Creative students scoop prize

Julian Appleyard, College Principal, presents the prize to Lauren Carey and Paula Lyons

Two students at Rochdale Sixth Form College have double cause for celebration after entering a competition to create a piece of work that summed up life at the College.  Not only did Paula Lyons and Lauren Carey scoop the main prize of £250 gig vouchers with their rap and video presentation, but the College was so impressed with the quality of the piece that it will now be used to give potential students an insight into A level studies at the institution.

The ‘What Rochdale Sixth Form College Means to Me’ competition was open to all year 12 and 13 students and asked them to use any creative medium – be it a piece of art, dance, drama, song or even a short story, to communicate all the things that they like best about their College.

Paula Lyons, aged 18, a former student of Heywood Community School, and Lauren Carey, 17, a previous student at Middleton Technology College, were delighted with their win. 

Paula, who is currently studying Drama & Theatre Studies, Media Studies and Psychology and hopes to go on to do Drama at at Leeds Metropolitan University, said:  “We were keen to show off all the things we love about the College, and make something that was exciting as we’ve found our College life so far.”

Lauren, who is taking A levels in Drama & Theatre Studies, English Literature and Law, and also hopes to win a place to study Drama, added:  “We wanted to communicate as much as we could about what it’s like to be a student at the College, so as well as bringing our experiences to life, we also spoke to – and filmed – lots of our friends.  We were thrilled with the finished video and really excited to have won.”

The video will now be used to help potential new students get a rounded view of College life.

A special runners-up prize of £50 gig vouchers was also presented to Year 12 students Kaireen McDonald and Lena Kheroua, who visualised their interpretation of College life as a dance.  Choreographed to show the fun and inspirational side of A level studies, the girls created a high quality performance that was filmed and woven into an impressive video presentation.

Julian Appleyard, College Principal, who was involved with the judging process, said:  “The standard of entries was outstanding, but Paula and Lauren’s rap, and the supporting video, was simply fantastic and highly original. 

"They are very deserving winners and I’m sure their enthusiasm for the College will inspire many potential students, while giving them the inside track on what College life is all about.”