Wider Skills

British Sign Language (or BSL) is a helpful skill to have if you ever want to communicate effectively with deaf people. It consists of hand movements, hand shapes, as well as facial expressions and lip patterns to demonstrate what people want to say. This ten-week course will teach you the basics of BSL. You will learn how to ask questions, find out how someone is, and have a conversation with someone using BSL.

The ancient game of chess has thrilled people through the ages. Whether you are new to the game or an experienced player, come along and learn how to play this fascinating game. You’ll learn how each piece can be used, look at the strategy that can be employed and have the chance to develop your technique.

In the Henna Art enrichment programme, you will explore the historical and cultural significance of henna, learning about its origins and traditional uses in various ceremonies. You will be introduced to the henna plant and the process of making henna paste and you can practice drawing both traditional and contemporary henna designs on paper, developing steady hand control and familiarity with motifs. Students receive hands-on training in applying henna, mastering techniques for creating intricate designs. The course culminates in planning a charity event, where you will apply henna on students and staff to raise money for a chosen charity.

Learn to knit! In this enrichment you will learn to cast on, knit, cast off and sew pieces together. If you pick these skills up quickly you can move on to learning knitting skills such as purl, knitting with multiple colours and following a pattern. We will make large squares that we will sew together to create blankets which we donate to a local charity for homeless people. 

Are you an experienced musician and want the opportunity to form a band while at college? During this enrichment (similar to Radio 1’s Live Lounge) you will working with other students to create a band where you can twist classic anthems by changing genre and creating ‘mash-ups’. This enrichment is a great way to develop your own skills as a musician and also allows you to build collaborative skills with other artists.

The beginnings of yoga were developed over five-thousand years ago and it is still popular today all over the world for its physical and mental benefits. In this enrichment, a qualified and highly experienced teacher will introduce you to basic skills and ideas of yoga. You will learn some of the core yoga positions and work on a range of exercises to improve your core strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

This enrichment is for both complete beginners and those who have played before. If you are an experienced player you will receive professional coaching to help you. Beginners will receive tuition from fellow students working towards their coaching qualifications. Squash is brilliant for fitness and a great way to socialise. All equipment is paid for by the college. The Squash enrichment also allows students who have played before to gain some coaching qualifications. The venue for this is a five minute walk from college with excellent facilities.