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Catalogue of Achievements at Bedfordshire Awards

Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019

A Good Ofsted grade under a challenging new national framework was the finale of a year of outstanding achievements for Bedford College staff and students.

From a staff member winning the FE Teacher of the Year at the TES Awards (run by the Times Educational Supplement) to a student-turned-staff member taking Gold at the WorldSkills for Network Systems Administrator, the trophy cabinet of Bedford College is now bulging.

Apprentices, degree level and full and part time students have received awards from all course areas and just some of the best were highlighted at the Bedford College Achievement Ceremony on Thursday 5th December.

Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019 Ian Pryce

Ian Pryce CBE, Principal and CEO said:
“We celebrate the second year of The Bedford College Group formed by bringing together Bedford College, Shuttleworth College and The Bedford Sixth Form with Tresham College in Northamptonshire.”

He continued:

“We now employ 1,200 staff who are all committed to working with our community. To our students we say: Being outstanding is a choice so make the most of the opportunities offered here.”

Guest Speaker for the evening was TV ‘upcycler’ Max McMurdo, a Bedfordshire boy who went on to create a career for himself by following his passion for creating. His message to students was: “Be real, be yourself and follow your passions.”

The Student Participation Award went to Simon Hooton who completed a Fish Management Level 3 course at Shuttleworth College, part of The Bedford College Group, before winning a Shuttleworth Trust award to travel to Japan to study Koi Carp.

Three students were nominated for the Outstanding Student of the Year. This year’s winner was Joe Chidwick of The Bedford Sixth Form. After studying Maths, Physics, Philosophy and Dance at A Level, Joe won a place at Cambridge University.

The two runners-up were Caleb Oliver who having completed the Prince’s Trust Team progressed on to an Animal Care course at Shuttleworth, and Eva Cringle a Fine Art Level 3 student who travelled from Germany to study at Bedford College’s South Bank Arts Centre. Eva got to the finals over 4,000 entries in a Space Foundation International Student Art Contest. Originally from Germany, Eva moved to the UK through the International Experience (iE) and beat global competition for her work to be exhibited at the 35th Space Symposium and then Space Foundation World Headquarters and Discovery Center in Colorado.

The Inclusion Champion Award went to Student Experience and Progression Manager Will Sparrow.

Staff Innovator Award went to Martin Johnson Desktop Technician in IT Services.

Teacher of the Year was Helen Day an Advanced Practitioner in Animal Science at Shuttleworth College.

Allan Schofield, Chair of the Corporation closed the evening by thanking Ian Pryce and his management team for all their hard work, particularly in relation to the recent Ofsted success.

“Our outstanding financial management has meant we have been able to keep investing in projects to benefit out students. For example our exciting new Advanced Engineering Centre at Bedford and the Zoological Education Centre at Shuttleworth.”

The event at the Bedford Corn Exchange was supported by local businesses. Gold Sponsors were BedfordBID which promotes the town centre under the Love Bedford brand. Our Silver Sponsors were Commercial Interiors and Storage, The Harpur Trust, Innovation-site, Rosetta Publishing Ltd and the Sharnbrook Academy Federation.

Student prize sponsors were Danielle Harrington Design, Dream Digital, Grewal Productions, Lockcraft Electrical Ltd, PRD Marketing and Manners PR.

Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019
Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019
Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019
Bedfordshire Achievements Ceremony 2019
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