Hillcroft College is delighted to announce that one of their Access students has recently been awarded Best Learner at the House of Lords.
The Committee of South London Principals held their annual Best Learner Awards on 22nd May at the House of Lords and the winner of the award for Hillcroft College was Access to Higher Education student, Sheila Doherty.
Sheila says: “In the past I made the mistake of taking on too many advanced courses such as starting an Open University Degree course and a high level secretarial course without having the necessary study skills. I thought it would be a quick way to gain valuable qualifications and it would help me to obtain interesting employment. After trying to do the advanced courses with little success I became more or less housebound because of depression and other illnesses and a weight problem. I did some basic home study courses to help me get back into learning but with a little success. I heard about Hillcroft College and I thought I should try and go out and learn with other people in a residential environment. It was a real effort for me to come to Hillcroft College, but I am glad I did.”
The awards are organised by the Committee of South London Principals (COSLP), one of the strongest groups of its kind in the country. The Principals work together to share good practice and to improve what is on offer for post 16 and adult learners across the boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton. COSLP is currently chaired by Dr Nick Sinnamon, Principal of Kingston College.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Lord Tope and the invited audience of parents and supporters, politicians, employers and Learning and Skills Council representatives celebrated the learners’ success in the impressive surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords.