Times & Star

AWARDS HONOUR BEST IN THE WEST

Published at 11:04, Thursday, 24 May 2012

THE skills of teenagers from West Cumbria were honoured at an awards ceremony this month at Lakes College, Lillyhall.

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Year 11 students from secondary schools across the area were recognised for their hard work and achievement on May 14. The awards were held to celebrate the success of the college’s key stage 4 school links project.

As part of the programme, students come into college and spend time each week working towards vocational qualifications – some have been doing this for the last two years.

Over 100 young people completed the courses and attended the ceremony, held in the college’s Special Education Needs Centre. They were joined by family, friends and teachers at the event.

They were given certificates in a host of subject areas including beauty, hairdressing, motor vehicle, horticulture, child care, construction, catering, art and design, land-based studies, public services and sports.

Judith Dakers, manager of schools provisions at Lakes College, organised the event and said it was a great opportunity to mark the success of the school links programme.

“The awards are all about marking the hard work these year 11 students have put into their vocational courses. They come into college – sometimes for a few months at a time, some for a period of one and two years – and spend one to three days a week with tutors on their chosen course.

“The skills they gain will see them through their careers and adult lives and it is often a good chance for young people to get a feel of a particular career or qualification.

“The majority of these students collecting the awards today will be coming back to Lakes College in September to study with us on one of our full-time courses.

“The number of them who have come to receive their awards just goes to show how successful this project is.”

During the ceremony special awards were handed out to individuals in each subject who had impressed tutors by going the extra mile, and an outstanding student award.

PENNY STEELE, 15, of Moor Row, near Whitehaven, scooped the top award of overall student of the year for her efforts in both her hair and motor vehicle courses.

When nominating her for the award, her tutors said she was always looking to develop her own learning, listened well to advice and had an exceptional approach to all her work.

Penny said: “I had absolutely no idea that I was nominated let alone would win the top student award. It’s a fantastic feeling though that all my hard work and effort has won me this award.

“Gaining skills on the courses at Lakes College has been a brilliant experience and it has given me the chance to try things I otherwise wouldn’t have had.

“Learning about hair and motor vehicle studies at the same time was a bit of a strange combination but I wanted to try two very different courses. I have always enjoyed the idea of hairdressing but I also wanted to try motor vehicle to gain some manual skills – it’s also something I would consider as a possible career in the future. What I’ve come away with from both subjects is a set of very versatile skills.”

MICHAELA PATTINSON, 15, of Workington, picked up the special catering award. Her tutors said she was always going out of her way to help other students on the course.

She said: “I came into college one day a week on the childcare course and I loved every minute of it. Having the chance to experience what it would be like training and working in the industry has made me want to follow it as a career.”

Disington teenager JONATHAN MARSHALL, 16, was given the art and design accolade for being the most improved student on the course, according to his tutors.

He said: “I really didn’t expect to win a special award but it feels great to have picked up a trophy today. I’m really pleased with what the tutors said about me as I loved the art and design course. After doing this course I now plan to go to college on one of the art and design courses.”

Land based studies special award – John Rule

Childcare studies special award – Michaela Pattinson

Public services special award – Emily McGuire

Beauty studies special award – Adrienne Naylor

Hairdressing special award – Danielle Richardson

Art and design special award – Jonathan Marshall

Catering studies special award – Carrie Dunbabin

Motor vehicle special award – Joseph Ralph

Construction studies special award – Chris Finnigan

Carpentry and joinery special awards – Sam Sharpe and Penny Brett

Painting and decoration studies special award – Matthew Crowe

Horticulture studies special award – Jonathan Hughes