Hats Off To Waltham Forest College Graduates

Students celebrated academic achievements at a higher education graduation ceremony held in the main hall at Waltham Forest College. Over 250 students were recognised for successfully completing their studies in a wide range of Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate and Access to University courses.

Dressed in the traditional ceremonial cap and gown, Higher Education students took the stage to collect their scrolls of achievement in front of an audience filled with parents, friends and specially invited guests including the Deputy Mayor of Waltham Forest, Councillor Geoff Walker and Deputy Mayoress Mrs Patricia Arnold.

David Pendle, Chair of the College Corporation, commended students for their accomplishments and noted that this was in its seventh year. He said ‘You should regard today as the beginning of your life long learning experience’.

Robin Jones, Principal of Waltham Forest College quoted the inspirational Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind, ‘We can do anything we want to, if we stick at it long enough’.

The majority of Access students go to university following successful completion of their courses. One outstanding student, Ilknur Posluoglu, who gained distinctions on her Access to Higher Education course, has secured a place at Queen Mary College, University of London. She said ‘I am really surprised at my achievement and completing this course together with the support of my lectures has given me the confidence to further my studies’.

Figures for student success rates at Waltham Forest College are as high as 95% on some courses. This year the College has received a record number of applications for students wishing to enrol on access to higher education programmes.

Grandmother Goes To Uni

Annie Warner is testimony to the fact that age is no barrier to learning. At 66, she is off to university to study for a degree in fine art.

The grandmother is the oldest among 26 students at Waltham Forest College who are about to complete a one year foundation course in art and design. This intensive course equips them to apply for a BA degree, a foundation degree, or a higher national diploma (HND) in art related subjects.

Annie’s portfolio, which won her an unconditional offer to study at the University of East London (UEL), is on display at an art exhibition held at the college’s main campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

A stunning collection of drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics and prints produced by more than 100 art and design students at the college are included in the exhibition, with many available for sale. Annie, from Leyton, produced a stunning montage illustrating her life story, from how she was born by the roadside into a gypsy family who dealt in horses and later went to work at Billy Smarts Circus.

She said she has travelled all over the world, but her mother did not value education and she never went to school. It was not until she was 50 that she caught the learning bug.

She has been married four times and has four sons and ten grandchildren. She said it was her fourth, and current, husband who encouraged her to pursue her dreams in education. “As soon as I got the chance to get an education, I grabbed it,” she added. “I have been collecting qualifications ever since and now have enough to paper my walls with.”

She plans to start the degree course at UEL in September which will add to her collection of degrees. She already has an HNC qualification in project management and a BA degree in social enterprise.

The exhibition also features work from students on BTEC first diploma courses which are GCSE equivalent, national diploma course which are A Level equivalent, and NOCN diploma courses for beginners.

Sue Royle, the curriculum manager for art and design, said: “Our courses are designed to prepare our students for a whole host of careers, including product design, fashion, photography, and graphic design. They receive a high level of tuition from practicing artists and the majority of our students go onto university.”

Flaire Maitland, 19, produced a series of Perspex hexagonal sculptures for the exhibition. She has an offer to study architecture at Greenwich University. She said: “This course is suitable for everybody who wants to do something creative but doesn’t know what they want to specialise in, whether it be architecture, photography or fashion.”

Fern Green has a place at the London College of Fashion to study fashion illustration. She said: “This last year has been a voyage of self discovery. The variety of tasks I have performed have given me the experiences that have helped me learn about myself, my interest, my skills and ultimately the direction I want to take.”

Fashion Show with an International Flavour

Students drew inspiration from a world cup of nations when designing garments for a spectacular fashion show staged at Waltham Forest College. The rich cultures of India, the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, the traditional costumes of Japan, and the colours of Colombia, were among the influences that inspired the students’ designs. Models strutted the catwalk in outfits ranging from pompom decorated cotton tops and shorts to menswear inspired by gladiators and Roman uniforms.

Radua Jassin, in the second year of her BTEC national diploma course, produced a bejewelled evening wear collection that drew upon Egypt and its rich ancient history for her designs. Pamela Muchenje, a higher national diploma student, was inspired by Africa, the continent of the moment where the football World Cup is being held, for her collection. Pupils from Buxton School, Leytonstone, who spend one day a week at the College to study for a diploma in fashion and clothing, created textile pieces influenced by the patterns and colours of Mexico’s Aztec empire.

The fashion show provides students with the opportunity to showcase their talents before embarking on the next stage of their career development.

Radua, 19, is moving on to study for a degree in fashion design with business. “I have wanted to be a fashion designer since I was very young,” she said. “Fashion is a very competitive business and you have to be really strong to get somewhere. Most designers are inspired by each other, so to be successful you have to be different and stand out.” Her collection was adorned with hoods and collars containing colourful stones, influenced by her visits to Egypt where she has family. “The culture and the pyramids were a real inspiration for my designs,” she explained.

Zahide Bozdag, 21, and Shereena Ghaffor, 22, are combining their talents to set up in business together designing and making women’s lingerie, lounge wear, and dresses. They are about to complete the second year of a higher national diploma course and first met at the College four years ago when they began studying for their BTEC diploma.

Zahide designed a thoroughly modern ensemble of six evening gowns with a vintage feel, using peacock feathers as embellishment. She said: “We want to set up our own label and we are drawing up a business plan. This course has taught us a lot of the technical skills we need, but there are also units on marketing, business, and computer skills which will be invaluable to us.”

Shereena said: “We have different strengths which complement each other. We plan to start off selling our designs on-line and in markets.” Her collection drew inspiration from the strong shapes found in armour and architecture, using colour to outline detail and to create additional interest.

Three of the seven pupils from Buxton School, formerly Tom Hood, plan to study fashion full time at the College next year. Ayo Ayinde, 16, modelled her own Aztec inspired design. She said: “Fashion is my passion and I want to make clothes and have retail stores all over Europe. This course is helping me to achieve my ambition.”

Samantha Smith, 15, has decided to study A’ levels in academic subjects including politics and law next year. “I have really enjoyed coming to college to study fashion,” she said. “I wanted to design and model clothes and see what it is like.”

Waltham Forest’s Mayor, Councillor Masood Ahmad, had a front row seat at the show held at the College’s campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow. He said: “I really enjoyed the show and in order to give the students encouragement I would like to invite a group of them to tea in my chambers.”

Models from the I Feel Experience agency modelled some of the garments at the show held over two nights, while some designs were modelled by friends or relatives or the students themselves.

The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for special needs students learning independent living skills at the College. They paraded the catwalk with gusto to show their collection of formal and day wear.

Benita Odogwu-Atkinson, the College’s curriculum manager for fashion, textiles and media, said the College has become renowned for its fashion courses and most of its BTEC diploma students progress to university and degree courses. “Our students go onto UCA Rochester, University of East London, and Middlesex and Hertfordshire Universities,” she added. “Five students on our HND course are going on to convert their qualification into a full honours degree. We have students of all ages, from school pupils on diploma course, to mature students studying part time.”