College is one of ‘best of the best’
9:25am Friday 25th July 2008
Students in Keighley have a lot to think about after their college was hailed as one of the "best of the best".
Creative thinking in science has been highlighted by national research as a strong point of Park Lane College Keighley.
Research consultant Pat Hood studied 400 colleges across the country which had won Assoc-iation of Colleges' (AOC) Beacon Awards.
Capabilities common to all winners were identified, including visionary leadership, collaboration, responsiveness, innovation and creativity.
The consultant then highlighted 36 of the colleges at a "Celebrating Colleges" ceremony hosted by politician David Blunkett at the House of Commons.
Park Lane College Keighley was recognised for creative science thinking and intellectual curiosity. The college's science teachers were said to have used the excitement and wonder of space to motivate learners, which led to led to increased take-up of science subjects.
Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb, chairman of the AOC Beacon Awards, welcomed the research.
She said: "It gives us the opportunity to formally celebrate colleges' achievements and their contribution to the further education system."