College Strikes Gold Twice !!
John Wheatley College has, this week, received the ultimate accolade
by supporting TWO Gold Award Winners at the Scottish Qualifications
Authority (SQA) Annual Awards 2004.
The first of these Awards, ‘Candidate of the Year –
College’, was presented to Robert Blyth, a student at the
College who was nominated by his tutors as a prime example of
what can be achieved through hard work and the building of self-confidence.
 Robert
first came to the College as a reluctant learner from Lochend
Community Secondary (which won SQA’s Centre of the Year
Award in 2003) and, through the school/college partnership Youthstart
programme, began his learning career in Hospitality & Catering.
With the support of the School and College staff, and through
his own efforts, he has now progressed to an NQ in Professional
Cookery, acquiring a wide range of core, vocational and social
skills along the way. Robert is now set for a future career in
the industry and truly deserves his award.
At the Awards ceremony, Robert was accompanied by his mother,
Elizabeth, grandfather, Robert and Fiona Reid, Senior Lecturer
in Hospitality & Catering, pictured here. Also there to witness
the proud moment was Drew Murray, Robert’s tutor.
The second Gold Award was presented to the Greater Easterhouse
Learning Network (GELN) as Partnership of the Year, the category
which SQA themselves described as ‘the most competitive’.
Originally set up by John Wheatley College in conjunction with
Greater Easterhouse Social Inclusion Partnership, GELN has created
and supported a network of 15 Learning Centres scattered throughout
the Greater Easterhouse Community, linked through technology.
These well-resourced centres create local access to the latest
computer equipment for residents who, as ‘digitally excluded’
individuals, would not have had this opportunity at a community
level.
The project continues to boost technological skills in the community
and significantly improve the communication skills of its residents.
The GELN is a broad-based partnership which has brought together
a range of community groups and resources in a ‘joined-up’
approach to the delivery of learning services and everyone who
has been involved, at any level, is to be commended.
The project was originally part-funded through European Social
Funding and it highlights the crucial role these resources have
played in the development and regeneration of Scotland’s
communities.
GELN has also benefited from funding through the New Opportunities
Fund and Glasgow City Council.
Although several organisations were honoured with two awards,
John Wheatley College was the only organisation to be presented
with two Gold Awards. As the College heads for an HMIE inspection
early in 2005, these awards can only reinforce confidence in the
quality and direction of the College in delivering its ethos.
Ian Graham, Principal of John Wheatley College, said,
“The College heartily congratulates Robert, the Learning
Network and everyone who has been involved in both significant
achievements – we are very proud to have played our part.
This accolade is, however, also testament to the hard work and
commitment of the College’s staff in ensuring that our students
and our community are supported and encouraged to achieve their
full potential. These awards symbolise a success for every one
of us.”
for more information, contact:
Lesley Lang - Marketing Manager
tel: 0141 588 1500
email: llang@jwheatley.co.uk
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