College shortlisted for two Educate North Awards

Birkenhead Sixth Form College has made the final in two categories at the annual Educate North Awards, celebrating the best in Further and Higher Education in the North of England.

The full staff body has been recognised in the Teaching Excellence Award, celebrating the ethos and values that teachers and support staff all display in their work which helps students achieve their best. A Level and BTEC performance tables from January this year put the College in first and second place respectively in Wirral and Liverpool, continuing a table-topping trend of the last three years.

College Principal Mike Kilbride has also been nominated for the UK Leadership Award, after he has overseen a journey of transformation for the College over the ten years that he has been with us.

Last year’s Educate North Awards saw Birkenhead Sixth Form College taking home the Award for Social Mobility, noting that the College was an ‘engine of social mobility’ and ensures that all students have the same opportunities, no matter their starting point or background. In 2018, Educate North also awarded the College ‘Sixth Form of the Year’.

The gala awards ceremony 2020 takes place at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester on Thursday 23^rd April.

Vice Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Paula Blakemore, said: “The fact that the Teaching Excellence Award recognises all the staff is extremely pleasing, and vindicates all their hard work. Seeing students do so well is the ultimate prize but getting recognition from outside of the College is just that extra confirmation that they're doing their jobs so well.

“Teachers are often front and centre for this kind of celebration, and the results over the last few years speak for themselves about the teachers’ outstanding work, but the support staff are an absolutely crucial cog in the College machine and the teachers couldn’t perform to such a high standard without them.”

Paula continued: “Mike is fully deserving of his nomination for the leadership award too. I know that everyone at the College recognises that he has helped turn the ship around in the last decade, and once again, the award shortlisting acknowledges that our colleagues and peers in education appreciate his remarkable work. He’s been the architect behind the College values and work ethic that have been proven to be so successful.

“We’re extremely proud to be shortlisted for both awards amongst esteemed company.”