2011 has proven to be another year of outstanding success at Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form, where students have continued the College’s tradition of excellence to achieve some of the best results in Lancashire. On Thursday 15th September the College held a glittering Awards Ceremony to honour the success of its A Level, Vocational and Apprenticeship student stars.
This year’s A Level students were justly proud of a 99.6% pass rate, Our statistics this year are also outstanding, with 55 A Level students achieving 2 or more A*/A grades. Overall, 142 A Level students gained the coveted A* or A grades and 78% of A2 students achieved high grades A*-C, whilst 46% achieved the top grades A*-B.
In addition, 100% of our Advanced Level Vocational students passed their programme, with record numbers achieving triple Distinction, which is equivalent to 3 grade As at A Level., meaning that a high percentage of our students not only progressed to university, but to their first choice university!
This year our students will be able to progress to the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, The University of Manchester, The University of Liverpool, Durham University, The University of Leeds, The University of Leicester and other prestigious institutions. Amongst tough competition, students will join the elite of British education, taking up places to read Veterinary Science, Optometry Mathematics, Classics, Archeology and Pharmacy. Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form class of 2011 will be leading the way in innovative industries to become the next generation of world leaders in their field.
The Awards Ceremony, held in a luxurious marquee in the College grounds, was a glamorous celebration of the achievements of the past year. On arrival, students and their families enjoyed a Bucks Fizz reception with sumptuous canapés created by the College’s Catering Division.
Once all guests were seated, John David, Chairman on the College’s Board of Corporation, opened proceedings by welcoming everyone to the event and congratulating the students of their amazing success. Principal Lyn Surgeon followed, talking about the various achievements of the year, not only in examinations, but also in national competitions against other large colleges.
Special guest for the evening was local GP Dr Nazneen Begum. A former student of the College, Nazneen expressed her delight in being able to return to her old college to present the awards and told the audience about her experience of college and subsequent career. She said, “I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without the help I received at College.”
Also in attendance was the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, who is also a former student of the College and Head Teachers of local High Schools who returned to celebrate the achievements of their former pupils.
Winners were as follows;
A Levels: Kasia Dawson – Art and Design, Daniel Olive – Art and Design, Farhat Zaman – Biology, Shauna Mullins – Business, Hajra Amad – Business,Aneeqa Rauf – Chemistry, Seamus Maguire – Media and Film, Maisie Hutchinson – Communication, Media and Film, Maddy Hartley – English, Rebecca Whitaker – English Literature (The Barbara Anne Award), Rose Pashley – Further Mathematics, Stefanie Templar – Geography, Hannah Davy – History, Munib Rehman – Law, Aisha Rashid – Mathematics, Jordan Monaghan – Mathematics, Lauren Chew – Modern Foreign Languages, Anna Wheeler – Modern Foreign Languages, Charlotte Kane – Music, Daniel Ruane – Music, Natalie Haythornthwaite – PE, Faron Jones – Philosophy, Tommy Allen – Physics, Scott Harker – Politics, Hajra Amad – Psychology, Ray Pitcher – Sociology.
Vocational: Hannah Whitlow – Art and Design, Rebecca Riley – Art and Design, Bryony Perks – Beauty Therapy, Shaunna Lawrence – Beauty Therapy, Farhan Hussain – Business, Luke Stone – Business, Ben Brown – Catering, Sophie Mitchell – Catering, Claire Downing – Child Care, James Starkie – Engineering, Adam Drabble – Engineering, Robyn Jeffrey – Hairdressing, Lauren Haworth – Hairdressing, Natasha Jarman – Health and Social Care, Danielle Whitaker – Health and Social Care, Adeel Ahmed – ICT, Feizan Ulhaq – ICT, Reece Whitehead – Music, Simon Robinson – Performing Arts, Michaela Crossley – Public Services, Ross Inglis – Public Services, Mamuna Khalid – Science, Ambreen Kauser – Science, Nathan Nutter – Sport, Dan Westgate – Sport, Chloe Hartley – Vocational Life Skills.
Business Centre: Jane Reedy – Apprentice of the Year: Hairdressing, Jack Schofield – Apprentice of the Year: Engineering, Adam Barron – Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Catering.
Special Awards:
Kiran Tanvir won the Pre-Professional Award – Law. Kiran gained 1 A*, 2 Bs and 1 C and is now reading Law at Staffordshire University.
Ellie Phipps won the Pre-Professional Award – Medicine. Ellie gained 1 A*, 1 A and 1 B and is now reading Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool.
Sally Goldsbrough won The Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Sally gained 3 As and 2 Bs and is now reading Medicine at Keele University.
A Level Student of the Year (Fort Prize) was Rose Pashley who is a former student of Colne Park High School. She studied A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Economics. She gained excellent results 3 A*s and 1 A. Her ability has been justly recognised and she will take up a place to read Mathematics at the University of Oxford.
Vocational Student of the Year (DJ Moore Prize) was awarded to Luke Stone, who is a former student of SS John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic Humanities College. He chose to study towards a BTEC National Diploma in Business and achieved 3 Distinctions – the highest grades possible. He was also a member of the College’s multi-award winning team at Lancaster University’s Voltage Project – a social enterprise challenge for students of Business. Luke will now progress to Northumbria University to read Business Studies.
Occupational Student of the Year was awarded to Ben Brown. Ben is a former student of St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington. Ben studied for a Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership and his tutors said he excelled at motivating others. Ben is now working at top local restaurant The Fence Gate Inn.
The Awards Evening was a great success and a fitting tribute to the achievements of the last year. College Principal Lyn Surgeon said, “Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form has a long-standing tradition of excellence and I am thrilled that the class of 2011 has built on this success with some of the best results in Lancashire. I know you each have your own memories of your time at College and your teachers have fond of memories of you. I am very proud of you all and what you have achieved. I am confident that, having benefitted from firm foundations, you will now build successfully on the skills and knowledge you have acquired and move on to the next stage of your lives, not only well qualified, but rounded and caring young people.
Just as you worked so hard for what you wanted here, I am sure you will go on to do the same in the future and that way you will fulfil your dreams. You have a great future in front of you.”
