Sixth form students celebrate achievements with virtual awards evening

Jack Stileman - Student of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Building Maintenance. — Jack Stileman – Student of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Building Maintenance Award

Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) celebrated the success of the school and sixth form learners with a virtual Annual Awards Evening this week.

PVC provides hands-on opportunities in different areas of construction, including plastering, building maintenance and brickwork.

At the virtual ceremony, all students received their BTEC qualifications, with some gaining special awards in particular trades.

Tutors from the St.Paul’s Road centre in Preston visited winners prior to the event to offer words of congratulations and present them with their trophies.

Their names were only revealed on social media during the evening, with a Twitter build up during the day replicating the excitement of the yearly event online.

Rob Wakefield, Chief Executive of Community Gateway Assocation, PVC’s parent body said: “Congratulations to each of the students for achieving such fantastic results. You should be proud of everything you have achieved. Well done to the team at PVC for their hard work and success year after year.

“As our charitable subsidiary, PVC is transforming the lives of local young people and adults within the heart of our communities, which reflects our overriding mission here at CGA.”

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Centre manager Martin Grayston added: “I would like to congratulate all our students who have worked so hard this year and gained a recognised qualification, even though the last term was cut short by the pandemic.

“It was great to see so many of our young people gaining new skills, see their confidence grow and watch them progress onto an apprenticeship, job or further training. This is the most rewarding part of my job.

“I am proud of every one of them as I am my team who work hard to support everyone who comes through our door.”

His words were echoed by Julie Bather, Chair of the Board who sent her best wishes for those starting out their construction journeys.

Preston Vocational Centre works with many local schools in the area. Peter Higham, headteacher at Great Arley School, said: “Congratulations to all the award winners at PVC for your hard work this year.

“PVC has provided an excellent opportunity for you to gain not only the skills and knowledge but also the values and attitude needed to be successful in your chosen area. You have done exceptionally well to win an award from PVC and I wish you all the best for the future.”

See all of the 2019-20 student winners below:

Gabe Watson – Outstanding Achievement in Joinery and Carpentry
Matthew Shaw – Outstanding Achievement in Plumbing
Dylan Lawrenson – Outstanding Achievement in Brickwork
Peter Hodgkinson – Volunteer of the Year
Hannah Pattison – Most Improved Student
Evan O’Higgins – Outstanding Achievement in Plastering
Callum McLean – Best All Round Ability, and Outstanding Achievement in Painting and Decorating
Jack Stileman – Student of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Building Maintenance Award

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