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YOUNG designers from Priestley College won a national competition to create a new app ahead of 22,000 other students.

Josh Rose, Eve Billington and Ben Dommet’s app – Jobs 4 You – helps students to find local jobs and also prepares them for interviews with checklists and tips as sets an alarm so they never miss an appointment.

It won the Saving, Spending and Giving category ahead of two other shortlisted ideas.

“We started by talking about the kinds of things we needed help with and one of them was finding part-time jobs that we can do alongside studying at college,” said former Birchwood High School pupil Eve, who is 17.

“We felt that if it was something we were struggling with then other students would be as well and that’s how we decided on the idea.”

The talented trio travelled to the Barbican in London last week where they presented Jobs 4 You to eight executives from Barclaycard, Cap Gemini and Salesforce.com before mingling with more than 100 other representatives ‘selling’ their idea.

Their app will now be developed by a London-based agency putitout who are investing £10,000 and will hold regular skype meetings with the students to discuss its progress.

Next year, Jobs 4 You will be available on the App Store.

“We think they really liked our idea because it was something new and there is definitely a market for it,” said former Penketh High pupil Josh, who is 18.

The trio’s app was one of two Priestley teams that made last week’s finals in London.

David Gant, Finn Murphy and Scott Batey came up with eID – an electronic identification app that was also nominated in the People’s Choice Awards.

Priestley Tutor Tom Heaton said: “It was a great achievement to have two teams through to the finals because it is so competitive. The Apps for Good programme has allowed us to bring our BTEC course right up to date because it is likely these students will developing apps in the future.”

A FORMER Priestley College student has been named Young Adult Learner of the Year.

Mohamed Mahyoub, who combined his English GCSE at Priestley with a BTEC in IT, an A-Level in Arabic and an AS in Business, won the awards last week and then spoke of the importance of education.

“I believe that weaknesses do not have to hold you back. I had lots of weaknesses when I was younger, but realised that education can help you develop and turn your weaknesses into strengths,” he said.

At 14, Mohamed emigrated from Yemen to the UK, however he didn’t speak any English.

Now, less than 10 years later, he is a successful young man helping young people in his community, whilst studying for a PhD.

Mohamed struggled in school but still achieved eight GCSEs with A – C grades and enrolled at Priestly College to re-sit English GCSE which he passed.

He took part in activities, such as the Six Book Challenge, to improve his English and also achieved A-levels in Arabic and a BTEC diploma in IT.

Mohamed received unconditional offers from five universities, eventually graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a first in a BSc (Hons) degree in Computer Science.

He is currently studying full-time for a PhD in Data Analytic & Artificial Intelligence.

His learning has inspired him to launch NativeStart, a youth organisation supporting Yemeni and Arabic communities in Warrington.

He also co-founded web development company, UKByte Ltd, providing employment and work experience for young people.

Mohamed’s nominator Janet Puzylo said: “He is an inspiration to everyone he meets. He came to this country as a young teenager with nothing but the love of his grandparents and a burning desire to succeed and help others.

“His achievements in learning are brilliant, especially considering where he started and his dream to build a better world for others is being put into practical motion.”

TALENTED artists have showcased their work in Priestley College and in a virtual art gallery.

The A-Level and BTEC students displayed skills in subjects as varied as Fashion/Textiles to Computer Game Design to Fine Art and Photography.

Their achievements were displayed in the college’s gallery, but also made online at www.priestleygraphics.co.uk

“Every year we enjoy showing off the incredible array of talent that Priestley students demonstrate whether it be in traditional forms of art or more modern takes on the subject,” said Andrea Marren, Head of Art and Design at Priestley College.

“This year has been no exception and the Summer Showcase really is a fitting tribute to the talent of these young artists and the tutors who have guided them over the past few years.”

Amongst the work on show was that of Rochelle Reid, a former Sir Thomas Boteler High School pupil, who explored the theme of ‘A Touch of Frost’ and produced a home interior.

“I felt it would be interesting to experiment with water and ice, by collecting natural items from the outdoors such as leaves and flowers. I placed them in water and then in the freezer to trap them in ice,” she said.

All the work is still available to view at www.priestleygraphics.co.uk

Priestley teamed up with a leading chemical company last week to inspire scientists of the future.

The college invited pupils from Sir Thomas Boteler, St Gregory’s, Cardinal Newman and Beamont Collegiate Academy into college to meet experts from Solvay.

They also discovered what learning is like in a college laboratory and took part in a maths challenge.

Tutor Stephen Pennington, Science Tutor and STEM coordinator, said: “It was an opportunity for us and for the pupils to interact with local industry. We hope those who took part will be inspired to pursue science in future either in education or in a career.”

Priestley became the first sixth form college in the country to receive STEM-assured status putting the college on a list of the UK’s top providers of education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

PRIESTLEY’S Zach Wrightson was this week named Outstanding BTEC Creative Art and Design Student of the Year at the National BTEC Awards.

The competition, which celebrates achievement in the country’s most widely taken vocational qualification, was held in London on July 7.

The awards recognise the nearly one million students around the country who are studying BTEC qualifications this year. Pearson, who own BTECs, received over 800 nominations across the 20 award categories for this year’s Awards.

Now in their fifth year, the Awards were hosted by comedian Rob Beckett, at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.

Ahead of the awards ceremony the winners, their family, friends and nominators attended a Parliamentary reception in the House of Commons.

Zach’s educational journey is the epitome of a BTEC success story.

Having left school with one GCSE above a C grade, Zach gained a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design at Priestley College before progressing to a BTEC National Extended Diploma in Art and Design.

He achieved a triple-starred distinction in his BTEC alongside GCSEs in English and Maths and is now studying Costume Design at Cleveland College of Art and Design.

During his time at college, Zach was a focused and determined student who was popular with his tutors and peers and proved himself as a talented and innovative designer.

One of his biggest challenges was to develop and pitch a wallpaper design for Barclays Bank. His winning pitch, concept and design were described by his tutors and the Barclays team as exceptional and his wallpaper now adorns Barclays’ Knutsford offices.

Zach also contributed significantly to wider college life during his time at Priestley, designing costumes for the college’s catwalk shows and attending every college open event where he gave talks to visiting groups of students and encouraged them to follow the vocational route.

The judges described Zach is an outstanding and exemplary student whose BTEC journey has taken him from a school-leaver with poor GCSE grades to a highly capable, confident learner.

Zach said: “I cannot believe I have won this award. This BTEC course and the opportunities I have experienced has enabled me to achieve the maximum grade available and helped me to begin the journey to gaining my Costume Design degree, which I hope to use working within the television and film industry”.

Andrea Marren, Curriculum Manager for Art and Design from Priestley College, said: “Zach took every available opportunity on both his BTEC level 2 and 3 courses to experience a broad range of projects set by tutors or by industry. The units could be personalised to his interests and enabled him to excel and form links to his chosen career direction. Throughout the courses he was an outstanding student determined to succeed. It has been a pleasure to work with him”.

Mark Anderson, Managing Director at Pearson UK, said: “The National BTEC Awards is an opportunity for us to shout from the rooftops not just about the winners, but also about the achievements of BTEC students, apprentices, teachers, schools, colleges and training providers up and down the country.

“Every year, thousands of BTEC students go on to university and good jobs that really value their skills. Whether as a stand-alone qualification or combined with A-levels, BTEC represents the fastest growing route into education and these awards demonstrate why that’s the case. They achieve great things in a wide variety of industries vital to the economy, ranging from business and engineering to ICT and healthcare. Recent figures showed that pupils from lower socio-economic groups are twice as likely to go to university on the back of a BTEC, rather than traditional A-levels.

“At a time when the value of vocational learning at school and college is continuing to be robustly debated, we believe the example set by these Award winners is part of a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates their valuable contribution to both the education system and the broader economy.

“It is vital to support and celebrate the hard work and achievements of outstanding BTEC students and their teachers. This year’s judges were impressed by the quality and number of nominations we received but Zach really stood out as a truly exceptional student.”

Joni Ashton

TWO students from Priestley College will walk the red carpet after being nominated for BAFTAs.

Declan Metcalfe and Joni Ashton, who have both just completed their Computer Games Design BTEC Extended Diploma, are finalists in the BAFTA Young Game Designers competition.

They will attend a ceremony at BAFTA’s headquarters in Piccadilly where they will walk the red carpet and see their games displayed.

“I can’t believe it,” said Joni, a former pupil at The Heath in Runcorn.

“It’s amazing to be nominated and something incredible to look forward to.”

BAFTA said just 40 young hopefuls, who were selected by a jury of industry experts, will attend the ceremony. The competition aims to inspire the game designers and makers of the future by giving them the chance to develop their concepts with industry professionals.

Harvey Elliott, Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee, said: “The quality of entrants to the BAFTA YGD competition increases every year, and this year’s finalists are amongst the best young game designers in the country.”

Declan, formerly of Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, said: “To make the finals of such a prestigious competition feels like a huge achievement. It really does make me want to achieve even greater things within the industry.”

Declan Metcalfe

Declan’s game concept is called ‘Plate Defenders’ and involves the player defending and cleaning plates using anti-germ tower defences. The germs evolve making progressive stages of the game more difficult.

Jellyfish was Joni’s vision and his main character’s quest was to return to his family negotiating explosive mines en route. It uses the players’ own music to set the rhythm of the game.

Priestley College introduced a Computer Games Design course four years ago and has seen two successful cohorts go on to further studies and careers.

Both Declan and Joni secured triple distinction star in their BTEC results when they were announced last week.

Priestley Tutor Matt Wilson said: “I am extremely proud of both of them and they thoroughly deserve this recognition. To have one student from Priestley nominated for a BAFTA is incredible, but two is unbelievable.”

PRIESTLEY College hosted a talk from a member of the House of Lords aimed at encouraging students to become more engaged with politics.

Lord Sharkey met A-Level students for an hour to talk about the work and role of the House of Lords.

This was followed by a question and answer session on various aspects of the parliamentary process and life at Westminster.

Senior Tutor Mark Salmon said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to interact with someone who knows the parliamentary system inside out, as it can sometimes seem far removed from their daily lives.”

The visit was arranged through the Lord Speaker’s ‘Peers in Schools’ programme, which has been running across the UK since 2007 and has so far involved around 75,000 young people.

This continuing outreach programme sends members of the House of Lords into schools/academies and colleges across the country to give talks in support of the citizenship curriculum.

It follows months of focus at Priestley College on the political process, which has included several high-profile visits including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and Tristram Hunt of the Labour Party.

During the General Election campaign all the local Warrington candidates met students while those with a passion for politics also staged their own hustings events.

“At Priestley we feel it is very important to generate interest in politics to help students feel engaged with the political process,” said Mark Salmon.

“It is not just something that should only be of interest to Politics students, but to everyone with an interest in how the country is run, which is why we place such importance on it.”

YOUNG engineers from Priestley College soared in a recent competition to build the best model aeroplane.

Two teams from Priestley took part in the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) contest, which challenged each to build a radio controlled plane that could carry a load around a course at Elvington Airfield.

Despite being up against colleges and universities with dedicated aeronautical departments, Priestley’s ‘Team Piranha’ and Team Stingray both finished second in their competitions.

“It is an amazing achievement considering the competition we faced,” said Tutor Steve Pennington.

“We were up against some top universities, including one from Germany, so to rank so highly is a great achievement for the students.”

Priestley has entered a team into the competition for the past two years to give students interested in engineering an opportunity to hone their skills.

Two retired engineers, Arthur Griffiths and Colin Rider from the Warrington Model Flying Club, worked with the teams to develop theories and build their planes.

“We are so grateful to Colin and Arthur for offering their expertise to our students who have taken a lot from the experience,” said Steve.

The BMFA Payload Challenges require students to design, build and fly a load-carrying radio controlled model. The pilot must be grade B qualified.

Each team is expected to display design flair, technical knowledge and teamwork.

A panel of professional engineers judge the contest, which also enjoys the support of BAE SYSTEMS.

Team Piranha’s plane managed to carry 130 tennis balls in its fuselage propelling Priestley into the runners-up spot. Team Stingray managed eight circuits carrying a fixed load in five minutes placing them second in the country.

YOUNG biologists turned detectives in the Society of Biology’s annual quiz.

Four students from Priestley College used their knowledge to identify organisms found in rock pools as well as using photographic evidence to answer questions on evolution ecology and adaptation.

Priestley finished sixth out of 24 teams from across the North West at the contest held at UCLAN.

“The competition was very strong so we are delighted to have finished so highly,” said Biology Tutor Dr Louise Norbury.

“All four students represented Priestley well and demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the subject.”

Students Emily Craig, Adam Griffiths, Scott Kingsley and Ellen Simpson each received a commemorative mug for their efforts.

FOUR young engineers have proved their weight in gold.

Priestley’s Natalie Renshaw, Owen Smith, Ben Brown and Alex Smith worked with three engineers from Sellafield Ltd to work out a solution to a problem posed by the company.

The challenge was set as part of the Engineering Education Scheme that is pursued by many Priestley students interested in a career in this field.

Due to the complex nature of the project the students were awarded the prestigious CREST Gold award in recognition of their creativity and innovation.

“This is a great accolade for any student, but particularly those looking to pursue a career in engineering,” said Tutor Stephen Pennington.

“They’ve worked extremely hard and this project has given them a unique chance to work with a renowned company.”

Sellafield set a challenge centred on removing sludge waste from a silo.

The students attended a residential at Liverpool University where they worked on their proposed solutions and gave a talk to a panel of engineers about their ideas.

Judges praised their report and award the students the CREST Gold award.

“We would especially like to thank Sellafield engineers Alex, Grace and Katherine for supporting the Priestley team,” said Stephen.

“It was a fabulous experience for the students involved and they gained a lot of transferable skills.”

AN eminent biologist met students at Priestley College to share his knowledge of Neuroscience.

Dr Guy Sutton, Honorary Consultant Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham Medical School, is an expert in the genetics of neurodevelopment and neuropathology.

During his visit to Priestley he dissected a sheep’s brain and discussed brain anatomy across species from flies to dolphins.

“It was great hearing from such an expert on the brain,” said Dr Louise Norbury, Head of Biology at Priestley College.

“His insight was really thought-provoking and he talked passionately about the subject, which was very inspiring for all the students.”

Dr Sutton has been a visiting researcher to universities in America and conducted research and data analysis for various organisations, including the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council.

He has presented research findings at international conferences and talked about the theoretical and clinical aspects of his research on television and radio.

During his time at Priestley he examined brain cells under a microscope and lectured on basic brain anatomy, out-of-body experiences and consciousness in coma.

Students also heard about brain damage and Alzheimer’s disease as well as computer-brain interfaces in paraplegia.

“We strive to give our students access to prominent experts and Dr Sutton is certainly a leading figure in Neuroscience,” said Dr Norbury.

“We are grateful to him for giving Priestley students an informative and engaging experience.”

MORE than 600 young people collected A-Level results at Priestley College today (Thursday) and were celebrating after two years of study.

They secured a 99% pass rate – the eleventh successive year a cohort has enjoyed this achievement at Priestley – with 100% passing in 39 subjects.

Among them was Katheryn Thompson, formerly of Penketh High, who achieved As in English Literature, History, Maths and an A* in Law. She is now headed to Oxford to study the Classics and English.

Principal Matthew Grant said the A-Level results followed another set of outstanding BTEC results earlier in the summer when Priestley saw a 100% pass rate in all extended diplomas.

“This year’s results really do mark us out as the area’s leading provider of A-Level and vocational courses,” he said.

“Our focus on challenging students to achieve their best whilst providing inspiration and the support they need has paid off again and we are extremely proud of the students’ achievements.”

Katheryn Thompson who is heading for Oxford University after two years at Priestley College.

Students achieved 200 As and A*s and an impressive overall 68% of grades were awarded at A* to C.

Vocational students also delivered outstanding results with 68 securing triple distinction stars and 124 with triple distinctions.

As always many vocational students also took A-Levels alongside their main programme and many achieved top marks in both.

Among them was former Bridgewater High School pupil Amy Dewsnip who was delighted with As in A-Level Drama, English Language and Literature and History to go with her double distinction star in Performing Arts.

She will now pursue her dream of becoming a professional actress and the next stage is studying at East 15 Acting School in Essex

“I was nervous and excited about results day because I’d worked so hard and wanted it to be the perfect end to a great two years at college,” she said.

Daniel Monks, who formerly attended The Heath in Runcorn, took home As in 3D Design, Biology, English Literature and Language and a B in Geography.

He’s now headed to the University of Manchester to study Audiology and wants to help people identify and solve hearing difficulties.

“My results were a massive relief and now I am going on to pursue a career where I can really make a difference to people’s lives,” he said.

PRIESTLEY College students have told a top Army General how the MoD’s outreach programme has made a difference to them.

Five students explained to Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CB, Chief of Defence People, how working with the MoD over the past year had given them lifelong skills and increased their confidence.

“They spoke very passionately about the difference it has made to them and their futures,” said Priestley Tutor Paul Mackinnon.

Priestley was one of 11 colleges from across the country that was invited to give a presentation at the annual celebration of the outreach programme held at the MoD’s headquarters in Whitehall.

They discussed how working with the MoD had influenced their career choices and given them additional opportunities to include on their personal statements.

During one exercise in college Andy Gillman MBE, who has delivered the programme since 2002, asked Public Services students how they would deal with a humanitarian crisis caused by war in the fictional country of Dacan.

“It was an eye opener for them to think through this kind of scenario and work out a response,” said Paul.

The students also visited the Ministry of Defence headquarters enjoying a tour of the building and speaking to officials.

Liam Hill, formerly of St Aelred’s School, said the trip may have proven a life-changing experience.

“Seeing the security around the place just made me think what a great job it would be so I am looking into that now,” he said.

Andy Gillman MBE added: “I have been supporting the students at Priestley for over six years by bringing workshops to the college and also hosting them in Whitehall.

“The welcome is always warm, the students are always a pleasure to work with and I look forward to hearing about their achievements in the future.”

A YOUNG athlete is balancing college with competing internationally in the 800 metres.

Carys McAulay, who is 17, is studying A-Level Biology, Spanish and PE at Priestley College while also fitting in her training.

She has just jetted out to Samoa for the Youth Commonwealth Games, a 52-hour trip, but not before checking in with her tutors to ensure she had all her work covered.

“It is meaning some long days for me, but it is important not to fall behind at college,” said Carys, from Appleton.

“Some nights I don’t go to bed until after 1am, just so that I can fit in my training and work.”

Carys first discovered her running ability at Broomfield Junior School where she would win most of the races she took part in.

Earlier this year she finished fourth in the World Youth Games held in Colombia. She had been aiming for a top 5 finish so was happy with her time of 2 minutes 5.3 seconds.

Now Carys is in Samoa for the Commonwealth event where she is representing Scotland after she moved to Warrington from Glasgow when she was eight.

It follows months of training five days a week including speed and endurance work with her coaches at Warrington Athletics Club.

“Everyone has been really supportive both at college and at the club, which has really helped me,” she said.

Priestley Principal Matthew Grant said the college aimed to support all its high achieving students to ensure they can pursue their goals.

“Tutors are there to support our students with their endeavours inside and outside of college wherever possible,” he said. “We wish Carys all the best for the Commonwealth Games and with her studies too.”

This is Megan Kavanagh who was one of the dance students who left this year with an A grade. Picture by Carl Gleavey

YOUNG dancers from Warrington and Halton are heading to the UK’s top dance and theatre schools after dazzling tutors and examiners with their skills.

Priestley College’s dance cohort have secured places at London Studio Centre, LIPA,  De Montfort and Edge Hill amongst others following a remarkable set of A-Level results, which saw 80% secure A* to A with every student achieving at least a B.

There was similar success for the BTEC Dance students with a 100% pass rate and 50% of grades at Distinction*.

“It was an outstanding year. The students worked so hard and responded brilliantly to everything we taught them,” said Tutor Rachel Leyland.

“Our tutors have worked in theatre so we teach with industry standards and expectations in mind and the students responded to that.”

Among the successful performers was 18-year-old Holly-Ann Hodgkinson from Padgate.

The former Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil secured A* in her Dance A-Level, Distinction* in her Dance BTEC as well as a B in Drama.

Holly-Ann has been dancing since she was a toddler, often performing for family and always moving to a beat if there was one to be heard.

Priestley’s dance students’ performed piece at the Victoria Baths in Manchester as an alternative venue.

It is only on stage that she leaves her insecurities behind and thrives in front of an audience.

“When you’re on a stage you are in a different world,” said Holly-Ann, who is going on to study Dance and Drama at Edge Hill.

“You just feel the music and move, you’re not aware of anything else around you.”

One of the highlights of studying at Priestley for Holly-Ann was performing at the Victoria Baths in Manchester, which the college hired as an alternative venue.

“It made me realise you don’t need to dance on a stage or in a studio, you can take dance anywhere and be inspired,” said Holly-Ann.

Over the year the dance students have benefitted from workshops in college run by people at the top of their profession including Britain’s national dance company Rambert, a dancer from Thriller Live and Phoenix Dance Theatre Company.

Even former students such as Ben Cupit, who is now studying at the Arts Educational School in London, and Ashley Bradbury, who recently graduated from the University of Middlesex, returned to Priestley to give advice and guidance on how to succeed.

Priestley’s Head of Performing Arts Sarah Graham said: “It really does raise the students’ aspirations by introducing them to professionals in their chosen disciplines. It’s the best way to introduce them to industry standards and our students always raise their level during these workshops.”

Among those who benefitted from the workshops was Beth Lambert, who is 18 and from Sandymoor.

“You really are aiming for perfection when you study at Priestley,” said Beth. “We all pushed each other on, watched one another perform and aimed for the same standards.”

Beth, a former Bridgewater High School pupil, could often be found putting in extra practice in Priestley’s dance studios arriving before anyone else in the morning and sneaking in extra practice during free periods.

Her exam solo was rehearsed more than 50 times – probably more than 100 including practising individual segments of the performance – but it was worth it, reducing tutor Rachel Leyland to tears and setting her on the path to become a West End performer.

She is now going to study at the London Studio Centre after securing an A* in her Dance A-Level along with two Distinction*s and a further Distinction in her Performing Arts BTEC Extended Diploma.

“By the end of my solo performance my heart was on one side of the stage and my lungs on the other because it was physically very challenging,” she said.

“All the hard work was worth it though because I achieved what I wanted to at Priestley and now I am ready to continue pursuing my dreams.”

A FORMER Priestley College student is at the forefront of scientific investigations into some of the tiniest organisms on the planet.

Dr Claire Stanley, who left Priestley with a passion for sciences and As in the subjects, is now conducting research at ETH Zurich – one of the leading international universities for technology and the natural sciences.

During a return visit to college she met her former tutor Jan Costello and explained what she is doing now.

“It is fundamental scientific research because no one has done it before,” said Claire, who grew up in Birchwood.

“We are manipulating fluids on a micro scale in a controlled way to explore inter-organismal interactions, which could lead to the development of new antibacterials.”

Claire’s research is into the development of microfluidic technologies, which involves studying the interactions between bacteria, fungi and nematodes, which are microscopic worms found in soil.

It might be on a small scale, but it could have huge implications.

Claire and her colleagues are looking to develop potentially life-saving antibacterials as well as investigating ways their methods could help improve crop growth.

“I love the work that I do now,” said Claire, a former Birchwood High School pupil. “I get to collaborate with lots of other scientists, attend conferences around the world and teach students at a university level.”

Claire studied A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and German at Priestley College, which is recognised by the government as a leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education.

She gained a 1st Class Honours degree in Chemistry from Durham University, where she was awarded the Michael Western Scholarship, and a PhD in Chemistry at Imperial College London.

Whilst at Imperial, she was awarded the Sir Alan Fersht Prize for producing the best overall Masters thesis and a prestigious scholarship from the Society of the Chemical Industry.

“One of the next steps for me will be encouraging and mentoring the next generation of scientists,” said Claire. “I would love to lead my own research group one day.”

WHEN Ashleigh Bradbury first arrived at Priestley College she was too shy to speak up in class.

Now – having discovered her confidence through dance – the former student is returning to help develop Priestley’s contemporary dance company and inspire the next generation.

“I was quiet when I started at Priestley, but I really found myself during my time at college and I did so through my love of dance,” said the former Great Sankey High School pupil.

“Now it feels like everything has come full circle because I hope to show the students that it is possible to achieve your goals if you are dedicated to what you do.”

After securing an A* in her dance A-Level Ashleigh achieved a First in her BA Honours in Dance Performance at Middlesex University – one of the top places in the country to study the discipline.

During her time there she was taught, mentored or observed by people linked to some of the trailblazers of British contemporary dance including Robert Cohan, Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey.

Now Ashleigh, from Orford, is teaming up with her former A-Level dance tutor Rachel Leyland to bring those influences back to dancers at Priestley College.

They will be working together to help the current cohort and develop the college’s contemporary dance company, Oxygen.

“It will be such a great opportunity for our students to work with Ashleigh, not only because of the prestigious training she has received but as a former Priestley student herself she is also a role model,” said Rachel.

Since finishing university Ashleigh, who also studied Sociology, Religious Studies and English at Priestley, has been working as a freelance dance artist including a stint at Sarah Royle School of Dance in Warrington.

She also secured a graduate dancer audition for the international Phoenix Dance Company and is hoping to visit New York – the home of contemporary dance.

Before all that the 21-year-old is hoping to overcome some common misconceptions about dance – including that it is easy.
“It requires so much determination and there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears along the way. However, it is a small price to pay for the thrill of performance,” said Ashleigh.

“What I love about it is that contemporary dance is evolving and there are always barriers to break.”

To find out more about studying dance at Priestley College go to www.priestley.ac and to contact Ashleigh directly email ashleigh.bradbury@hotmail.co.uk

A PRIESTLEY tutor has focused on the lives of volunteer army reserve soldiers in a new exhibition.

Kevin Crooks, who teaches photography at Priestley, has produced the On Reserve project which consists of photographs, as well as video and sound installations that document the stories of volunteer reservists based in the North West.

In preparing the World of Glass exhibition he was mainly based at the Jubilee Barracks, in St Helens, and also went to the barracks in Birkenhead.

“This is the first time I have been exhibited there,” said Kevin.

“I recently graduated at UCLAN with a masters in photography, and this project has come out of my studying, so I applied for one of the micro-commissions.”

For the full story go to > http://m.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/13800915.Priestley_tutor_launches_new_exhibition/