College shortlisted for national Social Mobility award

Birkenhead Sixth Form College has been shortlisted for yet another national award – this time to recognise the College’s commitment to social mobility and supporting young people from all communities to have the best chances in life.

The Sixth Form College Association (SFCA) has named the College in the top three for the SFCA Social Mobility Award 2018, celebrating strategies and initiatives put into place to enhance the opportunities afforded to those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances.

"It’s not about taking one disadvantaged child into selective education to ‘better their chances’; it’s about making sure that everyone is on an even playing field to start with"

Mike Kilbride, Principal

At the heart of the College’s ethos is that a commitment from students and staff alike towards purposeful hard work, positivity and ambition means that any young person can succeed in fulfilling or even bettering their potential, no matter their starting point. This mentality and work ethic has seen students achieve the best results in Wirral, and in the top 10% nationally, in terms of the progress they make from their GCSE attainment level.

In a statement, the SFCA said: “The SFCA Annual Awards initiative represents an important opportunity to identify, celebrate and showcase exceptional practice across the dedicated sixth form sector. We have been surprised and delighted by the number and quality of entries we received this year. There is clearly an enormous range of good practice in colleges, and so many examples of hard work, creative thinking and shared endeavor, which are making a real and sustainable difference to the lives of young people.

“To identify a ‘top 3’ in each category, when faced with such an array of success stories was not easy… SFCA is delighted to notify you that your entry for the social mobility award particularly impressed the judges and is in the top 3 for that category.”

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike Kilbride, said: “To be shortlisted for this award means a great deal to the College. Social Mobility is synonymous with what we stand for and is a key focus in everything that we do. We firmly believe in giving every young person the chance to be successful, no matter where they come from.

“The Wirral is a highly selective area for education, and children as young as 11 have their schooling defined by their performance in a one-off exam. This College is the antidote to that. Whether you come from a state school, grammar school or private school, we will offer the same opportunities for you to reach your true potential and we believe in your ability to work hard to achieve that. That is what Social Mobility is, and that is why it means so much. It’s not about taking one disadvantaged child into selective education to ‘better their chances’; it’s about making sure that everyone is on an even playing field to start with.”

Mike concluded: “The SFCA Social Mobility Award shortlisting is certainly recognition for the staff at the College and the tremendous work they do, day in, day out, but it’s also a fitting tribute to the commitment and effort of our students, whose achievements are down to their personal endeavour, and we are immensely proud of them.”