Welcome to the CMN…

PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE – WCG is thrilled to announce it has successfully
secured nearly £4.8m in grant funding from the Department for Education’s Construction
Skills Capacity Fund. This major investment will fund a rapid and transformative expansion
of the Pershore Construction Academy, scaling training capacity from 67 learners to over
275.
With significant growth in construction across Worcestershire, the expanded provision will
directly support booming infrastructure and housing development across the region,
including the 10,000-home development planned near Worcestershire Parkway Station.
The Academy was initially launched at the Pershore campus last September in 2025,
operating out of disused landscaping barns following the strategic consolidation of provision
from Evesham College. This new financial backing will now allow us to propel our
construction training offer to the next level.
Sara-Jane Watkins, Principal and Chief Executive at WCG, commented:
“We are absolutely thrilled with this announcement. Securing this £4.8 million funding is truly
game-changing for our Pershore College campus and allows us to respond aggressively to
the considerable growth in construction we are seeing across Wychavon and the wider
Worcestershire region.
We have been delighted to work alongside our local MPs, Nigel Huddleston and Dame
Harriett Baldwin, who have offered fantastic support for this bid. We are also incredibly
grateful for the collaboration with Wychavon District Council, the team behind the
Worcestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan, Worcestershire County Council, and the
Local Enterprise Partnership. Their shared vision has been instrumental in making this a
reality.”
Currently, the Pershore Construction Academy offers full-time foundational training in
carpentry, plumbing, and multiskills. While we do not yet offer Construction apprenticeships
at Pershore, this DfE capacity funding will allow us to broaden our curriculum significantly to
introduce a dedicated apprenticeship centre for all construction trades.
The expanded, industry-standard facilities will enable the introduction of critical new trades,
including electrical, painting and decorating, brickwork, and groundworks. It will also pave
the way for advanced progression routes, including T Levels and Higher Education pathways
such as the HNC and HND in Construction Management.

Rather than embarking on carbon-intensive new builds, the project will focus on sustainable
estate rationalisation. A disused 1,300 square metre machine workshop on the campus will
be completely renovated into a dedicated, state-of-the-art academy building. Additionally, the
adjacent Norbury Hostel will be transformed into the Pershore Construction Academy
Apprenticeship Centre.
For more information on the Pershore Construction Academy and upcoming course
enrolments, please visit the WCG website at:
https://wcg.ac.uk/page/11/construction-and-the-built-environment

Barnet and Southgate College Student, Celebrates Natural Afro Hair and Resilience at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Show.

July 2026 Roots of Resilience, a striking ceramic sculpture by 17-year-old Barnet and Southgate College student Sachelle, who studies Art and Design, is now on free public display at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts (RA). Selected from over 25,000 national submissions, the piece stands as a powerful, tactile exploration of identity, heritage, and the cultural narrative surrounding Black hair.

About the Artwork

Roots of Resilience is a sculpture that masterfully uses form, depth, and texture to celebrate the complex beauty of Afro hair.

Through intricately sculpted coils, braids, and patterns, Sachelle addresses the historical and ongoing struggles many face in seeking acceptance for natural hair. The piece actively challenges the systemic stigma and discrimination long associated with natural Black hair, transforming a historical pain point into a triumphant celebration of pride and cultural strength.

“This piece explores the beauty and complexity of Afro hair, using form and texture to highlight both personal identity and wider cultural narratives,” says Sachelle, who created the work during her creative studies at Barnet and Southgate College. “Through the sculpted coils and patterns, the work reflects on the struggles many people have faced in seeking acceptance… The piece becomes a celebration of resilience and pride.”

Exhibition and Voting Details

The Royal Academy’s eighth annual Young Artists’ Summer Show is a highly celebrated platform championing the UK’s next generation of creative minds. Sachelle’s sculpture is part of a curated selection displayed on-site at the RA’s Weston Studio in London.

To view Roots of Resilience, read more about the artist’s vision, and cast your vote to help the North London college student secure this year’s public award, visit the official Royal Academy Exhibition Portal.

Buckinghamshire College Group Graphic Design student Johnny Gibbins has been selected to exhibit his work at Origins Creatives 2026, UAL Awarding Body’s flagship annual exhibition celebrating emerging creative talent. 

Johnny’s animation, A Brand New World, was chosen from more than 600 submissions and will be showcased at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London from 15th to 18th July, following selection by Origins Creatives curator Calum Hall. 

The exhibition, organised by UAL Awarding Body and curated by leading arts organisation Creative Debuts, celebrates the work of the next generation of artists, designers, filmmakers, performers and creative practitioners from across the UK. 

Johnny’s selection highlights both his creative talent and the supportive learning environment at Buckinghamshire College Group. The College’s Graphic Design programme combines technical skills development with creative exploration, helping students build the confidence, knowledge and professional portfolio needed to progress into the creative industries and higher education. 

A Brand New World brings a vibrant fantasy landscape to life through a series of visually engaging animated scenes featuring original ecosystems, landscapes and creatures. Beginning in space before descending into a colourful imagined world, the animation follows the journey of a single day, with changing skies and atmospheric environments reflecting the passage of time from daylight through to sunset. 

Created primarily using Procreate, Johnny’s work also incorporates hand-painted watercolour elements, blending traditional and digital techniques. Inspired by both anime and the principles of animation, the piece creates an immersive visual experience that showcases his creativity, technical skills and passion for storytelling. 

Origins Creatives aims to provide young creatives with the opportunity to experience exhibiting their work in a professional London gallery setting and gain exposure within the creative industries. 

Johnny’s selection is particularly impressive given the highly competitive nature of the exhibition, with more than 600 submissions received from creative students across the UK. His inclusion reflects both the originality of A Brand New World and his ability to combine imaginative storytelling with strong technical animation skills. 

Commenting on the exhibition, curator Calum Hall described Origins Creatives 2026 as “unapologetic, undivided and unbound.” 

Alongside exhibitions of artwork, animation, film, fashion and photography, visitors will also be able to enjoy live music performances and interactive creative experiences throughout the four-day event. 

Origins Creatives 2026 takes place at Mall Galleries, The Mall, St James’s, London, SW1Y 5AS, from 15th to 18th July 2026. Entry is free, with tickets available via Eventbrite. 

Johnny’s selection is a fantastic achievement and highlights the exceptional creative talent being developed within Buckinghamshire College Group’s Graphic Design programme.  

For more information about Origins Creatives 2026, visit arts.ac.uk/awarding

A Gower College Swansea lecturer has been revealed as a Silver award winner in the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards 2026.

Andrea Davies was nominated for the award because, as Curriculum Lead for Modern History at the Gorseinon Campus, she exemplifies outstanding leadership and teaching excellence, combining academic rigour with warmth, authenticity and an infectious enthusiasm that inspires students to exceed their own expectations.

“Andrea’s exceptional teaching practice demonstrates how further education can shape not only academic achievement but ethical awareness, empathy and lifelong citizenship,” says Dean of Faculty, Jenny Hill. 

“Her engaging personality creates learning environments built on trust and curiosity, encouraging learners from diverse backgrounds to develop confidence in discussion, critical enquiry and independent thought. Under her leadership, learners consistently achieve outcomes above national benchmark averages, reflecting both the quality of her teaching and the high aspirations she instils in others.”

It is particularly through her visionary leadership in Holocaust education that Andrea has transformed how post-16 learners engage with one of history’s most complex and sensitive subjects. 

Her approach places learners at the centre of enquiry and reflection, enabling them to explore difficult historical truths while developing the confidence to challenge discrimination, misinformation  and intolerance within modern society.

Working in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust, Andrea has embedded internationally recognised best practice into further education delivery across Wales.

A defining achievement of her leadership has been establishing Wales’ first Testimony 360 Community Hub at Gower College Swansea. Recognising that opportunities to hear directly from Holocaust survivors are becoming increasingly limited, she identified the urgent need to safeguard testimony through innovative digital solutions. Through determination and collaboration, she introduced immersive virtual reality survivor testimony to Wales, enabling learners to encounter authentic human narratives in ways that remain emotionally powerful and intellectually rigorous.

The impact has been profound. Learners frequently describe the experience as transformative, reporting deeper empathy, greater confidence discussing sensitive topics and stronger understanding of the consequences of intolerance.

The Hub’s success quickly gained recognition beyond the College. Engagement exceeded expectations, with educators identifying measurable improvements in participation, reflective dialogue and learner confidence. As a direct result, the model expanded into Pembrokeshire schools in 2025, demonstrating wider national significance.

Andrea’s commitment to widening access is equally evident through collaboration with local schools. Driven by a belief that Holocaust education should reach learners regardless of background or pathway, she organised a landmark event at Sketty Hall Business School, bringing together six schools and more than 250 learners. Working closely with the Holocaust Educational Trust, the programme combined survivor testimony, historical scholarship and structured ethical reflection.

“Andrea’s personality plays a central role in these outcomes,” adds Jenny. “She combines high expectations with genuine care, ensuring students feel valued and capable of success. Learners consistently highlight her enthusiasm and authenticity as key motivators in their academic progression and personal growth. Her classrooms foster curiosity, empathy and confidence, enabling learners not only to achieve academically but also to develop as thoughtful individuals.”

Andrea is now in the running for a Pearson Gold teaching award, the winners of which will be announced in late November.