College Awarded Beacon Status (07/07/2008)

The College of West Anglia today became the first further education college in Norfolk or Cambridgeshire to receive Learning and Skills Beacon status. David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills, presented the award to Principal, David Pomfret, at a ceremony in Westminster.

Beacon status identifies and recognises the very best providers of the further education and skills sector and the college joins an elite group of just 28 colleges in the country to receive the award. It singles out excellence and innovation and celebrates outstanding performance in teaching and learning as well as leadership and management.

College Principal, David Pomfret, representatives from the Board of Governors and a small party of college staff and students travelled to London to receive the award from David Lammy at a special ceremony in Westminster. Mr Pomfret said: "This is an incredible honour for the College - both staff and students. The award is by invitation only - you can't just apply. To have been singled out at a national level as a beacon of excellence is fantastic for the college and the communities it serves. This public recognition will help us in our drive to increase participation in education and training for young people and adults."

In his speech, Mr Lammy praised the Beacons for doing a magnificent job in helping learners of all ages to achieve their full potential. He said: "I know how much effort and commitment it takes for colleges and providers to achieve such high levels of leadership, management and performance across the whole range of their activities. Beacon status is public recognition of that excellent performance."

Ainlee Rainers, a beauty therapy student from King's Lynn, accompanied Mr Pomfret and colleagues to the ceremony in London. Ainlee, who herself recently received a special achievement award from the college, said "I am thrilled to have been asked to go to London to represent the college at such an important event. I was nervous but I had a great time."

This award crowns a very significant year for the College of West Anglia. In February, Ofsted rated the college as outstanding, the first college of its kind in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire to receive this grade. The college's ambitious new building plans have also taken major steps forward. Deals were signed to secure the land for new campuses in King's Lynn and March while work on the redevelopment of the Cambridge campus at Milton is well underway.

Photo shows (from left to right): David Lammy MP and representatives from the College of West Anglia: David Pomfret (Principal), Sharon Cambridge (Vice Chair of Governors), Ainlee Rainers (Beauty Therapy Student), Trish Bailey (Head of Faculty fot Hair, Beauty and Hospitality), Andrew England (Head of Organisational Development), Peter Dixon (Chair of Governors).