Glitz, glamour and exceptional talent were on full display at this year’s SurreyFE Hair & Beauty Competition, also known as Surrey’s Got Talent. Hosted by Brooklands Technical College, the event welcomed students from East Surrey College, Activate Learning and NESCOT to compete across a range of exciting categories. 

The competition provided a fantastic platform for students to showcase their creativity, technical ability and passion for the industry. The categories included ballroom hairstyling, full body massage and TV and film-themed makeup, demonstrating both the range of skills and the high standard of work produced by learners across Surrey. 

The Judging was carried out by a panel of experienced industry professionals, who faced a difficult task of selecting winners from an exceptionally strong field of competitors. 

East Surrey College is proud to celebrate the success of our students, with Charlie K achieving 3rd place in the Level 2 Beauty Therapy Prom Makeup category, and Tiffany P securing 2nd place in the Level 3 Beauty Therapy Full Body Massage category. 

The event once again demonstrated why the SurreyFE Skills Competitions remain a highlight of the academic year, with a display of the incredible talent and future potential of the current students at all Surrey Colleges. 

Congratulations to all participants and winners, and a big thank you to Brooklands College for hosting such a successful event. We are already looking forward to next year’s! 

On Friday 13 March, East Surrey College hosted the Education Training Foundation’s Digital T Level Success Day, allowing attendees to collaborate and share their best practice for Digital T Level delivery.  

The day began with a session by Hannah Clark, who spoke about the double diamond design process and how it helps foster user experience through four stages: discovering, defining, developing and delivering. She touched on the future of user research and how this will inform User Experience. A Q&A session followed which opened discussion to a host of guests, including representatives from Nescot, MidKent College, Croydon College, and South Bank University Academy.

A networking session followed which allowed attendees to share examples of good practice in delivering Digital T Levels. The session also provided an opportunity for peers to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss strategies for effective teaching and delivery. Representatives from Pearson, including David Pautsch and Andrew Hambelton, also joined the session and provided insights into T Level assessment. 

Reflecting on the success of the event, Jo Allen-Kotze, Area Relationship and Development Lead said: 

“Friday’s ETF Digital T Level Success Day at East Surrey College was all about strengthening partnerships and creating space for honest discussion. It was fab to see colleagues from so many different organisations engaging, sharing ideas and supporting each other. Events like this are crucial in making sure the T Level delivers real value for learners, employers and providers.” 

With the digital landscape constantly evolving, the T Level Success Day provided a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with peers who teach and deliver T Level assessment, discussing challenges and sharing best practice.  

Thank you to the Education Training Foundation for providing such an insightful and productive session for our educators. 

View T Levels at East Surrey College 

Our Thailand trip may be over but we’re still not over it. Last month our Hair and Beauty students embarked on an amazing 10-day trip to Thailand funded by the fantastic Turing Scheme. From cultural experiences to hands-on training in Thai massage, the trip offered the perfect mix of learning and exploration with a side of some well-earned relaxation in the Thai sun.

The group departed from Gatwick and began their journey for Bangkok, where they experienced some of the most iconic sights in Thailand. Sightseeing the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha gave students a deeper understanding of Thai culture and traditions, it was amazing to see the city up close, getting some fantastic photos along with some sore feet.

Once they had ticked off Bangkok, they left urban life for the tropical Kanchanaburi. Here they visited a traditional floating market which was a clear highlight of the trip, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and picking up a few bargains. They also visited the JEATH War Museum, where they learned about the history of the Thai-Burman Death Railway, an moving part of Thailand’s past and an important part of learning for our students.

With sightseeing complete, it was time to focus on their skill development. Our Hair and Beauty students attended MaeNamKwai College where they immersed themselves in traditional Thai massage techniques and practised herbal compresses as an alternative therapy method. This hands-on experience allowed them to expand their practical skills while gaining insight into Thailand’s approach to health and wellbeing.  helping to expand their practical skills and experience different approaches to massage. Alongside their training, our students also treated themselves to some fun nights of Karaoke and a few down days of yoga. It was the perfect balance of education and fun.

But of course, all good things must come to an end. After an unforgettable time in Thailand, it was time to head back to England but equipped with new skills and some amazing memories.

The Thailand trip has been a real highlight of the year at East Surrey College, helping students develop skills and broaden their understanding of the Hair and beauty industry at a global scale. A huge thank you to the staff who made the trip possible and to our students, who represented the college so positively and embraced every opportunity Thailand had to offer.

With a busy month of cultural celebrations, our ESOL department brought everything together by hosting a vibrant Easter and Eid party. It was wonderful to see students collaborate and create a delicious spread of dishes from across their cultures alongside some fun activities.

Working together in the kitchen, students prepared a whole range of food to share with peers and staff. Safe to say it was a huge hit! Dishes included Kabuli Palou with lamb, Nigerian fried rice with chicken Italian and some pasta al ’pomodoro, making sure there was something to satisfy everyone. The selection was certainly needed, as over 100 people attended the event to give the ESOL students delicious cooking a go.  

Alongside the buffet, students organised a variety of fun activities, including a “guess the leaves on the pineapple” challenge, egg painting, and footgolf. With a fantastic turnout and food quickly disappearing, the event received nothing but praise, highlighting the hard work of our ESOL chefs and activity organisers.  

ESOL Programme Manager Alam praised the event, saying “I wanted to take a moment to say a huge well done to the students and staff for organising the multifaith festival.” She added “This beautiful event where ESOL celebrated Eid, Lent and Easter, showcased a celebration of diversity, inclusiveness and the British values. I feel so proud of my ESOL team and our learners who have cooked food for everyone at the college.”

A special thank you goes out to Alam, Ewa and Irene for their dedication in bringing the ESOL learners and wider college together for this celebration. It was fantastic to see so many members of our community getting involved and enjoying the Easter and Eid party.

IT students at East Surrey College recently took part in the Cypher Challenge, an exciting team competition designed to test their problem-solving, teamwork and cryptography skills.

The class was split into pairs, with each team given just one hour to complete the challenge. Their task was to locate six hidden cipher cards placed around the campus, using a series of clues to guide them. Once all the cards had been found, teams returned to the classroom to work together to decode the hidden message.

The Cypher Challenge was designed as a fast-paced, hands-on activity that combined physical movement with critical thinking. The groups moved around different areas of the college searching for the cipher cards, before applying logical thinking and decoding techniques to solve them. Exploration and problem-solving made for an engaging challenge, that helped students to understand the science behind cryptography by securing information and converting it into understandable data.  

Reflecting on why he introduced the challenge, lecturer Richard Collins said: 

“I wanted to give our learners a hands-on introduction to cyber security and cryptography in a way that feels like a real investigation. Instead of just learning about encryption in theory, students work in teams to search the college for hidden cipher cards and then decode them using different techniques. The activity develops problem-solving, teamwork and logical thinking while introducing learners to the foundations of how information can be encoded and protected in the digital world.”

View our Digital & IT courses at East Surrey College 

On 20 March, East Surrey College welcomed fellow Surrey FE Colleges Brooklands, NESCOT and Activate Learning for the highly anticipated annual Surrey FE Construction Skills Competition.  

Each year, students across the four Surrey FE colleges come together to compete in a variety of construction-based challenges that test the skills and abilities they have honed during their time at college. This year, East Surrey College was thrilled to host the Construction Skills competition. 

The eventful day featured Bricklaying, Motor Vehicle, Electrical Installation, Carpentry and Plumbing competitions which were judged by a panel of expert tutors across the four colleges. Students had to work under pressure to complete either as a group or individually to complete industry standard tasks or make a product from scratch. 

Painting and Decorating students were tasked with recreating the Surrey FE logo, which required a combination of meticulous planning and attention to detail. Meanwhile, Motor Vehicle competitors oversaw vehicle maintenance and worked together in teams to uphold industry protocols and standards. 

The Bricklaying competition saw students assembling a brick wall under strict time constraints, testing their adaptability and ability to work under pressure. Similarly, the Electrical Installation students were working against the clock using equipment to bend pipes confidently.  

In Carpentry, the students were given instructions and blueprints to follow, eventually creating a wooden box that demonstrated their joinery skills.  

The event emphasised the high standard in the future construction workforce and the dedication of staff across the Further Education sector. With the morning sessions over, there was a buzz in the air as students gathered for a delicious lunch courtesy of Dovetail & Slate. The four colleges were able to meet new people, share experiences and reflect on the exciting day so far. 

During the afternoon sessions, the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Rich Michalowski, was invited to tour the college and watch some of the competitions unfold. The Mayor was thrilled to present the awards to each category winner, having seen their hard work and skill first-hand during his tour.   

Tilgear, DH Painting & Decorating and NCON Group kindly supplied the category winners with their prizes. Prizes included industry-approved equipment such as saws and power drills, all of which are invaluable to those starting out in their careers. These tools will allow them to make the most of their studies and continue to progress their skills.   

Congratulations to the following winners:  

• Kayvan Foroughi, East Surrey College – Plumbing Level 2 

• Rhys Parker, East Surrey College – Electrical Installation Level 2 

• Maisie Bridges, East Surrey College – Painting and Decorating Level 2 

• Jaden Miles, Brooklands Technical College – Carpentry Level 1 

• Max Wishort, NESCOT – Carpentry Level 2 

• Michael Huntley, Arthur Mills, Callum Johnstone. Kamel Mahmood, East Surrey College – Motor Vehicle Level 1 

• Jack Devulder – East Surrey College – Bricklaying Level 1 

• Daniel Upton, East Surrey College – Bricklaying Level 2 

Lindsay Pamphilon, CEO of East Surrey College, reflected on the fantastic event: “The standard of our students’ work and behaviour was outstanding, and the number of prizes they achieved is a direct reflection of the dedication, expertise, and encouragement given to them every day.”  

Quickdraw, who describe themselves as second-wave emo band, have taken Redhill by storm in the recent Clash of the College Bands event hosted at the Belfry Shopping Centre by Redstart Community CIO, a charity aimed at improving the Music and Performing Arts Scene in Redhill and surrounding areas. Quickdraw competed against eight other local bands and came out on top. 

The band is composed of six Level 3 Music Performance and Production students from East Surrey College: Mason, Jamie, Zac, Denisa, Ella, and Cara. The group met through their course and have been working towards live performances for almost a year, with Clash of the College Bands being their first ever.  

Judges for the event included the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Rich Michalowski, Tom Hughes from Dragonfly Studios, songwriter and singer Dee Freer, and Kieran from Mogstock Festival.  

Stephen Harvey, Curriculum and Standards Coordinator for Reigate School of Art, has worked with Quickdraw during lessons at college. He reflected on their recent success, stating: “I’m really proud of Quickdraw. They played an excellent set of original songs – wowing the judges and audience in the process. To beat their competition of other more experienced bands is amazing.”  

Level 3 Music and Sound Production student Zac Clayton is the Drummer of Quickdraw. He reflected on their recent performance, adding, “Because it was our first time performing live as a group, I didn’t think we were going to win and the other groups were strong competition. But we did well, and it was lots of fun.”  

Quickdraw has been writing and rehearsing their songs over the past year and will soon be releasing an EP featuring a few of the songs from their Battle of the College Bands set. 

We can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Quickdraw!  

Find out more about our Music and Production courses here.  

Introducing our latest Staff Spotlight Lloyd Jenkins, who has worked at the Reigate School of Art since 1999. Before joining ESC, Lloyd taught in colleges in South Wales and Somerset, as well as working as an actor-interpreter in a living history museum after completing his MA. Today, Lloyd teaches Contextual Studies across all Art, Design, and Media provision from levels 1-6 at Reigate School of Art within East Surrey College.

Please share your industry experiences and triumphs across your career. 

My career has involved both full-time and vocational sectors as I have taught in several colleges across Further Education, A Level, and Higher Education provision. My teaching achievements have been making Contextual Studies an integral, respected, and popular element of all Higher Education and Further Education programmes. 

Another career highlight was in May 2025 when I was invited to Buckingham Palace as part of an educational tea party hosted by the Department of Education. It was a great event, even the King was present! 

What specifically about ESC made you decide to come here? 

I knew I wanted to get into teaching as I had some very good teachers throughout my studies, and they were inspirational to me. I came for my interview at the old Reigate School of Art and loved the art school environment.

What are the most exciting aspects of the course you teach and stand-out moments? 

I love the variety of the courses, and it’s always a real joy to see students progress through onto Higher Education or other career paths. The learning environment at the college and interaction with students can be incredibly rewarding, esepcially when they progress well. 

What impact do you have on your students? 

I like to teach through questioning, debating, and by making students think critically about not just art, design and media, but wider issues in society. It’s great to see students who aren’t used to using their voices have the confidence to express themselves and their opinions in a supportive learning environment. A key element I’ve implemented with my level 3-6 students is an ethical issue-based essay that contextualises their art and design practice within an industry focused framework. 

From a teacher’s perspective, what are the most rewarding aspects of being part of ESC College? 

The range of learners we have and seeing their progression is definitely one of the most rewarding parts of working here, as well as the high quality of their work. To anyone considering enrolling in my course: Be prepared to voice your opinions and ideas! 

From Monday 9 – Friday 13 March, we celebrated Proud 2 B Me, a special week dedicated to celebrating diversity, inclusion and community across our Colleges. 

On Monday we welcomed Fight or Flight, a local community group and regular visitor to the college, who delivered a presentation on addiction, followed by a boxing and yoga session with students to promote mental health. 

On Tuesday, Hair and Beauty students hosted ‘Relax and Refresh’ an open salon for those across the college to come and get their hair styled or plated. Guest speaker Rebecca N Mwisiya hosted ‘Our Stories, Our Impact’, a session discussing the importance of speaking openly about sexual health.  

Later that afternoon Reigate School of Art hosted a packed live lounge session. Pictured above, the college band Quick Draw performed their first ever gig together, alongside other acts including Forever Knowhere and musician Max Brogan, who performed a piano piece.  

On Wednesday, our Vice Principal, Rebecca Taylor, shared her personal story of growing up in Saudi Arabia and how this shaped her perspective on the world. She spoke about her diverse upbringing, as well as the challenges of adjusting to life in the UK as a young teenager and how these experiences helped lay the foundations for her career. 

The team in the LRC also took part in Proud2BMe Week with their ‘Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover’ initiative. Books were wrapped in paper with only the first paragraph printed on the front, encouraging readers to choose a book based entirely on the first few sentences. 

On Thursday, guest speaker Rebecca Mwisiya from the NHS led ‘Our Stories, Our Impact’, a session highlighting the importance of speaking openly about sexual health. She discussed the work the NHS does to support young people and the services available to them. 

The Samaritans also visited our students to talk about how to be a good friend. The session encouraged group participation and focused on ways to offer support, listen actively, and recognise when someone might be struggling.  

Canteen staff also celebrated the diversity of our community representing cultures from around the world, with jollof rice, mutton curry, chicken satay, lamb tagine, and chicken dhansak being served throughout the week.  

Reflecting on the week, Enrichment Officer Jordan Johnson said: 

It’s been great to deliver another Proud 2 B Me Week, celebrating our diversity and showcasing the voices and talents across OSC. We’ve also raised awareness of a wide range of important causes, and I’d like to thank all the external visitors who came to speak with our students – your contributions have made a real impact. 

Learn more about Enrichment at East Surrey College 

On 8 March, International Women’s Day marked its 115^th anniversary with this year’s theme ‘Give to Gain’. International Women’s Day highlights the incredible achievements of women across the globe while raising awareness for gender equality. 

East Surrey College celebrated the occasion by shining a light on members of our college community: from our dedicated Math‘s and English Tutors to our innovative Finance and MIS departments, we are proud to have a diverse range of talented and hardworking women at the heart of our College group. 

International Women’s Day was also a big hit in the Orbital Cafe, which is run by Foundation Learning students. The cafe helps students looking to gain crucial employability skills and work experience in customer service and hospitality. As part of their responsibilities, students not only bake and cook a variety of baked goods, they also serve them to customers in the cafe.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the all-female Executive team were invited to the Orbital Cafe: Lindsay Pamphilon, CEO and Principal; Eva Dixon, Chief Operating Officer; Kam Dehal, Executive Director of Commercial and Partnerships; and Rebecca Taylor, Vice Principal of Curriculum and Standards. 

They were served a tasty spread of scones, cupcakes, sandwiches and more. It was an afternoon of laughter, relaxation and an opportunity to take a moment away from their desks to reflect on the year East Surrey College has had so far. 

But the International Women’s Day festivities did not end there – earlier in the week, Beauty Therapy Lecturer and Advanced Learning Practitioner, Kelly Clark, won the highly prestigious Educator of the Year Award at the Professional Beauty Awards. Read more about Kelly’s fantastic win here.