and “Happy Birthday! Thank you for doing what you’re doing”.

Student Lauren Boyce's card to Captain Tom 

Learning Resource Centre

The Learning Resource Centre has been busy supporting learners remotely and transitioning and accommodating for student clubs, Student Council meetings and Mentor Schemes to move to online formats, as well as making fun activities and resources available to all; including cookery and creative writing clubs. They have also been ensuring the welfare of learners with regular contact and their own Wellbeing Club, which focusses on discussion and activities around staying positive.

Wisbech Students Celebrate 100% Pass Rate 

Level 3 Childcare student from the Wisbech campus, who sat their NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education exam at the beginning on the year celebrated some outstanding exam results recently. The eleven students who sat the exam, which was centred around healthy lifestyles and achieved a 100% pass rate.

Course Director, Tara Johnson, said:
"I am really proud of the girls that sat the controlled assessment at the beginning of the year; it was the first time we have run this course at the college. We were given access to the question on day one and only had this day to guide the girls then they were left on their own to complete the assessment. I really could not have asked for more from them. They have proven their knowledge and were clearly able to demonstrate their ability within the childcare industry. I look forward to moving them further forward in their second year and seeing them develop into excellent Early Years Educators in the near future."

Maddi Braves the Shave to Raise Money for PPE

Health and Social Care student, Maddi Spiteri-Nobbs, who lives in Wisbech recently ‘braved the shave’ in order to raise money for the QEH.

She said: “I’m hoping raising money can help provide better equipment for staff to stay protected. The NHS is currently being used at full capacity, so I wanted to help in some way. During these challenging times for everyone I have realised how important it is to give back to others. I have used the QEH multiple times throughout my life as four years ago I was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune condition and the staff have been nothing but amazing and supportive. They helped me in my time of need and I want to help them in theirs."

Maddi shaved her head this week and has already raised £1,165.00 for the hospital.

She said:

“I am hugely overwhelmed and amazed by the support I have been shown. Shaving my head was so worth it for this cause! It’s such an amazing hospital and the staff are great. They deserve a thank you, like all key workers do during this time. I am lucky enough to stay safe in my own home. You’re really amazing!”

If you would like to donate, please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/maddinobbs