Students hope for education awards success

Nominees from Furness College will join the shining stars of education in Cumbria at the upcoming Golden Apple Awards.

Chloe Wagstaff, a former apprentice at Furness College who is now employed as a degree apprentice in Project Management at BAE Systems in Barrow, has been shortlisted in the Best Apprentice category.

Luci Ord, Head of Business Development, and Chloe’s former manager at Furness College, said, “Chloe exceeded all expectations as a Senior Administrator in Furness College’s Business Employment Support Team. During her apprenticeship, she grew in confidence, developed a wide range of sector-specific skills and knowledge, and played a pivotal role in administrating key contracts.

“Chloe’s motivation and ambition has secured her a Project Management degree apprenticeship with BAE Systems, and I am confident that she will achieve all her ambitions and enjoy a successful career.”

Barrow Sixth Form College student Victoria Galston has been nominated for the Student of the Year prize.

Victoria has gone from strength to strength after joining Furness College’s Rating Lane campus to take her GCSE English and Maths, and has overcome a number of challenges on her path back into education.

Caroline Crossley, Victoria’s Maths tutor, said: “Victoria started the year unable to do column addition but she has made significant progression, and now understands the basics of many topics including trigonometry, Pythagoras’ theorem, solving algebraic equations and simultaneous equations.

“It is a real mark of her character that she has turned her life around and is committed to working hard to achieve something that does not come easy to her. She is an absolute delight to teach.”

Health and Social Care student Angel Kirk-Henry, who completed her course at Furness College’s Channelside campus and is also shortlisted in the Student of the Year category, has been described as an “inspiration” by her proud tutors.

Angel, who is now studying at university in Leeds, said: “The support at the College has been amazing and the tutors really take the time to get to know you. Whenever I was struggling, I knew I had a safe place at college. Furness College go above and beyond to put you in your next steps for the future, no matter what path you would like to take.”

The annual Golden Apple Awards, presented by Newsquest Cumbria in association with the University of Cumbria and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, showcase excellence in education across all levels of learning in the region – celebrating amazing academic achievement and true innovation in teaching and learning. The nominees are shortlisted by an independent judging panel.

Furness College is also proud to sponsor two categories at the event, including Best Secondary School and Best Apprentice.

Mark Nicholson, Deputy Principal Curriculum & Quality and Head of Sixth Form, who will present Furness College’s sponsored awards at the event, said: “It’s always an honour to support the Golden Apple Awards and celebrate the many achievements of the education community in Cumbria. We wish all the nominees the very best of luck. They have all done extremely well to make the shortlist with such a high standard of nominations this year.”

The winners of the 2019 Golden Apple Awards will be announced during a glitzy ceremony at Energus, Lillyhall on Friday 4^th October.