News & Events

The Venture Suite

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:39:02 +0100

Our latest build: Collaboration between Widnes CLC and 14-19 Diploma Groups

The Venture Suite is our latest response to the challenge of building learning spaces for the future. The initial inspiration was an attempt to build a room that, for two days per week, would function as a virtual workplace where students starting the Business and Finance Diploma could simulate business practices: reception areas, departments, print and design centres, meeting and interview spaces for clients and reps.

At the same time, the space would need to function as a teaching room and somewhere CLC activities such as animation, music and video production and design could function. You can see our response in the gallery and although there are still some finishing touches to be done, initial feedback has been good.

Widnes CLC launch new website

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:35:34 +0100

Discover more about our Production Suite

Widnes CLC are proud to present our new Production Suite website. The Production Suite is one of our latest ventures and offers its users first class industry standard recording facilities in a fresh and exciting modern space.

The new website highlights the benefits of visiting the centre and gives visitors general information as well as detailing the features of the Sound Lab and Live Rm.

The gallery section is packed with photos of visitors to the centre and you can get an insight into the various music and video projects they have done.

There are also video interviews with pupils and teaching staff about their own experiences using the equipment and software and testimonials from bands who have recorded tracks in the Live Rm.

Explore the new website now!

Project Success

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:01:45 +0100

Local schools work closely with Widnes CLC on term long projects

During the Spring-Summer term staff from Widnes CLC worked closely with local primary schools helping them to respond to the proposals of the Rose Review of the Primary Curriculum. One of the report’s key suggestions was that the pupils adopt a theme-based approach to learning where ICT was integral to the teaching and learning.

A term might focus, for example, on music, but approach it from the point of view of the science behind music, the historical context, the opportunities for literacy work presented and physical and spiritual development. Technology and computing skills, it was proposed, would become central to the learning, but not as a separate subject.

Wildlife Photography

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:23:17 +0100

Widnes CLC:Wildlife Photography & Runcorn CLC:EnviroTech

Following on from the success of the 'Who Am I?' Art Exhibition, Widnes CLC hosted another digital photography course during the school Easter break. The focus of the course was Wildlife Photography and this gave the students the opportunity to get out and about and capture shots of real live subjects.

Students were given training on how to use the functions of the digital cameras and learnt about photography composition. They then spent a day practicing these techniques at Victoria Park capturing lots of photos of the swans which they would later use to create a piece of artwork for the park.

BBC News School Report

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:50:05 +0000

Halton’s news teams put in another scintillating performance on this year’s BBC School Report Live! The event, in which over 250 schools broadcast their news bulletins across all BBC platforms, was the culmination of months of tireless work by teachers, pupils and CLC staff alike.

Once again, our teams were able to work alongside top-class BBC journalists such as Melanie Hill, producer of the One Show, North West Tonight reporter and presenter Kate Simms and NWT producer Steve Rawling.

They learnt how to identify prospects, gather stories, interview subjects, operate studio equipment and broadcast live from Widnes CLC’s radio station, and Runcorn CLC’s TV studio.

Yet again, the breadth of story ideas and journalistic ability impressed everybody as teams from 8 Halton secondaries hit their 2pm broadcast deadline. Our congratulations go out to all the participants in the 4 practice days and to all those back in school who contributed ideas, interviews and opinions, and a big thank you to all the teaching staff for dedicating their time.

Please take a look at the pictures. Or better still, visit clcnews.org.uk to tune into live recordings of their bulletins.