Burnley College Sixth Form Centre students celebrate record-breaking achievements at glittering Awards for Excellence ceremony

Exceptional Burnley College Sixth Form Centre students who smashed their exams and achieved record-breaking results in A Levels and Advanced Vocational Courses have been honoured at the lavish annual Awards for Excellence ceremony.

The students celebrated their outstanding accomplishments with more than 170 family, friends, tutors and special guests who gathered at the glittering event hosted in the newly re-designed atrium at the College’s £110 million town centre campus.

The achievements come as students returned to formal exam conditions and saw Burnley College Sixth Form Centre mark a record-breaking year for success:

• 85% of A Level students achieving at least one high A* to C grade
• 60% of A Level students achieving at least one top A* to B grade
• 30% of A Level students achieving at least one exceptional A* or A grade
• A 100% pass rate in Advanced Vocational subjects for the 19^th consecutive year

It also saw double the number of A* and A grades in A Level examinations since 2019, the last year exams were held in formal conditions.

Burnley College Sixth Form Centre A Level Alumnus and previous Award for Excellence winner Oscar Duck was guest speaker. Oscar is now making his name nationally as an acclaimed and highly-skilled blacksmith creating masterpieces in his Ribble Valley forge after partnering to form Carter and Duck Blacksmiths.

Oscar travelled the world, including spending a year in New Zealand working with an expert blacksmith after excelling in his A Level studies at Burnley College, achieving A*A*AA, and now supports A Level students in Product Design alongside our tutors.

Entertainment was provided by students from our Creative Arts and Media Division who performed the captivating song Our Time from the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, a contemporary dance piece to the song Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake and the uplifting He Lives in You from The Lion King.

Guests of honour included the Leader of Burnley Council Afrasiab Anwar, Mayor of Burnley Cosima Towneley, Mayor’s Consort Henry Towneley, Mayor of Pendle Yasser Iqbal, Chair of the Governors David Meakin and Governor David Brown, Lancashire County Council Champion for Young People Scott Smith and Strategic Head of Economy and Growth at Burnley Council, Kate Ingram.

Burnley College Sixth Form Centre Principal Karen Buchanan said:

Burnley College Sixth Form Centre Performing Arts Students entertain the guests at the 2022 Awards for Excellence with their routine to He Lives in You from The Lion King.

It’s an important date in the calendar for the wider Burnley College family – tutors, support staff, families, friends and academic and civic leaders from around the region – to honour some truly inspirational students.

This year’s recipients have all shown exceptional levels of dedication, innovation and drive combined with a passion for their subjects: the Burnley College formula for success.

To hear from one of our exceptional alumni who has taken his qualifications and travelled the world following his dreams and inspiring others is truly moving.

Going forward, we wish each and every one of our Awards for Excellence recipients all the very best for the future – whether that is progression to degree study at a top university, a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship or their dream career in the industry of their choice.

Do you have the passion, the drive and the dedication to be an award winner at a college which delivers record breaking results? Burnley College is holding a series of Open Evenings where you can talk to expert tutors, explore the unrivalled facilities and speak to students and staff to find out what what’s so great about being a member of the Burnley College Family.

Book your place and learn more here: www.burnley.ac.uk/whats-on/events/