National Social Mobility Award Shortlisting for College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s commitment to achieving social mobility through academic excellence has once again been recognised with a shortlisting for a national award.

Social mobility charity upReach helps disadvantaged students from across the UK realise their potential and ensure successful Higher Education and career paths. Their annual Student Social Mobility Awards has shortlisted the College for the Aspire School of the Year Award for 2022, making the finalist position from more than 250 nominations.

The awards ceremony will now take place at the House of Lords on 21st July 2022, where both institutions and students themselves are celebrated for their achievements in making progression to university and the top graduate jobs possible for those from less advantaged backgrounds.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College has a long history of levelling the playing field and ensuring inclusivity, with our students joining us from over 60 different high schools across all regions of Wirral, Merseyside and Cheshire West.

The College has already won three acclaimed national and regional awards for social mobility in the last three years from the Sixth Form Colleges Association, TES (formerly the Times Education Supplement) and Educate North Awards, with the College being labelled ‘an engine of social mobility’.

Around 90% of our students go onto university each year, with many being the first generation in their family to do so, while others secure highly competitive apprenticeship and employment opportunities.

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike Kilbride, said: “Our students continue to accomplish remarkable achievements every year, no matter their background. Our job is to make sure that everyone has opportunities to excel. We have an entire range of programmes to enforce this and open up avenues for those that simply would not have the option at other institutions, and we’re extremely proud of that.”

Mike continued: “We work closely with a number of universities and their schemes to help to garner a more diverse and inclusive student body, with students taking part in workshops, mentoring and networking before moving onto Higher Education, and our students take full advantage of every availability, such is their work ethic and commitment to success.

“We’re extremely pleased to be shortlisted for the upReach Award, largely because it recognises the College as a whole, staff and students, and the rich ethos of social mobility that runs through it.”