Sandwell College

🏦 Real-world experience in action

Recently our T Level Management and Administration students recently took part in a Work Experience Day at Lloyds Banking Group’s newly refurbished Head Office in Birmingham.

Working alongside learners from Dudley College and Aston University Sixth Form, students developed their communication, teamwork and presentation skills while gaining valuable insight into a range of career pathways.

A highlight of the day was delivering presentations to an audience of over 50 people, helping to build confidence and strengthen public speaking abilities.

Our learners shared their reflections:
🔊 Khye: “I became a more confident speaker and developed my communication skills.”
🔊 Abisola: “Presenting in front of a large audience helped build my confidence and taught me how to engage an audience effectively.”
🔊 Michelle: “The experience helped me understand the importance of effective public speaking and teamwork.”

Experiences like this play a key role in developing the skills students need for future success ✨

Explore our T-Levels here:🔗https://www.sandwell.ac.uk/course-categories/t-level/

An inspiring session for our learners with innovation leader and Obama Foundation Leader Blaise Aboh. 🙌

Blaise, a passionate voice in AI ethics, spoke to students from Computing & Digital and Esports about how AI really works, the differences between human and machine intelligence, and even ran an unscripted live voice AI demo showing tone, emotion and the mistakes it can make.

With experience speaking at major global tech events, mentoring across UK universities, and hosting the Automating Inequality podcast, Blaise brought real world insight that left our students thinking bigger about the future of AI. 🌍

🏆 Celebrating success in Hair and Beauty

Our Hair and Beauty students brought home an incredible 10 awards from the AHT National and Direct Entry Competitions in Blackpool ✂️

Competing on a national stage, our learners showcased exceptional creativity, technical skill and professionalism, achieving Gold, 3 Silvers, 3 Bronzes and 3 fourth-place finishes.

🏆 Gold Winner
Abdul (Level 2 Barbering) – Creative Cut and Freestyle Pattern

🥈 Silver Winners
Sidra (Level 2 Beauty) – Asian Bridal Make-Up
Meera (Level 2 Beauty) – Fantasy Sea Serpents Make-Up
Navneet (Level 3 Nails) – Bridal Front Cover

🥉 Bronze Winners
Navneet (Level 3 Nails) – Nail Art Mirror Image
Razie (Level 2 Hair) – Current Bridal Hair
Niamh (Level 3 Nails) – Bridal Front Cover

🎖️ Fourth-Place Achievements
Esha & Miroslava (Level 3 Nails) – Fantasy Freestyle Hair & Make-Up
Dainton (Level 2 Barbering) – Cut Fade & Beard
Kelsey (Level 2 Beauty) – Fantasy Sea Serpents Make-Up

A phenomenal achievement that reflects the strength of our teaching, training and industry-ready talent 👏

You're invited! Join us for our Open Day at Sandwell College @ The Learning Campus, based on the site of the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

Discover what makes Health and Social Care at Sandwell College unique through our partnership with the NHS. Whether you're thinking about your next steps after GCSEs, considering a career in health, or simply want to explore this fantastic campus, we'd love to welcome you.

Bring the whole family and enjoy a free community day packed with entertainment, activities and the chance to discover the exciting opportunities available at Sandwell College.

📅 Saturday 27 June
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Sandwell College @ The Learning Campus - on site of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (B66 2QT)

👉 Register now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sandwellcollege/2245818

Our Level 3 Technical Year 2 students recently visited The Deep Aquarium in Hull as part of their Aquatics Husbandry unit 🌊

The visit provided an excellent opportunity to explore a wide range of aquatic species and learn more about animal husbandry, conservation, and aquarium management in a real-world setting.

Back in the classroom, students also took part in a practical mackerel dissection, giving them valuable hands-on experience and a closer look at fish anatomy.

A fantastic learning experience that helped bring their studies to life!

From Refugee to Record-Breaking Runner 🏃‍♂️

At just 19 years old, Aron’s story is one of determination, resilience and extraordinary achievement.

After arriving in the UK from Eritrea, Aron joined our college to study ESOL and has worked incredibly hard to build a bright future. This year, he successfully completed his Level 1 Sport course, achieving merits and distinctions throughout, and is now progressing to Level 2.

As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team, Aron has even travelled to Kenya to train alongside some of the world's best distance runners.

Last weekend, Aron competed at The London 5000, lining up alongside elite athletes, including Olympian Andy Butchart. He delivered a remarkable performance, finishing in an astonishing 13:26.84, averaging under 65 seconds per lap - officially faster than Sir Mo Farah’s personal best and just 51.35 seconds off the world record.

We are immensely proud of everything Aron has achieved. His journey highlights the power of education, opportunity and sport to transform lives, and he continues to inspire everyone across our college community.

Please join us in congratulating Aron on this outstanding achievement and wishing him every success for the future 👏

🐶 Real world skills in action 🐶

Could you see yourself working with dogs every day? At Sandwell College, our Dog Grooming learners don't just learn in the classroom - they gain hands-on experience in a real working salon, grooming paying customers and building the practical skills employers are looking for. ✂️🐾

If that sounds like your kind of future, come and see it for yourself at our Community Open Day.
📅 Friday 27 June
⏰ 11am – 3pm

Discover our Dog Grooming facilities, explore more than 100 other courses and apprenticeships, chat to our expert tutors and experience everything Sandwell College has to offer.

Whatever your career goal, Sandwell College has the answer for you. 💗

🎟️ Register here: https://www.sandwell.ac.uk/opendays/

❤️ Happy National Loving Day ❤️

Today we celebrate love in all its forms, a message that strongly reflects the spirit of Pride Month 🌈

It’s a time to recognise the importance of unity, acceptance and embracing diversity within our communities. Love has the power to bring people together, break down barriers and create a more inclusive world.

Let’s continue to support one another, celebrate individuality and create spaces where everyone feels valued and respected ✨

Our planned Lockdown Practice Drill has now been completed.

Thank you to our learners, colleagues, parents and carers for your support and cooperation throughout today's exercise.

The safety of our College community remains our priority at all times.