There was a real buzz in the air as students, staff, friends and families came together at the Whitley Bay Playhouse for one of the highlights of the college calendar – our End of Year Awards!
It was an afternoon full of fun, proud moments and plenty of smiles as we celebrated the incredible achievements, determination and success of students from across the college.
The awards aren’t simply about getting the highest grades. Every student recognised was nominated by staff who have seen first-hand the hard work, commitment, positive attitude and progress they’ve made throughout the year. Whether it was showing resilience through challenges, going above and beyond in the classroom or workshop, supporting others, or making a real difference to college life, every nomination told a unique and inspiring story.
This year, staff submitted more than 100 nominations – a fantastic reflection of the talent, dedication and hard work taking place across every corner of the college.
From there, our Senior Leadership Team had the incredibly difficult job of reviewing every nomination and selecting the final shortlisted students. It certainly wasn’t an easy decision, with so many outstanding nominations to choose from, but the process helped identify those recognised at this year’s ceremony. Every shortlisted student should feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved
The afternoon celebrated excellence across a range of categories, including:
- Outstanding Academic Achievement
- Attendance and Commitment Award
- Resilience Award
- Student Contribution Award
- Sport Academy Award
- Student of the Year Award
We also proudly presented our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Awards, recognising the people who help make our college a welcoming place where everyone feels respected, supported and able to be themselves. These special awards celebrate students and staff who champion fairness, embrace diversity and help create a community where everyone truly belongs.
Another well-deserved moment of recognition went to our fantastic Student Ambassadors. Throughout the year they’ve given up their time to support events, welcome new students, represent the college and help others—often behind the scenes and without expecting anything in return. It was wonderful to shine a spotlight on everything they do.
Our shortlisted students were joined by their families, friends and tutors, making every award presentation even more special.
Adding plenty of energy, humour and a touch of showbiz to the afternoon was our brilliant host, Ray Spencer MBE, who kept the audience entertained from start to finish and helped make the event one to remember.
Congratulations to every nominee, every shortlisted student and every award winner. You have all made an incredible contribution to college life this year, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Here’s to another fantastic year of achievement and celebrating the class of 2026!
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