4 June 2018

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Three Penwortham Priory Academy students have won prestigious awards from Preston’s College as they celebrated excellence in 14-16 vocational learning.
 
The college’s annual awards were sponsored by the Eric Wright Group and were held at Preston North End with a trio of Priory students taking home prizes.
 
Year 11 Chloe has been attending Preston’s College every Wednesday for catering and she won an employability award as well as a catering award to go with the Innovation Award for Catering she won last year.
 
“It’s helped me find my future career,” said Chloe. “I wanted to try a vocational course and one of the options was catering and I have found a love for cooking. I love baking cakes and icing them and want to do a BTEC in Catering when I finish at Priory.”
 
Fellow Year 11 Amy won the Extended Work-Ready Programme award in Hair & Beauty  and a self-development award.
 
“My mum is a hairdresser and I have always wanted to do something with hair and beauty so this has been great for me. I could have done a more academic subject but I knew what I wanted to do in the future and so this has helped me meet people, make contacts and develop my skills. It’s helped me find my career path.”
 
Year 10 Katie wants to be a nursery nurse so the childcare option was perfect for her - and she won the Innovation Award in Childcare.
 
“I love working with children, I babysit a lot, and I have always wanted to be a nursery nurse so this vocational course was perfect for me. To win an award builds up your confidence and I have really enjoyed it.”
 
The Work Ready Programme gives young people the chance to gain industry-specific skills to help them to progress into further study or an apprenticeship upon completion.
 
Priory’s Mrs Holland, who co-ordinated the pupils’ courses with Preston’s College, added: “We are so proud of all the girls. Going to Preston’s College every Wednesday gives them an alternative curriculum. It allows them to try out something they are interested in and all the girls have done really well.”
 
The awards are for young learners who have demonstrated an understanding of innovation, self-development and employability, and were chosen from schools across the county who attend the college.