Department Newsletter
COMPUTING
DIGITAL INDUSTRIES
Autumn I 2024
Welcome Greetings from Selby College’s Digital Industries & Computing Department! I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, an exciting new publication designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest happenings, developments and opportunities in our amazing department.
Barlby High School Pupils Dive into Future Technologies with Cutting-Edge IT Lab Experience at Selby College
I am continually inspired by the passion and innovation that our students and staff bring to the world of digital industries and computing. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration with you. This newsletter will bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up-to-date with current trends, technological advancements and departmental achievements. We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide. That’s why we will be featuring student case studies, showcasing the journeys, challenges and successes of our students. These stories not only highlight the real-world application of our courses but also serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Selby College offers.
Rob Charlish
Head of Computing & Digital Industries
Pupils from Barlby High School recently had the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a cutting-edge IT laboratory, as part of a network taster session at Selby College.
Students also have the chance to use and configure the most recent Intel PCs, enterpriselevel HP servers, Layer 2 and 3 switches, and graphics cards.
This enabled the students to learn how to establish their own networks using industrystandard apparatus within the College’s newly-established Information Technology (IT) laboratory.
Over £65,000 of this investment was secured through the Department for Education’s T Level funding, as the College launched its new Digital Support Services T Level in September 2023.
Furthermore, they delved into the various types of networks and their functionalities, as well as how to configure their own networks, including both wireless and wired connections, to gain a basic understanding of Internet Protocol (IP) addressing. Sarah Osborne, Subject Lead for Computing at Barlby High School, said: “Our students thoroughly enjoyed the networking session at Selby College and seized the opportunity to utilise such advanced equipment that is employed within the industry. The session was not only enjoyable and engaging but also highly informative, shedding light on the diverse opportunities and roles available within the fields of Computing and IT. We are keen to arrange another visit to the laboratory with our students in the near future.” Following an investment exceeding £150,000, the laboratory is equipped with a variety of hardware and networking equipment to emulate a business network setting, enabling learners to experience aspects of hardware, networking and security.
The Computing and IT sector is rapidly expanding and presents an attractive career path, driven by continual technological advancements across various sectors. Our aim was to ensure our students could learn using industrystandard equipment, preparing them for successful careers within the industry. Our brand-new IT laboratory is facilitating exactly this, offering our students and pupils from local schools invaluable experience in working with real-world computer networks and cyber security scenarios.” - Rob Charlish, Head of Curriculum for Computing & Digital Industries at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.