Archive for year: 2016

Reaseheath herpetologist Simon Maddock was among international experts to speak at the 8^th World Congress of Herpetology, held in China last month.

Simon, a former Reaseheath student who has now joined our lecturing staff, is recognised globally for his research on the ecology, conservation and evolution of Seychelles caecillians (legless amphibians), a subject he studied for his PhD. He was one of six invited speakers at the Caecilian Symposium, where he presented his findings on his speciality to an audience of fellow scientists from around the world. Other speakers included representatives from London’s Natural History Museum, the world leader in caecilian biology.

Simon, who is a Course Manager for our Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management, was also able to spend time at the five day congress networking with fellow scientists, discussing potential global collaborations and learning about state-of-the-art research.  His congress registration fee was funded through Reaseheath’s Scholarly Activity Fund and he will use his experiences to help with the delivery of lectures and for running research projects for undergraduates and Further Education students.

He explained: “Taking part in these conferences gives you the chance to interact with world renowned biologists. Following my talk I received a lot of approaches from delegates keen to exchange ideas and form research partnerships, and these could greatly benefit our students as well as the species we are studying.”

Simon completed his Level 3 National Diploma in Animal Management with us in 2007 and went on to volunteer with the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in India, where he helped to care for 600 captive crocodiles. He then completed a Masters degree in zoology at Bangor University before moving to London to study for his PhD, which was jointly funded by the Natural History Museum and the University College London.

He has previously given a talk about the evolution of Seychelles amphibians and snakes at similarly prestigious conferences including Evolution which was held in North Carolina, USA. His published research can be found here.

Simon was also the author of a top trending scientific article after identifying a new Australian species – a highly venomous snake called the Kimberley death adder.

He also discovered a new species of leaf litter lizard from the Ecuadorian Andes, the Yumbos riama lizard, after studying the country’s reptiles and amphibians.

Caption:  Simon and other international speakers at the Caecilian Symposium, which was part of the World Congress of Herpetology

Reaseheath College in Cheshire and North Shropshire College have announced that they are to form a federation which will benefit students, communities and businesses.

Both colleges specialise in land-based subjects and technical and vocational qualifications, are in a strong phase of continuous growth and improvement and share a long history of delivering quality education. It is felt that, by working together to combine resources, expertise and reputation, the colleges will build on their strengths and will offer an even wider and better educational experience to further and higher education students and to apprentices. It is also envisaged that the closer collaboration will have a positive impact on the local economies of both counties by providing enhanced links with industry partners and local communities.

The federation, which comes into operation this month, follows extensive research by governing bodies from both colleges. The results showed that a federation would best secure the future of quality, land based education and general technical and vocational education in Shropshire, Cheshire and the wider region.

Although both colleges are committed to working together, they will remain independent and retain their own names and campuses within the federation. With support from the Skills Funding Agency, and where it is considered to be in the best interests of the students, the governing bodies will explore closer ties in the future. This could include the possibility of a merger at a later date if the interests and circumstances of both colleges are in alignment. In the meantime, senior managers will facilitate the sharing of good practice, support and staff development across the colleges.

The new partnership is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Area Review of Post 16 Education, which is committed to a move towards fewer and larger colleges which will be more resilient and efficient in the future.

Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David said: “This fantastic opportunity will allow both colleges to move forward and to respond together to the challenges and opportunities facing the Further and Higher Education sector. Across the country, all colleges are tasked with ‘doing more with less’. We have a more important role than ever in supporting young people, local businesses and those seeking employment.

“There are great benefits to two institutions with very similar values, ambitious vision and national reputation for quality, working together. This can only benefit stakeholders, staff and students and offers an extremely exciting prospect for the region.”

North Shropshire College Principal Jackie Doodson said: “Our governing body has carried out extensive research and appraised its options rigorously. As a result, it has concluded that a partnership with Reaseheath College will best secure the long term future of high quality land based provision for Shropshire along with high quality vocational education and training for Oswestry and rural North Shropshire.

“We will share best practice to improve the quality of provision and facilities, and our strengthened financial sustainability and resilience will enable us to grow the number and range of HE and FE courses we offer.”

Header image caption: Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David and Chair of Governors Richard Ratcliffe celebrate the new federation with North Shropshire College’s Principal Jackie Doodson and Chair of Governors Gillian Richards

Leading agricultural engineering companies are supporting Reaseheath College’s efforts to raise the bar for training within the industry.

Construction of a £7million Advanced Agricultural Engineering Academy will begin shortly at the Nantwich, Cheshire, college which, when completed, will be one of the most sophisticated education centres of its type in Britain. Partners in the initiative include CLAAS, CaseIH, New Holland, JCB, Amazone and Kuhn, many of which have donated advanced engineering machinery and equipment.

The new specialist facility will enable Reaseheath lecturers to deliver training in the latest crop production systems, including technical training in precision farming, to agricultural engineering students and science subjects such as agronomy and data mapping to agricultural students.

Features will include workshops and a technology suite equipped for the teaching of computer controlled automation and high end precision engineering. Equipment will include robotics, tractor simulation, GPS and other advanced agricultural engineering systems. New designated driving areas will be provided for practical training.

Undergraduates on the college’s current agricultural engineering degrees and Level 3 Diploma programmes will be the first to benefit. Once the centre is fully operational, which will be during the 2016 -2017 academic year, Reaseheath will look to expand its agricultural engineering courses to include Level 4 and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for those already working in the industry.

Additionally, the college plans to cater for Advanced Apprenticeships in agricultural and construction plant engineering through the teaching of advanced farming techniques and management. There are also hopes that the centre may ultimately become the GPS training school for the UK.

Said Head of Agricultural Engineering Peter Creagh: “The new centre will combine all aspects of agricultural innovation, mechanisation and advanced engineering under one roof. It will allow us to teach and develop efficient modern farming techniques including precision land management and precision farming. This will enable us to meet increased demand for specialist training from our industry partners, and to equip our students with the skills they will need for their future careers.”

Reaseheath’s proactive horticulture department is the latest further education provider to join Marshalls Educational Partnership.

Marshalls, the UK’s leading hard landscaping manufacturer, has launched its educational initiative to answer increasing demand for trained professionals within the industry, and to join land-based colleges in promoting garden landscaping as an attractive career choice.

Marshalls will help us to deliver landscaping courses to an even higher standard by providing materials, delivering skills workshops and by linking our students with Marshalls Register members so they can gain top class work experience in the industry.

Reaseheath is the latest college to sign up to the scheme and joins Askham Bryan College, York,  and Capel Manor College, London.

Dave Jessop, Operations Manager of the Marshalls Register explained: “Promoting landscaping as an attractive career choice by working in partnership with colleges felt like a natural progression. There is a lack of skilled professionals in the landscaping sector, while demand for their services is higher than ever before.

“We want to encourage students to pursue a career in this wonderful industry, and to instil best practice from the outset. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Reasehath and look forward to working together to provide landscaping students with the best possible start to their careers.”

Glyn Ferriday, Reaseheath’s Head of Marketing and Communications, said: “This educational partnership with Marshalls will give our landscaping students a wonderful opportunity to broaden their knowledge and skills and to learn from industry professionals.

“The support which our students will receive through the Marshalls Register will be invaluable, as it gives them the chance to link with practising tradespeople and to gain relevant work experience. We are looking forward to working with Marshalls and are excited about the opportunities we will have to enhance the future prospects of our students.”

See Mark Seddon and Head of Horticulture Sarah Hopkinson discuss the new partnership at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2016.