Selby College celebrates another year of Higher Education success

The sixth annual Selby College Higher Education Graduation was held in the magnificent surroundings of Selby Abbey on the afternoon of Friday 11th October.

Selby College’s Chair of Governors Richard Stiff, welcomed around 250 friends, family, teaching and support staff, governors and special guests to celebrate the achievements of the Higher Education students who successfully completed their studies this year on 12 programmes including Business, Computing, Education, Engineering, Hair & Beauty, Learning Support and Sport.

Special guests in attendance included the Mayor of Selby, Cllr Malik Rofidi and his wife Cllr Lisa Rofidi, who were joined by the Mayor of Snaith and Cowick, Cllr David Butterfield and his consort, as well as Selby District Council’s Cllr David Buckle and Dave Caulfield, Director of Economic Regeneration and Place.

Before the event guests enjoyed music from violinist Nadia Vkovs, followed by a performance by former student and Selby’s very own classically trained tenor, Jacob Walsh, who returned to the awards to perform songs from his repertoire.

It has been a fantastic year for Selby College’s Higher Education provision with more than 200 students on programmes in the past academic year, and the addition of even more new courses this coming academic year.

The College’s highly regarded and growing Higher Education course provision, across nine curriculum areas, now ranges from an Access to Higher Education programme in Health Science Professions, to our flourishing Higher National Diploma in Art & Design and also in General Engineering.

Selby College’s Higher Education provision is making an increasing impact on the Selby area, enabling the training and education of employees to higher levels locally, enabling businesses and the public sector to be more productive, to innovate and to grow.

Guest speaker Colin Johnson, Associate Dean, Student Experience for the Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Hull formally presented the certificates to the graduates, as well as three special awards for notable Effort & Achievement. The University of Huddersfield prize was awarded to Professional Graduate Certificate in Education student Katy Grafton, who made outstanding progress throughout her studies despite a range of challenging circumstances.

The Pearson prize went to Higher National Diploma in Business student Bethany Welford, who achieved straight distinctions throughout her HNC and HND, combined with working throughout the two-year course, and also achieving a promotion in her workplace.

Finally, the University of Hull prize went to BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Exercise Science student Adam Sawden who achieved a first class honours degree and demonstrated excellent academic skills throughout. He has now gone on to study for his PGCE at Selby College to become a teacher, and is working within the College’s Sports department, alongside a job at Tadcaster Grammar School as a teaching assistant four days a week.

Closing the Graduation event, Selby College Principal Phil Sayles said: “It has been fantastic to celebrate the achievements of the graduates amongst us today. We are proud to offer Higher Education courses that are technical and career-focused.”

He added: “In fact, from talking to our learners, I know that for many, if Selby College did not offer the higher education courses it does, they could not study to this level. I also know from meeting our Higher Education students that our staff care, support and challenge them to succeed.

“Our students are dedicated and work hard, they are resilient and intelligent – and are the next generation of contributors to life in Selby – congratulations to them all.”

Selby College will return to Selby Abbey to celebrate the Further Education student successes of the past year at a special Awards Ceremony on Monday 16th December.