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Staff from Furness College, including Barrow Sixth Form College, and Ormsgill Primary School at the Golden Apple Education Awards

Barrow Sixth Form Student is Student of the Year

A Barrow Sixth Form student who secured a maximum set of four top grades in his A Levels has won Student of the Year in the Cumbria-wide education awards.

Toby, who is now studying a degree in medicine at Cambridge University, was recognised for his achievement and his contribution to the community in the prestigious Golden Apple Awards.

During his time at the Rating Lane campus, he set up a forum to enable other aspiring medics to make contacts in medicine and get a valuable insight into their chosen career.

The Furness Future Medics Forum helped his peers to overcome the boundaries of work experience in a pandemic and help him and other students to get a head start in their career in medicine.

Toby, who received 4 A* grades in biology, chemistry, maths, physics in the summer, said he was ‘very proud’ to receive the award and thanked his tutors.

“My main goal in developing the speaker forum was to enable other students and myself to listen to healthcare professionals about their careers and to become more informed,” he said.

“This was really important as locally there aren’t as many opportunities like this unless you come from a family of doctors, and it can feel as though there isn’t as much representation in the medical profession coming from places like Cumbria.

“I would also like to thank my college for the support they have given me and others to achieve their own goals.”

Toby, a former St Bernard’s pupil, was part of the Barrow Sixth Form College Honours programme and has also worked to encourage others to apply for Oxbridge.

His award was accepted on his behalf by Furness College Director of Curriculum Helen Gibson who said in true ‘Toby fashion’ he unfortunately was not able to attend because of his commitment to his studies at Cambridge University.

Another sixth former Spencer McGladdery was recognised as a finalist in the Against All Odds Category for how he balanced his studies and role as a young carer.

Meanwhile Furness College’s DFN Project Search team were also finalists for their work providing NHS internship opportunities for people with learning disabilities. The college’s business employment support team were also shortlisted for an award for their virtual work experience programme with English Heritage.

Among the other winners were Arthur Hedley Smith, who works at Ormsgill Primary School which is part of the college’s South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

He was presented with the People’s Choice Award for the difference he makes in education through his work as the school’s hardworking and much-loved caretaker who turns his hand to all manner of roles to ensure the smooth running of the school.

Hedley has worked at the school, which joined SCMAT in September, for 11 years and alongside being caretaker he drives the minibus and also works as a midday supervisor in the playground.

Speaking after receiving the award he said: “This is very unexpected. It is for the school and for all the children and the parents that come to Ormsgill School.”

He was a finalist in the best support staff category while his colleagues Stephanie Buttriss and Laura Reid were also category finalists.

Furness College Principal and Chief Executive Professor Andrew Wren, who is also CEO of SCMAT, said: “Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. It is only right that these people who all go above and beyond to make a difference in education are recognised for their amazing achievements. It shows the depth of talent we have across our college, our academy trust and across South Cumbria as a whole.”


Channelside
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 2PJ
Rating Lane
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA13 9LE
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Tel: 01229 828 377 (Barrow Sixth Form College)
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