BIRKENHEAD Sixth Form College has been recognised for their commitment to providing the same opportunities for all their students with a national award.

More than 700 education leaders and staff gathered for the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards in London which is known of the 'Oscars of Further Education'.

After a three-stage assessment process Birkenhead Sixth Form College were handed the award for Social Mobility and Widening Participation, sponsored by the Skills and Education Group.

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College Mike Kilbride told the Globe: “Winning an award such as this is a huge honour, but at the same time, it simply reflects what our ethos and values instil in our students and staff every day.

“People from all walks of life can put limitations on themselves based on circumstances beyond their control.

"Our aim is to help students realise that those limitations are a myth, and that evidence proves that success is possible for everyone through meaningful hard work. There are not a chosen few who can achieve.

"We seek to raise the ambitions of our students, each and every day.

"It is extremely pleasing to be recognised as a national leader in social mobility as it is part and parcel of our DNA, and will continue to be so in order to best serve our community.”

The AoC award comes after the college was named ‘Sixth Form College of the Year’ last year at the TES Awards, and an Ofsted inspection declared that it was outstanding in all areas.

An AoC Beacon Awards statement said: “The college takes a radical approach, telling students from the outset that ‘there’s no such thing as talent and that success is a product of hard work’.

“The assessors noted the college’s ‘strategic approach to understanding the disadvantages and needs of students, and then providing them with a tailored experience to enable and empower learners to change the direction of their lives’.”