As the academic year draws to a close, our campuses have come alive with a vibrant mix of celebration and recognition. From end-of-year award ceremonies honouring outstanding achievements to creative student exhibitions, the final weeks have showcased the talent, dedication, and community spirit that define our college.

We’ve rounded up some of our standout moments below.

Public & Professional Industries Awards

Last week, students from our Sports, Oxford United Football Programme, Public and Uniformed Services received recognition for their hard work over the past year. The evening began with an inspiring talk from Rose Kent, a deaf Futsal player who made the England Deaf Women's Football Team. Students were celebrated for their achievements, with a special award presented in each class.

Hair & Beauty Awards

This special evening brought together all our learners from across our Hairdressing, Barbering, Beauty & Aesthetics courses. The evening began with a stunning violin solo by one of the students, Betsie, setting the tone for a night of recognition and celebration. Students were celebrated for their achievements, with a special Student of the Year award presented for each class.

Land Based Industries Awards

Last week, we also celebrated this year's student achievements across Land Based Industries at our Common Leys Farm Campus, joined by Helen Hitchman, who shared her inspiring journey to Head of Education at Cotswold Wildlife Park. The evening celebrated the level of dedication and professionalism our students at Common Leys have shown this year, rewarding everything from perfect attendance to 700+ hours of work experience.

Art, Design and Homecrafts Exhibitions

At the end of June, our talented adult learners wowed the community at our annual OAL Arts & Homecrafts Exhibition in Abingdon town centre. The exhibition showcased an inspiring range of work created by learners on our Oxfordshire Adult Learning courses — from Print Making, Painting, and Ceramics to Floristry, Glass Fusion, Photography, Singing, and so much more. The event was a true celebration of creativity, skill, and personal achievement and it was wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying the work on display.

Full-time students at our campuses also held end-of-year exhibitions, Echo in Witney and Threshold in Abingdon, showcasing the incredible creativity of our students in Art & Design and Creative Industries. The events were open to the public to come and have a look around and discover the next generation of creative talent.

T Level Computing Exhibition

Last week saw the T Level Computing Year 2 Exhibition, held in the Advanced Skills Centre in Abingdon, where students had a chance to showcase their final year projects. It was a great opportunity for staff and parents to have a look and ask questions, before voting for their favourite project. The students enjoyed sharing their passions, explaining what they had developed, its uses and scope for future development.

Various projects ranging from PC games and social media platforms to redesigning a local pub’s online booking system. The winner was Poppy who designed an online portal for T-Level students to track their work experience — a very useful and practical project, congratulations Poppy!

Congratulations to all our amazing learners and staff who made the year so memorable! See more about our end of year celebrations below.