We are pleased to announce that at the end of the academic year, our fantastic English Department won the Sixth Form College Association (SFCA) Award for Inspiring Teaching.
The award celebrates the department's innovative approach to teaching and learning, which combines evidence-informed practice with a culture of high expectations, collaboration and enrichment. Students benefit from a wide range of opportunities including academic conferences, visiting speakers, wider reading, mentoring programmes and cultural experiences, ensuring they develop not only excellent academic outcomes but also a lifelong love of English.
The judges also recognised the department's exceptional impact on student achievement. In 2025, English Literature A-level achieved the highest value-added results of any sixth form college in the North of England, while English Language and Literature A-level recorded the highest value-added results nationally. The department has also transformed outcomes for GCSE English resit students, with 87% achieving a grade 4 or above in 2025, which far exceeds the national average.
Alongside their success in the classroom, the department plays a leading role in supporting teaching excellence across the college and beyond, with staff mentoring colleagues, leading professional development and sharing their expertise through regional and national education networks.
Head of English, Sarah Birkett said:"The ceremony was fantastic - I was over the moon when they announced the English Department had won! It's a real accolade for the outstanding teachers in our department and a testament to their talent, skill and hard work."
Congratulations to the entire English Department on this fantastic national achievement.
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