A massive congratulations goes to students Simon and Dylan, who have both been named runners up in the Association of College’s (AoC) Student of the Year Awards today.

Both impressed judges in the national awards, each making it to the final two in their respective categories.

Redcar and Cleveland College’s Simon, who is runner-up in the Higher Education Student of the Year category, said: “It’s amazing to have made it this far.”

Finalist for the Adult Student of the Year title, former Bede Sixth Form College student Dylan, said: “I am really proud of myself, being second in the whole country is such an achievement.”

SIMON

Redcar granddad Simon overcame his childhood fears of the classroom to retrain at Redcar and Cleveland College.

Keen to work for the NHS, he embarked on an Access to Higher Education in Health course. Volunteering at The James Cook University Hospital in the midst of the pandemic, the 50-year-old proved his worth and was quickly offered a permanent job.

Now a healthcare assistant in critical care, Simon continues to build his skills, completing the Level 4 Cert HE in Health and Social Care at Redcar and Cleveland College and moving on the level 5 FdSc in Health, Wellbeing and Social Support.

Simon said: “The first time I came to the college, I was the quiet lad sat at the back of the class, just like school. But eventually I moved to the front of the class.”

DYLAN

Nominated for his amazing resilience in the face of life’s challenges, former Public Services student Dylan proved an inspiration to his classmates and teachers during his time at Bede.

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at 15, he has always remained determined to achieve his ambitions.

Hoping to one day join the police, he signed up to Bede’s Public Services course at 17.  He and his tutor set about building his strength and stamina, even posing a challenge of ultimately tackling the college’s climbing wall, a challenge he overcame.

Throughout the course, despite frequent hospital visits and treatment, Dylan’s determination remained, achieving all of his goals, even when, in a high-risk category as Covid struck, he had to shield for extensive periods at home.

Keen to help others, he has gone on to share his own experience, speaking at the Newcastle RVI.

In December 2020 Dylan finally got to ring the bell to mark the end of his treatment, he completed his studies at Bede the following summer and is now studying professional policing at CU Scarborough.

The AoC Student of the Year Awards recognise the outstanding and innovative practice provided by further education colleges and the achievement of their students.

Redcar and Cleveland College and Bede Sixth Form College are part of the Education Training Collective (Etc.).