The Sixth Form College has a lot to be proud of when it comes to our former students, and the reasons for that pride can come in any form.

Excelling academically, creatively, personally or in the world of work are all achievements to celebrate, and some individuals’ hard work has paid off in more respects than one.

Cal Ruddy left The Sixth Form College last summer and is now making his mark on the music industry. We, at the college, believe that ‘talent’ is a word that inaccurately represents the resilience, determination and commitment that students have shown in their lives, whether that be in academia or elsewhere, and Cal’s musical abilities and ever-increasing presence on the music scene are testament to just that. Indeed, he headlines a local charity live entertainment night in Wallasey on 21^st May; his name coming top of a bill of established local acts.

But Cal’s hard work didn’t start with playing his first few chords, or his first essays or sums. From an early age, Cal suffered with anxiety and depression – a struggle that was under-recognised in young people until relatively recently. The introduction of the NHS’s CAMHS (Children & Adolescents Mental Health Service) project in the late 1990s began to both assist sufferers and conduct research into an issue that affected more young people than had ever been addressed.

Now 21-years-old, Cal has benefitted from the help that CAMHS has been able to provide him, and joined The Sixth Form College from West Kirby Residential School to take Drama Studies, English and History at A Level. His tenure at the college saw personal development that went from strength-to-strength, and he thanked the staff for their assistance on his journey.

He said of his time at the college: “The staff were so supportive. I always had a great working relationship and rapport with all my teachers and tutors and they helped me out so much with my anxiety and stress. I’d definitely recommend it!”

That personal connection with the staff is part of the specialist support system in place at the college, and is why Cal is so fondly remembered, not only by his allocated teachers and tutor but by countless others who came into contact with him.

His charming nature and catchy songs have helped Cal to claim the cover story on this month’s Buz Magazine, along with finalist slots in both the Merseyside Sound Station and Best of Liverpool competitions. These add to touring support slots with Mike Dignam, Isaac Gracie and Emma Pollock, Liverpool Bay TV appearances and relentlessly gigging over the North West and beyond. Over the six years since he first picked up the guitar, Cal has used singing and song-writing as a cathartic exercise for the health of his mind.

He said: “The whole process of writing songs and being on stage is my own personal form of therapy – it’s my thing.”

To add to that, Cal spends his free time outside of studying Music Performance at the City of Liverpool College, and making his way in show business, working for CAMHS. The ‘Yes We CAMHS’ night at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Wallasey on 21^st May is the latest project that Cal can be involved in giving back to the scheme that has helped him throughout his life.

Go along for a night of fun entertainment whilst helping a great cause, raffles with great prizes and, of course, Cal performing to top it all off - more info here.

The Anthony Nolan Trust visited The Sixth Form College on Wednesday to let our students know how they can help save people’s lives.

For the sake of a process a little longer than donating blood, every stem cell donor could go on to help someone recover from an insidious and life-threatening cancer.

Every 20 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a cancer of the blood, such as leukaemia, and stem cell treatment attempts to cure the disease through transplants. Bone marrow is where stem cells originate, and stem cells form both red and white blood cells and platelets, without which we can’t survive. Stem cells can be killed in the same therapies that kill cancerous cells, which makes transplanting new stem cells from a donor’s bone marrow imperative.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is a charity that specialise in the research into and raising awareness of these cancers, and pressingly, recruiting donor matches for lifesaving transplants.

There is a waiting list of over 35,000 people for stem cell transplants, so finding voluntary bone marrow donors is crucial. Simply spitting in a cup is enough to determine whether you could be a match for someone on that waiting list, and the donation process, contrary to the old stigma attached to it, is a small needle procedure that causes as little discomfort as giving blood despite taking a short while longer.

Working alongside charities, volunteering and giving the students an awareness of life outside of the college walls is a crucial part of the Enrichment programme on offer at The Sixth Form College. In fact, a former Sixth Form College teacher was representing the Anthony Nolan Trust and spoke to our students.

Retired Geography teacher, Rachael Leah, explained why every student should consider becoming a donor: “Any of us could be diagnosed with leukaemia tomorrow and need a transplant. Whenever a transplant happens, someone has to have given it.”

Rachael continued: “This entire branch of Anthony Nolan, the R&Be (Register & Be a Lifesaver) comes from a story that students should be able to relate to, of Adrian Sudbury, who was a student at Liverpool University. When he was diagnosed with Leukaemia, he was so appalled at the lack of stem cell donors that he set up this project to get as many 16 to 18-year-olds as possible informed about blood, organ and bone marrow donation.”

Rachael returns on Thursday with a team from the Anthony Nolan Trust to enlist students for the register. Anyone under 30 and in good health could help save a life.

A student studying at The Sixth Form College has achieved an incredible feat and scooped two medals for the UK team at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.

Laura Knowles, who is on the pre-degree Foundation to Health and Veterinary Studies (Year 0) which leads directly to the University of Liverpool, secured a silver and a bronze medal in the rowing events at the Games. Inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, Laura took part in a spectacular opening ceremony before competing in rowing, powerlifting and field events.

After shaking hands with Prince Harry (and claiming: “I’ll never wash my hands again!”), Laura made the powerlifting finals before producing an incredible rowing performance, making a distance of 1042m in the four minute time slot, only eight metres shy of the gold medalist’s time. In the shorter, one minute timing, her bronze position of 297m was just two metres behind gold.

The Invictus Games were established under the leadership of Harry, Prince of Wales, in 2014 to support Service men and women who have suffered injuries both visible and invisible while serving their country, and ‘harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect’.

Laura, 24, served in the Welsh Guards and is one whose injuries are less visible than others, as she was discharged on the grounds of mental health.

Speaking from Orlando, Laura said: “Standing on the podium was epic and a little surreal, to be honest. Every now and then it hits me exactly what these Games are about and I get quite emotional. But when you chat to the other athletes afterwards, it's not about the competition; it's about making these new friends for life.”

When not studying on her Year 0 course or playing sport, Laura works raising awareness and funds for mental health charity, Mind, and said that there is still a lack of understanding about the depression and anxiety with which she suffers.

For anybody else suffering with the same problems, she said: “Don't be ashamed and don't let it define you. No matter what it is, be it trauma, abuse, mental or physical injury, you can still do whatever you put your mind to. These Games are testament to that.”

The Sixth Form College boys first XI are celebrating after being crowned Wirral Cup U19 Champions 2016, making it a hattrick of wins over the last three years.

The team lifted the cup at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park stadium after a thrilling 3-2 Cup Final win over Neston – a victory that looked unlikely after going into half time two goals down.

Some inspired substitutions saw The Sixth Form College come back into the game with a stunning 25-yard strike from superstar-in-the-making, Ollie Nugent, followed by a calmly struck penalty from fellow substitute Sam Haley after Nugent forced a handball in the area from a Neston defender.

Haley’s second of the game and the decisive goal of the match came through a tidy finish, linking up with Kevin Day down the left and celebrating with a front flip in the corner of the pitch for the small army of supporters. The boys hung on despite some late pressure from Neston and got their hands on the Wirral Cup for the third time in three years.

Josh Gilbert, who is currently in his first year at The Sixth Form College commented, "It was a really good game and great to come back from two goals down. The whole team were buzzing when we won. I am hoping to repeat the victory again next year!"

First team Coach and Sport & PE teacher, Adam Thomas, said: “We didn't get into our stride in the first half and Sam Lane kept us in the game with some good saves despite the 2-0 score line. The second half, we came out determined and set the pace of the game as a team closing down and trying to play good football. Our skill levels shone through and the team grew in confidence. I always knew that as soon as we got one goal back we would win it!"

Adam continued: "The players were a credit to the college, behaving impeccably and showing respect for their opponents after such a dramatic comeback which must have left Neston really disappointed.

"It was our third Wirral Cup win in a row and ends a great season for the boys, having narrowly finished runners up in the Merseyside Elite College League. The second team were the highest ranked second XI in Merseyside too, and the girls team also won a lot of their fixtures. Plenty of our footballers are first year students, so hopefully they do well in their exams and we can be even more successful next year."

The Wirral Cup victory came just days after the boys second XI won the League 1 Playoff Final. Two goals from Connor Strong-Watson edged out local rivals Wirral Met in the game at South Liverpool FC which ended 2-1 to the college. The seconds also finished as runners-up in their league campaign.

The Wirral Cup Final Squad was as follows: Sam Lane, Matthew Thomson, Liam Trickett, Sam Collingwood, Jacob Drayton, Adam Sunners, Josh Gilbert, Danny Berkson, Kevin Day, Connor Strong-Watson, Adam Ledgerton, Ollie Nugent, Sam Haley, Charlie Bennett, Zak Dooley, Adam Cunningham and Matthew Darlington.

Enterprising students at The Sixth Form College have raised hundreds of pounds for good causes in the Wirral region after taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS).

The Alzheimer’s Society, a project working with homeless people in Wirral and an appeal to help a little boy with a muscle wasting condition were among the charities boosted by the fund-raising initiatives undertaken by a group of 16 of our students.

One of the many volunteering opportunities on offer through our Enrichment Programme, the NCS is an initiative to help young people build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and meeting new friends. Run regionally by Youth Fed and Ingeous, NCS brings together young people from different background and helps them develop greater confidence, self-awareness and responsibility. It encourages personal and social development by working on skills like leadership, teamwork and communication.

Participants develop a social action project to deal with a local issue they’re passionate about and spend 30 hours putting the project into action in their community.

The Sixth Form College students’ efforts included a drive to help purchase a special hydrotherapy bath for Wirral youngster William Magee, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive, aggressive muscular wasting condition.

The NCS were back in college this week, signing up new Sixth Form College volunteers before the summer holidays begin, given the major success last time around..

Representing the NCS in their visit to the college, Chris Marchant, said: “Sixth Form College students always have a strong showing in our projects and we’re hoping this time is no different.”

Chris, who was joined by colleague Megan Mardell, continued: “Our volunteers have the opportunity to learn a variety of skills and receive training. Afterwards, they’ll take away their NCS certificates signed by the Prime Minister but they can receive a number of other official qualifications, like first aid, for example. There are so many transferrable and interpersonal, social skills that can be added, and they can make a real difference in the community.”

Victoria Head, Operations Director of Changing Young Lives at Youth Fed, said: “It’s fantastic that so many young people are keen to take part in NCS and we really appreciate the support we are getting from The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead.

“Young people tell us they get so much out of NCS and we are encouraged that the numbers of teenagers signing up to take part are on the increase.”

Principal of the Sixth Form College, Kathryn Podmore, said that the college has been actively recruiting students to take part in the scheme, due to the nature of the NCS’s work:

“The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead places great focus on leadership and community ethos alongside academic achievements. The National Citizen Service programme combines all of these attributes and we are delighted that our students are keen to participate in it.”

Throughout history, some of the most powerful and timeless messages have been conveyed through forms of Art, and our Art Foundation Diploma students have used the opportunity in their year with The Sixth Form College to do just that.

Wendy Garnett’s ‘Experience: Uganda’ final composition for her Foundation course is an installation piece with a personal yet vast concept at heart. Very successfully exhibited publicly at Bridewell Studios and Gallery in Liverpool, Wendy harnessed the memories and impressions of her time volunteering in the East African country of Uganda to create a sincere piece with a binary meaning.

Students on the ABC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media are encouraged to push the boundaries of their own skills through knowledge, confidence and independence, which Wendy has certainly done with ‘Experience: Uganda’.

She said: “The work is very personal and all comes from me and my experiences in Uganda. I knew I wanted to do something big that challenged people in a way, and an installation needs an audience, which is why I thought of exhibiting at Bridewell Studios.”

A former student of Pensby High School, 19-year-old Wendy volunteers through The Church of the Good Shepherd in Heswall which is part of the Rock of Joy Trust– to whom all of the exhibitions proceeds were donated.

The Rock of Joy is a mission to advance education, health and well-being in Uganda and Wendy has spent two different periods in the country, teaching in local schools and helping in the communities.

Wendy said: “The thing that struck me the most when I first went over to Uganda was the positivity of the children in the schools. They were all smiling and laughing and wanted to play with you. They were so enthusiastic about what you were teaching them and so positive about being educated. It was mind-blowing to think that they could be so happy when they lived in those conditions.”

Along with teaching in the schools and raising awareness about dental and menstrual health, Wendy was part of a malaria prevention scheme which saw more than 1000 nets being put up in the homes of the students that she taught, and that notion became a centrepiece of her exhibition.

Wendy explained: “I made things that were colourful to represent that positivity that I found through the children and the mosquito nets are symbolic of a sort of negativity with the threats that the Ugandan people face. I had some work under the nets though, so that being under them would feel safe and protected – like a sanctuary for the positivity.”

Heading to Kingston University London after the summer break to take a different direction in publishing, Wendy fully appreciated her time and the development offered through the Foundation Diploma at the college.

She said: “It was such a big year for me to figure out what I wanted to do next. I also really wanted to see what more I could do with my art. I’d always done textiles but I wanted to learn something else and develop my skills. It’s really helped prepare me for Kingston. I’m a bit terrified because it’s so far away from home but I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m so glad I did the foundation year. I’ve made some great friends in our little foundation family too!”

One of the core aims of our Enrichment Programme is to encourage voluntary work, in whatever capacity, but some opportunities can be more extreme than others. None more so that what ten of our students and one teacher have signed up for this summer.

When Learning Support Assistant and Well-Being Coach, Johanne Male, and her college team step off the plane 6,200 miles away in Cambodia, they’ll be greeted by the country’s wet season. Huge downpours are accompanied by equally huge temperatures plus excessive humidity, and that trend will continue for the entirety of their four week stay starting on 11^th July.

They’ll be in the Far East as part of Camps International– a volunteering organisation with affiliations throughout Africa, Asia and South America that offer the chance to make a real difference to communities within those continents. They are just one of many groups and companies that the Enrichment department liaise with each year to visit the college and enlist willing volunteers for life-defining opportunities.

Johanne and our ten Sixth Form College volunteers, plus one former student who left last year, will join fellow recruits from Nottingham Bluecoat Academy and make up ‘Team Isana’ as the travel east to the Indochina peninsula. Each student has to raise the formidable sum of £3,700 just to travel with Team Isana and offer their help to those in need, and you can still help them with that! (Please see bottom of the story.)

The team will be dividing their time between two camps in the Cambodian jungle, getting stuck into a variety of projects at both Camp Beng Mealea and Camp Beng Pae.

Cambodia is a country still in recovery since the unspeakably brutal rein of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge. The infamous graveyards of the ‘Killing Fields’ are the regime’s legacy of mass slaughter of their own population as well as those outside, and the suppression of education, both academic and practical, is still felt today.

Our volunteers will help lead the communities within these remote villages to build new school facilities, and to educate a new generation on agriculture and the rudiments of academia and sport, after their grandparents’ era was decimated, leaving their parents without the skills and guidance to pass on to their children.

Johanne said: “These people had to leave their homes and their societies with nothing. This is a place where you learn from your parents, and when the parents themselves have been denied the learning that they need, it’s their children’s generation that have really struggled to rebuild since the revolution in 1993; they’re having to learn from scratch.

“Our students will have to learn how to go back to basics very quickly, even when it comes to things like washing their own clothes by hand. There’s no way that they can carry a supply of clothes for four weeks over days of backpacking through jungle!”

Johanne explained that there are natural concerns within the student group, but she has been working with them to reduce any anxiety that they might have. The culture difference in a country that displays such vast wealth in some areas and the most extreme depravation in others is often difficult to comprehend, and is an issue that Johanne has been addressing.

She said: “I’ve been pointing out to students that they shouldn’t hand out money to those they meet. There needs to be a social system of learning in place and donations don’t help people benefit in the long term. The time that they are giving is ultimately more valuable, however difficult it might be to understand.

“This is part and parcel of the students learning that voluntary work isn’t just about turning up, it’s about helping other people prosper. Hopefully, when they come home, they’ll have the initiative to do it again and see things in a different light.”

The student volunteers are as follows: Madeleine Atherton, Hannah De Pauw, Faye Dean, Rachael Husselbury, Niamh Kennerdale, Dominique Mason, Jessica McDonald, William Mellor, Bethany Williams, Lucy Would.

To learn more about the Enrichment activities available to students at The Sixth Form College, click here.

In or Out? It’s the question that’s dividing the nation and there’s not long before decision-making time. On 23^rd June, voters will take to the polls to have their say in a national referendum on whether the UK should remain part of the European Union or not.

A landmark event such as this makes it an even more fascinating time to be studying the subject of Government & Politics at A Level, and just as the debates rage on in television shows, newspapers, pubs and living rooms across the country, so they do in the Politics classrooms of The Sixth Form College. The question of whether to #Remain or #Leave is dividing loyalties in families and friendships, and, with this referendum being the first opportunity that many in the college have had to vote, two of our leading Politics students, plus a political expert who visited the college for a special revision session, have had their say.

“This is the most important vote since 1973 when we first voted to join the EEC (European Economic Community), as it was then,” says A Level student, James Mawdsley.

“It’s more important than any General Election that we’ve had – this is the direct future of British lives and the British Economy, for now and the future. You currently have the opportunity to live and work anywhere in the member states in Europe, and even study abroad at no further cost than in the UK. We have our rights and freedoms ensured by the European Union and their legislation.”

James, 18, who joined us from St John Plessington Catholic College, is a member of the Labour Party and a staunch supporter of remaining in the EU. He is part of the ‘Britain Stronger in Europe’ independent Labour Party campaign and works on pop-up street stalls in towns and train stations across Wirral, trying to inform others of the benefits of ‘remaining’.

James, who studies Sociology and Religious Studies along with Government & Politics, said: “My view is that the EU is the biggest job creator in the UK at the moment. Every job in the next 30 years will either be directly or indirectly related to the EU, through expansion in modern technologies or in industry. Reducing our input into that free market would be a missed opportunity for both us and the generations to come.”

Addressing the issue from the other side, James continued: “The argument coming from people who want to leave is based on the idea of sovereignty and that the European Union has damaged the credibility of the UK in making its own decision and its own laws through legislation.

“I would say that a lot of that legislation is the protection of workers’ rights. Through the EU we’ve got paid maternity leave, and protection of paid leave so if you go on holiday you’re guaranteed to have some sort of pay duty.”

Depending on where you read it, the figures differ vastly about how much Britain pays into the EU every week and how much we get back out of it. Wherever the information comes from, however, the numbers are always greater going into the Union fund than what we see directly coming back out.

James explained: “That money is paying for membership to the free market, membership to the European Convention of Human Rights and everything else tied to Europe, plus direct investment back into EU infrastructure. It’s not outside the realms of possibility that the outgoings as far as the EU goes, per week, would be equalled with paying duties and taxes on trading from outside the Union.”

Sam Pelan thinks otherwise.

“European legislation is powerful enough to override any rule that we want to make in this country. It puts huge constraints on Parliament.”

Sam, 18, was home-tutored before coming to The Sixth Form College, and believes that sovereignty of government is crucial for our country.

The Economics, Government & Politics, History and Statistics student said: “While the EU is beneficial for a lot of countries, particularly the poorer nations, it’s not at all for Britain.

“We have no real control over our own governance as we’re controlled by the EU Commission that we have no power over at all. While they may have our best interest at heart, we can never know that for sure. We can always be sure that the government that we choose will want the best for us. Not just on individual issues but on a grand scale and in the long term, we shouldn’t be ruled from elsewhere.”

“Nobody knows who these people on the EU commission are so they have no real right to watchdogs over our government. If you ask anyone on the street to name someone on the Commission, they wouldn’t be able to, but ask them about David Cameron, or Boris Johnson, or George Osborne then they’ll have an opinion. That makes it a lot easier to hold government to account for their actions.”

Sam believes that any economic hit that the UK takes if we leave the UK would be extremely short term and ‘nothing like the 2008 recession’, with the long term effect being a probable benefit for the economy.

Addressing the financial outgoings in our current EU agreement, Sam said: “People do say that the net loss that we make handing money over to the EU will be beneficial in the long term as the poorer countries then become richer, allowing them to trade with us and buy our produce. My view is that if this is the case, then why not just give these countries the money ourselves? It would be faster and cheaper than having to go through Europe in order to do so.”

Sam concluded: “You should look after your personal interests first. If you’d be personally affected by leaving the EU then vote that way, but if you’re not, or you think of the national picture rather than individual, then vote to leave.”

The Sixth Form College Politics students were lucky enough to have a pre-exam, special revision session with a visiting leading political academic, author and teacher in Neil McNaughton.

On the referendum debate, Mr McNaughton said: “I think the problem with the whole issue is that all of the predictions about what will happen if we leave, or if we stay in, are speculation. They’re being presented as facts but the arguments are speculative, which makes it a very difficult decision.”

Mr McNaughton continued: “My personal view is a kind of visceral, emotional one, which is that we are better off as part of a bigger organisation. I think many people feel that way. It’s largely down to that: what the major disadvantages and advantages are of being in that larger organisation. There are, of course, disadvantages, and I understand that in relation to being regulated by others rather than us.”

Leaving us with a prediction of the outcome of the vote, Mr McNaughton concluded: “I think it’ll go to remain, for the emotional reason. I think it’ll be very close but a lot of people are undecided. My feeling on the whole about referendums is that people who are undecided tend to go for the status quo. I think it happened in Scotland in 2014 when they voted against independence and I think the same thing will happen here. I’m predicting something around a 58% vote to stay and 42% to leave – the difference being the undecided.”

With university being the next step for the vast majority of our students, the two words ‘UCAS Application’ are never far from thought.

The process of applying to university begins as soon as our current crop of first years land back at The Sixth Form College as second years in September with the assistance and support of their Personal & Guidance Tutors, and the summer after sitting the AS Level exams is the ideal opportunity to build up the ammunition to make a CV stand above the rest.

Honours Programme student, Kyle Dean, is one such first year who is taking advantage of his summer break.

Former of Calday Grange Grammar School, Kyle, has been selected for places on two prestigious residential summer schools at both Queen’s University Belfast and Lancaster University.

Over the two four-day campus visits to the universities, Kyle will further his knowledge and grounding in all four of his chosen A Level subjects, with the course in Lancashire being centred on Economics and the Northern Ireland visit drawing on Law, History and Government & Politics in a ‘Conflict Transformation’ school.

Kyle said: “Both summer schools should be great experiences. I hope that they’ll look really good on my UCAS Application, as I’m looking at focusing on Economics at university, but also, having looked at the itineraries for both summer schools, they both have fun-looking and interesting topics to cover.”

Aiming for A grades come the August results, Kyle’s résumé is already looking impressive, with the two summer schools at the end of June and the start of July set to boost his profile even further.

Through studying Law, Kyle has had the opportunity to be part of the college’s Bar Mock Trial Team that won the regional competition against strong local grammar school rivals before going on to the national final at the Old Bailey in London. His entry into the Citizenship Foundation’s Court Reporter competition was shortlisted for the national prize and was highly commended by Joshua Rozenberg QC, the only full-time journalist to have been appointed an honourary Queen’s Counsel.

The 17-year-old is also taking part in the National Citizen Service this summer, which The Sixth Form College promotes and supports through our Enrichment programme that encourages volunteering and activities outside of the classroom.

Kyle said: “Law has been a subject that I’ve particularly liked but I’ve enjoyed all my time at college. I definitely made the right choice in coming here.”

Eying a 2017 place at University College London to study European Social and Political Science, Kyle said: “I’d like to go into investment banking. I know it’s a difficult area to get into but I think that everything that I’m doing now can only put me in the best possible position to succeed at university and beyond.”

The Sixth Form College has teamed up with Wirral Community NHS Trust to create a ground-breaking Health & Social Care course which is the first of its kind in the area.

The new Health & Social Care BTEC Level 3 Diploma aims to be 16-19-year-olds’  first step into an NHS career in community-based care, incorporating the academic foundations taught by our experienced industry experts that have been so successful at the college already, along with real work experience with the NHS in the Wirral community.

Throughout the two-year course, students will learn the scientific basis, techniques and systems behind the practical work involved in out of hospital care, including therapies, physiological disorders and providing quality support for each individual’s needs. This will be bolstered by extended periods of work placement in the field, working alongside NHS staff as students put into practice what the academic work has underpinned.

The end result is the knowledge and skill base to apply for work in NHS organisations at Band 3, having already had opportunities to attend recruitment days with a CV that is supported by directly relevant experience and highly-respected references.

Julian Eyre, Deputy Director of Performance for Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re delighted to be working with The Sixth Form College on this new collaboration as it offers a real opportunity for students who are considering working in a health or caring role. It’s a unique chance to observe and undertake real work alongside nurses, therapists and other healthcare practitioners whilst studying for a qualification that will support their entry into the healthcare workplace.”

Mr Eyre continued: “After completing the course, students will be qualified to apply for healthcare or therapy assistant roles within the Trust and establish themselves on a framework that can support them to build a career within the NHS, and even open up opportunities to professional qualifications such as nursing and therapies.”

Head of Health & Social Care at The Sixth Form College, Andy Walton, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to work in this growing sector of community-based care. It will develop the skills and knowledge required to make a real difference in your community, because good quality care enhances lives. Care, Compassion, Courage, Communication, Commitment and Competence are critical elements of this programme.”

Andy concluded: “It’s a very exciting partnership, and a great combination of academic development and work experience. We provide specialist tuition at Level 3 with an experienced team with a track record of success and the top class NHS professionals in the Wirral Foundation Trust are the perfect example to learn from.”

The Sixth Form College is hosting an Open Event so that Andy Walton and the Health & Social Care team, as well as NHS representatives, can explain more about the course on Wednesday 22^nd June at 3:30pm, and you’ll be able to ask any questions. There are still some spaces at the event remaining, so click here to register and save your place.

For the course description of the new Health & Social Care BTEC Level 3 Diploma, click here.

Law is set to continue as the most popular degree subject chosen by The Sixth Form College graduates this year, following on from the trend set by the Class of 2015.

More students from the college went on to study Law at university than from any other Wirral sixth form last year, and the subject has topped the list of first choices made by those aiming to go on to higher education.

Exactly 100 of the Class of 2016 have their sights on becoming undergraduates in the legal field, across some 27 institutions, including prestigious Russell Group University destinations Durham, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham. While the majority have chosen Law alone, some are combining the discipline with further connected areas, such as American Law, Psychology and Criminology.

With a vast array of activities available outside of the classroom while studying Law A Level at The Sixth Form College, along with being taught by former lawyers and current board examiners, the subject remains a hugely popular choice at college as well as in higher education. Students have opportunities for work placements at well-respected barristers’ chambers or solicitors’ firms, and also have a chance to be part of the college’s Citizenship Foundation Bar Mock Trial team, with this year’s lawyers-in-the-making beating local grammar school competition to be crowned regional Bar Mock Trial Champions before heading to the national final at the awe-inspiring Old Bailey in London.

Head of Law at The Sixth Form College, Paula Blakemore, said: “Law at A Level is an accurate reflection of Law at undergraduate level; it gives you the building blocks and a solid foundation of what and how you’re studying.”

Law Teacher of the Year 2015 nominee, Paula, who spent twenty years practicing as a solicitor, continued: “The students sign up for the extracurricular activities in their droves because they enjoy them. It becomes a self-perpetuating thing – when it comes to applying for university or jobs, they’ve all got lots of Law-related extracurricular for their CV which puts them in very good standing.

Law was closely followed by Psychology in the first choice degree field stakes, again following on from the subject’s popularity at the college. Trips to London conferences, phobia days and ‘Brain Day’ dissections add to the appeal of selecting Psychology at A Level with The Sixth Form College, and pending their successful results come August, our students could be studying the subject at 24 different universities across the country next academic year.

Business, Computing and Biology& Biomedicine are also among the most popular degree area first choices and over 75 different university destinations have been elected, with the Universities of Cambridge, York, Edinburgh and Sheffield amongst them.

Other miscellaneous chosen areas of study include Archaeology, Zoology, Physiotherapy and Yacht & Powercraft Design.

Students now wait with baited breath for 18^th August when A Level results are issued to finalise their future destinations and undergraduate choices.

A The Sixth Form College sports star has been awarded the honour of selection to play for Team GB at this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Footballer, Ollie Nugent, has just finished his A Levels at the college and joins a squad of 14 on the plane to South America in September to compete in the five-a-side version of the game.

Ollie, who has cerebral palsy, is currently on the books at Chester FC but, this summer, is aiming to become the first person with his condition to earn a professional contract.

A superstar of this year’s Sixth Form College Boys’ First XI, the former Pensby High School student played a key part in the team winning the Wirral Cup Final for the third year running at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park, coming on as a second half substitute and helping to turn a 0-2 score-line into a 3-2 victory against Neston in May.

The final Paralympic squad was announced after Ollie joined the group in Brazil for a warm-up camp earlier in June, which has just added to the anticipation for the 18-year-old.

Ollie said: “I’m so excited. It’ll be a great experience, as it has been already to this point – going to Brazil to train and playing our first game in front of 16,000 people.”

Having played at international level before at the Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships and the European Championships, Ollie explained: “I’ve represented England before but this is all of Great Britain and on a whole new scale, plus it’s televised as well, of course. It’s probably my biggest achievement top date.”

Rules of Paralympics football mean that players are categorised by degree of impairment and Ollie is one of three GB squad members in his allocation. Only one can be on the pitch at any given time, meaning that Ollie has, in essence, beaten fierce competition for one place of three, rather than 14.

He said: “There was a huge amount of competition to get selected, but we’ve built up great team morale now. We’ve set in stone what we’re going to do with the coaches and worked hard in games and in training. It’s created a real sense of cohesion and togetherness. There’s not a player in the group that I’d swap with anyone else. They’re great lads and all fit and ready.”

Before Rio in September, Ollie has the other crucial matter of A Level results day. A Sport BTEC Level 3 Diploma and Psychology A Level student, Ollie is hoping for a successful day in August to help him on his path to his next long-term goal.

He said: “I’m going back on trial with a few different clubs over the summer, but I’m looking into a scholarship to take me over to America next year, so hopefully that will happen if things go well. It’s been a busy time for me over the last few weeks with footy so I’ve had to do a lot of revision at odd times, but I’m fairly confident about how the exams went so hopefully I’ll be happy come results day!

“The college has been brilliant. They’ve been very understanding of my situation and helped me catch-up with work and revision where I’ve missed lessons or other sessions.”

While others will look at his spectacular displays on the pitch and see talent, Ollie explained that, especially with the condition that he’s had since birth, there’s a lot more that goes into it behind the scenes than natural ability:

“It’s straight forward – it’s down to pure hard work. A lot of people – doctors, family, friends - have said that I won’t be able to do certain things by the time I was 16, or 18, but I’ve trained every day and worked hard for it, so it’s paying off for me.

“I also wouldn’t be in the position that I am without my parents. They pushed me and encouraged me with everything, whether it’s football, work or college. They’ve been a huge part of my story.”

The Sixth Form College First Team Coach and Sport & PE Teacher, Adam Thomas, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved having seen the amount of time and effort he’s put into making the team, alongside the outstanding contribution that he made to studying and playing sport at the college. His determination is an example to all of us. I’m so pleased for him and it couldn’t happen to a nicer lad. It’s a proud moment for the college to be associated with such an outstanding athlete.”

Global organisations like KPMG tend to get the pick of talent in the business world, so gaining a place on one of their highly selective work experience courses is no mean feat.  

Having just finished his AS Level exams in his first year with The Sixth Form College, Honours Programme student, Francis Canning, joined an elite group of budding businesspeople in Liverpool’s Princes Dock, home of international professional service provider, KMPG, for two days of talks and tasks on their two day 'Discovery' course.

Known as one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting and professional service firms, KPMG offers audit, tax and advisory provisions for their clients’ firms across the globe, and big business is where Francis sees himself in the future.

Francis, 17, said: “The experience was really beneficial overall. They gave us an introduction to the different sections of the business and someone from each section spoke to us about it, from the employee’s perspective. We were then given tasks to do, based on that, and generally in teams. There was a lot of business pitching, which was pretty nerve-wracking but as soon as you get into the flow of it then it’s fine!

“On the second day, we had to develop a financial plan and a marketing plan for a business, and devise what assistance and advice to give that business on the direction to go in.”

Choosing AS Level subjects of Business, Economics, Statistics and Spanish stood Francis in good stead among his peers on the course, which he admits he did well to get on considering the quality and sheer volume of competition. He discovered about the 'Discovery' opportunity through the Social Mobility Foundation, with whom the college’s Personal & Guidance Tutors work as part of the Honours Programme. 

He said: “I felt like doing Business at AS gave me a good platform for the whole experience. I could use terms and technical language, and knew about processes that could be used, so I felt more professional in that environment. The same is true of Economics too. I’m happy that the subjects that I chose are helping lead me to exactly what I want to be doing.”

Francis travels to Aberdeen at the end of July to take part in a summer school in the city’s university, again focussing on his chosen career path of business, and the KPMG experience has opened his eyes to options within the arena that he may not have previously considered:

“I’ve been set on the marketing and HR angles within business but, having had a hands-on experience with accounting, it eradicated some of the stereotypes and preconceptions that I might have had. We had the chance to network with the KPMG employees and they told us what they enjoy about their jobs. They loved that every day was different, working with different teams and face-to-face with clients, so it’s not just sat in front of a computer all day. Accounting does seem like more of an option now.”

With Spanish being another subject choice at college, Francis explained how he wishes to study International Business Management with Spanish at university in 2017, and how he hopes that his love of studying languages can be the extra string to his employability bow. In fact, he’s already spoken to KPMG about how linguistic skills can lead to secondments and opportunities abroad with the company.

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Francis only settled in mainland Britain with his family at the end of August last year, just days before starting at The Sixth Form College.

Now wrapping up his first academic year in Wirral, Francis, who has taken part in volunteer work within the community through our Enrichment programme too, said: “In Ireland, I felt like I wasn’t taking advantage of the opportunities around me, but coming over here and finding The Sixth Form College has meant that everything’s fallen into place. I’ve been part of the NCS (National Citizen Service) programme and made some fantastic friends. I love it here and I’m so glad I came. I definitely don’t have any regrets about leaving Ireland.”

Psychology students with a career interest in Clinical Psychology had the chance to experience work in the field on a placement at a local day care centre.

Heswall Day Centre is part the Wirral Evolutions organisation, specialising in helping those with special needs and learning difficulties acquire new skills and take part in a variety of activities. Four first year Psychology students took the opportunity to transfer their classroom learning into the arena of the local community, which not only boosts their UCAS university application profiles but inspired some future career options.

AS Level student, Leah Coathup, said: “I thought it was great. It gave me a feel of how to adapt to situations and learn, depending on other people’s behaviour.”

Leah, who studies English Literature and Applied Science alongside Psychology, explained: “It was putting what we’ve been learning in Psychology class into a real life context. OCD symptoms, for example, were something really interesting to see in real life, genuine cases. It made me realise how much I, and other people, over-exaggerate how obsessive we are about things, like the books I put in alphabetical order or the light switches I’ll turn on or off: it’s very far from the extremes that we’ve been learning about and have now witnessed.”

Leah concluded: “After spending time at the centre, I’m definitely thinking about going into Clinical Psychology.”

Fellow first year, Chloe Gaunt, also has her sights set on a career in the psychological field, and spoke of the range of activities that she got involved with after the Heswall Day Centre staff fully briefed all the students on safety precautions and policies: “It was fab. I got involved with doing Zumba, drama, art classes and stuck around for dinner time with the clients too.

“It was all so relevant to what we’d been learning. It was right there in front of us and great to learn from. The people were so welcoming and funny, I enjoyed the entire day.”

Despite not being able to have direct one-to-one contact with the clients due to age restrictions for under 18s, Chloe, Leah and fellow visiting Sixth Form College students, Katie Lawson and Rebekah Jones have all been invited back to the day centre over the summer and beyond – an offer which most if not all of them will take up.

Chloe said: “From my time there, it’s made up my mind that I’d definitely like to follow that path and work with that age group. I’d like to work with adults.”

Psychology teacher, Roy Owen, said: “Each of the girls had expressed an interest in studying Psychology at university and I believe that such work experience will be invaluable to them, not only on their UCAS applications but also in their Psychology-related careers in the future. Such placements are something that we hope to be able to offer to our students each year in Psychology.”

The Art & Design School Summer Show saw the culmination of a year’s hard work by some of the most creative students at The Sixth Form College being aired to the public.

Visitors had the opportunity to soak in Graphic Design, Fine Art, Textiles and Product Design within the specialist modern facilities afforded to them by the Art & Design School building, established in 2013.

A Level, Foundation Diploma and Cambridge Technical Diploma all had their work displayed in celebration of their achievements, in the same manner as a professional exhibition.

Head of Art & Design, Angela Watson, said: “The excellent work that’s been produced this year is typical of our high standards at the college, although this year’s examiners said that the practice that goes on in this institution is exemplary.

“We’ve had students in Graphics that have worked with external professionals in graphics companies, and they thought that some of the output from our students was better than they’d seen in higher education.”

From the unscrupulous attention to detail of the Graphics work to the vivid Textiles and bold, expressive Fine Art on display, each division within the School has its own personal charm, as Angela explained:

“What I particularly enjoy is that, in each separate area, you can see an individual approach. They all have their own character and that’s something that we’re very proud of. In Graphics, there’s a particularly professional edge in terms of presentation; in Fine Art, the focus on drawing and painting has really seen some exceptional skills develop; in Textiles, the work has been singled out for commendation by examiners due to its originality and for being so personal.”

Some 27 students from the Class of 2015 went on to study Fine Art, Graphics or Textiles at university upon leaving the college last year, and this year’s cohort looks set for similar if not greater numbers. Product Design students are also going on to degree programmes at some Russell Group Universities, including a fascinating course choice of Yacht and Powercraft Design.

Angela concluded: “We have some great success stories from the department, and a lot of that is down to an extremely high quality of teaching. We have staff who are designers and working artists in their own rights, plus we have exceptional facilities. The Art & Design School creates a feeling of the students having their own little enclave, and they respond very well to that.”

A first year Sixth Form College student has just returned from Oxford University, after receiving a personal invitation to attend a taster day in his chosen field of study at Britain’s oldest and most prestigious academic institution.

Sam Pelan originally applied for a place on a summer school at the home of academic prowess, and although his application wasn’t successful, the university contacted him directly to invite him to a taster day in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) as they were so impressed with his personal statement in his application. Sam also had brunch with the dons (tutors) of the PPE department and fellow potential students.

Sam said: “Speaking with the tutors was an experience that I’ve not had before. I was essentially sitting around chatting with a group of geniuses!”

Sam, who studies Economics, Politics, History and Statistics at The Sixth Form College, continued: “It was incredible to be surrounded by the brightest minds in the field. The other potential students were very much involved in the conversations too and were all extremely intelligent.”

Sam comes from what many would consider a path less-trodden, in that he was home schooled until joining the college last year, but he didn’t feel like there was any barrier between him and the other students, many of whom came from more privileged backgrounds.

He said: “I think that the university is doing well in actively trying to encourage those from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply, which is a good thing. Some that attended the taster session were from private and selective education but that’s no reason for anyone else to feel out of place. Only 17% of applications are successful to study there. In the end, it’s about hard work to get a place at Oxford, so everyone going there will have earned the right.”

Indeed, of the 18,000 applications that the oldest university in the English-speaking world received last year, only just over 3,000 were admitted through the hallowed gates, so competition is even stiffer than for other extremely respected Russell Group institutions.

Hoping for straight As in his AS Level results in August, Sam retains high hopes of earning his spot at Oxford, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics is his dream subject: “Oxford seemed to have a character all of its own. I was walking down the street and overheard two tutors talking about economics, and people in a café having a complex discussion about politics. The university atmosphere obviously seeps through into the rest of the city, and it’s very much something I’d like to be a part of.”

Two first year students at The Sixth Form College have been honoured by the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside for their outstanding service with the Sea Cadets.

Oumie Jallow and Carl Kelly received the Certificate of Merit from Dame Lorna Muirhead, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Merseyside, which is a decoration held in great esteem across all the Armed Forces.

Presented with their honours at a ceremony in Liverpool Town Hall, Oumie and Carl were selected for the prize due to their dedication and hard work with the Cadets during their five year tenures, with both having been part of the Force since the age of 12.

Leading Cadet Carl, who joined The Sixth Form College from Mosslands last year, said: “I was in Scouts before and my dad always encouraged me to get into the Cadets because my brother had done it before me. It was the best thing I ever did.”

Currently awaiting exam results in Business, Economics, Law and Politics, Carl is set for a career in the legal field but said: “The Cadets may not be the start of the career I want to go into, but the last five years have been filled with so many activities and opportunities through the service that it’s difficult to know where to start when talking about them. I’ve done so many water-sports, off shore voyages, courses, met officers from all the armed forces and all walks of life, and I even got to meet the Queen when she was in Liverpool a few weeks ago!”

With Cadet experience and honours adding to a burgeoning CV, Carl, 17, was part of The Sixth Form College’s Bar Mock Trial team, who made the national finals at the Old Bailey in London after winning the regional competition. He puts some of his personal success in that arena down to what he’d learnt through his time with the Cadets:

“It’s given me a lot of skills that I may not have otherwise. I’ve learn how to discipline myself, which has helped when it comes to college work, and it’s also given me a huge amount of confidence in talking to new people and dealing with anything that’s thrown at me. That confidence definitely helped in standing up and delivering in the Old Bailey!”

Oumie echoed Carl’s sentiments as far as learning life skills through the Forces, and said: “It’s given me a lot of discipline too; I suppose I was a bit all over the place when I was younger! It feels like I’ve grown up with the Cadets now and it’s offered me a career path for after I leave college and have my A Levels.

“Not everyone gets involved knowing that they want a career out of it. When I first started I had ideas about being a vet but now I’m set on joining the Navy. Spending all the time around the Force and visiting bases has given me a real insight as to what’s involved, so it gives me the advantage of going into it with my eyes open.”

Oumie came to the college from Upton Hall, and like Carl, has such an abundance of experiences with the Cadets that narrowing down the most special or important of them is becoming increasingly difficult. She now holds the highest rank within the service, that of Petty Officer Cadet, and her unit was part of a six week exchange programme with Canadian Cadets in 2015.

Oumie said: “Spending time in Canada gave me memories that’ll last forever. I made so many friends that I still keep in touch with, and seeing how the Forces from other countries work was fascinating. There are so many similarities and so many differences. It was a huge honour to be representing the UK though.”

Aiming for a Navy career in engineering or weaponry, Oumie holds an international powerboat license and has participated in the Battle of Trafalgar parade in London five times, the last in the prestigious position of a guard.

Colonel Mark Underhill, Chief Executive of the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA) which runs the awards, said: ‘Petty Officer Cadet Jallow and Leading Cadet Kelly are shining examples of the opportunities available through the Cadet organisations to gain experience, knowledge and qualifications. They are both excellent ambassadors for the Sea Cadets and for the young people of Merseyside.”

A former Sixth Form College student has set up a new Wirral-based theatre company, aimed at being both inclusive and cheap for those interested in acting, singing and dancing.

‘Something New Theatre’, the brainchild of Laura Smith who left the college last year, is running training workshops throughout August for ages six to 21 at just £2 per day.

Having established the group in 2015, Laura’s Something New Theatre put on their first stage show, ‘The Princess and the Pauper’, in February of this year. Her team of volunteers are now set to run summer workshops based around the new musicals ‘Matilda’ and ‘We Will Rock You’.

Speaking about her inspiration to start the company, the Class of 2015’s Laura said: “I wrote the pantomime in February and that was after writing the final performance that our Performing Arts class did at The Sixth Form College. All of that gave me the idea of starting my own theatre company that’s cheap, so less privileged families can send their children to us for good training without the big expense.”

Laura explained the ethos behind ‘Something New’, hoping that the name sums up a unique approach to theatre: “We offer training without favouritism. I’ve found that, in a lot of theatre companies, they will pick the same people for main parts time and time again. We don’t actually audition and we give everyone equal training, no matter what their ability is. Whether it’s improvisation, characterisation or simple dances, if you have no experience at all or have 20 years under your belt, you’ll still be doing the same dance or performance as everyone else. Every person gets equal treatment.”

As fate would have it, Laura’s performing career started at a very early age under the tutelage of Sixth Form College Dance teacher, Anne Millington, in the Barbara Roberts School of Dance.

Laura, whose favourite acting memory is staring in Terry Pratchett’s ‘Wyrd Sisters’ last year, explained: “I first got on stage when I was five with Anne’s dance school. I did that for ten years before damaging my knee which made me focus on the acting and singing side of things. I’ve been in shows for a long time though!”

Laura also had kind words for the teaching and methods used during her time with the college, saying: “It introduced me to new pathways. They gave me the opportunity to showcase my writing, which I don’t think anywhere else would have done. I tried to assist in singing training with the group where I could so it was nice to be able to help other people.

“My tutors and teachers were very patient with me, more patient than perhaps I would have been! I came out with good grades because they worked with me and helped me a lot.”

Choosing to leave a school that’s been ‘home’ for years and joining somewhere different can be a daunting prospect, but sometimes change can bring the best out of us.

Sophie Hatherly is one of any number of Sixth Form College students who stands testament to that, as she enjoys the summer break safe in the knowledge that she has an unconditional offer to her chosen university and a scholarship grant for when she gets there.

Sophie left her fee-paying secondary school in 2015 and joined the College to complete her A Levels, having felt that she wasn’t reaching her full potential at the school that she’d been at since the age of ten. Finding the independence that she sought to allow her to flourish at The Sixth Form College, Sophie went on to sit a scholarship exam at her first choice university of Aberystwyth. Securing a first-class score equivalent of 74% in both Maths and Geography, the oldest university in Wales offered her an unconditional place to study a joint Bachelor of Science degree of Physical Geography and Mathematics, a reserved place in halls of residence for all three years, and a £1000 grant for her freshman year: a result that she feels may not have happened if she didn’t take the leap of changing schools last year.

Sophie said: “I 100% stand by my decision to leave my old school and come to the College. It was the best thing for me and I don’t think I would have achieved what I have this year if I’d have stayed where I was.”

Awaiting A Level results in Maths, Geography and Biology next month, Sophie explained: “I needed a bit more independence and the College definitely gave me that. It’s given me a real insight into what university’s going to be like, and how to manage my time and my studies, which helped with revision for my A Levels. It’s not like being at school at all.”

On deciding to leave her previous school, Sophie said that she was firmly set on joining the College despite having other options: “I have quite a few friends in other Grammar Schools in Wirral but I just don’t think they were for me and I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable. There can be a lot of pressure put on people doing their A Levels but the independence and the support at The Sixth Form College has helped me produce the best that I can.”

With her future career options still open, Sophie wanted to study a degree programme that she knew she’d enjoy so chose Maths and Geography. Only six universities offered the combination BSc; Sophie applied for five and was accepted by all of them.

Sophie’s mother, Sara Hatherly, candidly admits that she was ‘blinkered’ by the notion of fee-paying schools being the best option for her children, and says that her eyes have been thoroughly opened by Sophie’s experience.

Sara said: “It’s been a learning process for me. I had a private education myself from the age of five up to 18. I suppose fairly naively, I’d been quite blinkered into thinking it was the best thing for my children because I had a great time at school. Bearing in mind that I’ve been paying for my kids’ education virtually their whole lives, I came to the college and got a whole different perspective. I just didn’t think there was anything out there that was any better than private education, but now I’ve eaten a great deal of humble pie! I’ve been mightily impressed by what is given and offered to students at the college.”

Describing Sophie as a ‘whole new person’ due to the independence at the college and the way that she’s been treated and spoken to, Sara continued: “I’ve been blown away by the level of support that’s offered in terms of her personal tutoring by Jen (Foden, Sophie’s Personal & Guidance Tutor) and her UCAS application for university. I also loved the fact that the university option wasn’t forced upon students. In other places, it’s viewed very much as the only avenue but knowing that tutors encourage investigating all the options was really pleasing. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the whole system.”

Sophie’s mother concluded that she will definitely be coming to the college with her son to explore his options when it comes to sixth form education.

The Sixth Form College is celebrating cementing its place as Wirral’s No1 Sixth Form with record results, as nearly half of students achieved top A*, A and B grades. More than a quarter are also now set to attend prestigious Russell Group universities.

Principal Kathryn Podmore confirmed that 1100 students successfully completed their A Levels, AS Levels and BTECs in 2016 and that record numbers of students (400) have applied to go on to higher education in September 2016. 

The combination of a pass rate of 99.3% and outstanding grades has ensured that the College remains in the top tier of Sixth Form Colleges in the UK. The Sixth Form College sector is the highest performing 16-19 sector and there are just 93 specialist Sixth Form Colleges in England and Wales.

Principal Kathryn said: “We are absolutely delighted with our results and I would like to congratulate all of our students and staff. More students than ever before have achieved prestigious A*, A and B grades.

“The Sixth Form College results speak for themselves and demonstrate that the College is a Centre of Academic Excellence.  We have a high number of students progressing to study the Sciences and Mathematics at top universities and are proud that the College continues to help students of all educational backgrounds reach their potential, be successful and attain the highest possible grades.

Kathryn continued: “Courses at the College are taught by teachers who are experts in their fields and in state of the art facilities.  We have high expectations for our students and in turn we are committed to providing the highest level of education possible.”

Such is the College’s long-term record of achievement that subscription for the 2016/17 academic year is already around 25% higher than 2015, so potential students need to register their interest quickly as places are limited.

Some highlights of Results Day include Joe Bowly scooping three A* grades and cruising through to his place at the University of Manchester to study History & Politics.

“It’s really not sunk in yet,” said a rather speechless Joe!

Sam Killcross’s A*AA paved the way for his proud journey to Trinity College, Cambridge to study History, while Katie Ebbrell and Elsbeth Blakemore are off to Manchester and Nottingham Universities respectively after notching A*A*A each.

Class of 2016 Head Girl, Ellie Jones, secured three Distinction*s on her Health & Social Care BTEC and now heads to Chester University to complete a degree in Adult Nursing before settling into a career in that field. Fellow Head Student, Breandon Fawcett’s BBC secured him a very prestigious place on an apprenticeship with IBM in Manchester, while Emma Donnelly starts her employment with international law firm, Hill Dickinson, after achieving A*AB.

If you have any queries or need any help and advice regarding results, please contact the college on 01516525575.

Here are some snapshots of just some of today's stories, and a few photos of a day to celebrate!

{gallery:Results Day 2016}