Nott a college

Newcastle College may have been facetiously accused by the University and College Union of “de-Geordification” when it branded its parent body NCG, instead of Newcastle College Group.

But West Nottinghamshire College has gone one better: it has eliminated the word “college” altogether.

Instead, it will now be known as “Vision West Notts”, in a daring move that risks it being mistaken for a one-hour optometrist.

Along with the obligatory multi-coloured swirly logo, the new name was unveiled as the college - if FErret may still call it that - opened its new #163;5 million creative arts centre, tersely named “Create”.

Principal Asha Khemka - or perhaps “chief visioneer” - said the change reflected its development into a national training provider and a major business in its own right, as well as a local college.

FErret, reluctantly, cannot endorse the change. No doubt the “college” brand was dented when any jumped-up specialist school could grab the title, but you don’t hear Imperial College or Balliol College rushing to call themselves Imperial Futures or Moon Unit Balliol, do you?

Career advice in bulk

With the demise of Aimhigher, there is clearly a need for creative thinking about ways to help teenagers ponder their options for work or higher education.

So three cheers for Andrew Smith, head honcho at Pinewood Studios, who has been visiting deprived areas such as riot-hit Tottenham in north London to let kids know about the jobs available in the film industry, and the skills you need for them.

His methods are unorthodox - he brings with him a ferocious-looking cage fighter.

An unassuming grey-haired man in a suit, Mr Smith then asks students to guess which one of them went to university - him or the Hulk?

Mr Smith, of course, left school at 16, illustrating that there are many paths to success, including the training in craft skills that the film industry needs.

FErret, on the other hand, is just glad to hear there are still career options for graduates.