Success stories

Madeley Academy

There is nothing like learning by doing
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Creative and Media Studio School

The Creative and Media Studio School (CMSS) opened in 2010, the first of its kind anywhere in the country.
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Pembrokeshire College

Shortlisted for the 2011-12 Edge Sponsored AoC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching & Learning
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Walsall College

In a performance industry, where the majority of employment is based on freelance work and short term contracts, opportunities for work placement as “performers” is exceptionally limited.
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Exeter College - Winners of the 2011 Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning.

Exeter College - Winners of the 2011 Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award
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Shortlisted for the Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching and Learning 2010/11

Realistic Working Projects
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Exciting work on Business and Enterprise taking place at the Bulwell Academy

Exciting work on Business and Enterprise taking place at the Bulwell Academy
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Winners of the 2011 Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching And Learning

The College recognised a student demand for opportunities to develop advanced costume making skills so this combined with an analysis of existing HE costume provision revealed a demand for a higher level practical course in costume construction at foundation degree level.
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Walsall College

Walsall College is “uniquely and proudly vocational”, delivering industry-focused qualifications to individuals, communities and businesses across the Black Country.
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World Skills & The IKEA Challenge

Students at the South Leeds Academy are contributing to their qualifications and learning about product, design and marketing through a practical, employer-run scheme.
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Rural Studies at Thomas Alleyne's High School, Uttoxeter

The Rural and Environmental Science department at Thomas Alleynes High School is an example of successful practical teaching, using experienced staff to teach students in specialist facilities.
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Construction Design Centre, Sheffield

The Construction Design Centre, based on Kier Sheffield’s site, gives young people access to some of the leading names in the city’s construction industry.
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Health & Social Care - Thomas Alleyne's High School Uttoxeter

Students at the school studying for a Double Award A-level in Health and Social Care benefit from specialist teachers and work placement opportunities.
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Sheffield Engineering Centre

Students aged 14-16 study for engineering qualifications at Sheffield Engineering Centre, in the middle of the city's engineering heartland.
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Creative & Media Diploma Sheffield

Sheffield students studying for Diplomas in Creative & Media or IT are taking advantage of cutting edge technology facilities at Red Tape Central.
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Gable Hall Hairdressing

Pupils from Gable Hall receive training from experienced professionals and benefit from industry experience as part of their VRQ in Ladies Hairdressing.
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Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School Practical Learning through ASDAN

Through the educational charity, ASDAN, students have gained valuable career knowledge, insight into the world of work and opportunities to practice and develop their employability skills.
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Future First at William Ellis School

Future First is a grassroots initiative working to empower young people who are at or have recently studied at a state school.
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Vocational Education At Oasis Academy West Winteringham

In order to maximise Work Experience, the Oasis Academy, Wintringham, have, for the first time, personalised work experience.
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BTEC National and First Engineering Christ The King Sixth Form College

The Engineering department has seen a massive rise in achievement (higher grades, great retention, and top ALIS and ALPS scores), since the race car project was announced 18 months ago.
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Advanced Modern Apprenticeships Schemes at Dyke House school

A winner of the Medium-to-Large Business Award at the 2006 Edge Awards, Dyke House school runs an Advanced Modern Apprenticeships scheme, training apprentices in ICT as technicians.
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Gloucestershire College Media Academy

The Media Academy at Gloucestershire College forms part of the Creative Academies directorate in Gloucestershire’s largest further education college which has a growing reputation for excellence in the delivery of a vast range of vocational courses.
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Foundation Diploma in Environment and Land-Based Studies at Acle High School, Norfolk

The Easton College Consortium is an unusual collaboration that spans the entire county of Norfolk and delivers the Diploma in Environment and Land-Based Studies.
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West Cheshire College Vocational Academy of Hospitality and Catering

Winners of the Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching And Learning.
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Launceston College, Cornwall

The College is an 11-18 comprehensive school in north Cornwall which can trace its roots back over 600 years.
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Working Rite - an enterprise seed fund from Edge and the Young Foundation

Working Rite aims to build young people’s practical experience by setting up 6-month work placements with local self-employed tradesmen.
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Creative Apprenticeships at the Royal Opera House

The world famous Royal Opera House is committed to a new approach to getting talented young people started in the creative and cultural industries.
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John Hurt CBE

John Hurt CBE, famous for films such as The Elephant Man and The Naked Civil Servant, nominated by The Grimsby Institute in recognition of his stellar acting career.
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Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Cabinet Minister and Chairman of the Conservative Party, nominated by Kirklees College for her success in public life, both as a lawyer and a politician.
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Adeem Younis

21st Century matchmaker Adeem Younis nominated by Wakefield College, for his can-do attitude and entrepreneurial spirit. Adeem, 30, graduated from Wakefield College with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design in 1999.
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Stewart Milne CBE

Construction group founder Stewart Milne CBE nominated by Aberdeen College, as an outstanding, positive role model for today's students.
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Paul Burgess

Paul Burgess, head groundsman for Spanish football club Real Madrid, nominated by Myerscough College, as a credit to his college and for his inspirational achievements in the sportsturf industry.
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Janine Cooper

How work experience in a dental technology lab inspired one student to make it her career, combining paid work with a part-time BTEC
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Laura Morrow

An apprenticeship in systems administration was an investment not just for Laura Morrow’s career but for the whole company, as she now plans a future in a managerial role
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Ed Campbell-White

Now a successful tree surgeon, Ed Campbell-White had to start again with practical qualifications after realising an academic degree didn’t get him where he wanted to be
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Tracey Gill

Practical qualifications in childcare enrich an already successful career in the field, enabling one community worker to go on to help young people learn practically too
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Carly Cook

BTEC performing arts student Carly Cook on why she abandoned A-levels for a more practical course
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Adam Pierson

Now an award-winning chef, Adam Peirson began with a prestigious apprenticeship at Claridge’s, where he still works
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Lee Blower

Lee Blower’s childhood interest in construction survived scathing treatment at school, flourished during the course of a three-year apprenticeship and has won him international awards and a thriving business
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Chris Brown

Winner of an Outstanding Practical Learner Edge award in 2007, Chris is an apprentice in the strength and durability department at Land Rover in Solihull. He got high grades in his A-levels but chose not to go into further education and decided an apprenticeship was the best route
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Katie Watson

Katie Watson was awarded a Bronze medal at this year’s WorldSkills event in Calgary. Working in a selection of different restaurants, bars, and hotels Katie built an extensive range of knowledge, skills and experience and brought home a medal to prove it
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Luke Denby

Luke Denby dreams of running his own small landscaping business. He sailed through the squad selection for WorldSkills and received a Medallion for Excellence for his efforts
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Conrad Kaad

Vehicle Repair & Paint student Conrad Kaad did not let deafness hold him back when he started learning to renovate and re-spray cars in the College of North West London’s Faculty of Technology
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Ben Saunders

One of the world’s youngest polar explorers – also an Edge mentor – says practical learning and mentoring gave him the confidence to succeed
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Alasdair Craig

Edge Award-winning diamond setting apprentice on how a practical apprenticeship gave him faith in education and paved the way for university
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