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Aspiration Award winners 2020

Aisha Aslam

Aisha Aslam won our Learner of the Year award in 2020. This category honours learners who are personally developing with our vocational qualifications and improving their lives.

This year’s well-deserved winner, Aisha, is a dedicated mother-of-five who has rediscovered her love of learning as an adult. Between her other responsibilities, Aisha completed a CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges, and a Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning, so she can pursue her new career as a Teaching Assistant. 

Read Aisha's story.

Elica Hale

Elica Hale won a Highly Commended award in our Learner of the Year category. Eighteen-year-old Elica gained a CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care at Halesowen College in the West Midlands. 

Read Elica's story.

Holly Bailey

Holly Bailey is the well-deserved winner of the 2020 Against All Odds Aspiration Award. This award is designed to recognise learners who have overcome difficult personal circumstances to succeed in their studies. We always receive a huge volume of applications for this award with many inspiring stories, so it’s very difficult to choose one winner. 

Holly is a fantastic example of an inspirational young learner who hasn’t let her sometimes complicated home life stop her achieving her goals. 

Read Holly's story.

Dawn Waite

Dawn Waite is this year’s Teacher of the Year Aspiration Award winner. This award honours educators who go over and above to support their learners. These educators may support a learner facing difficult circumstances; help learners overcome obstacles and surpass expectations; or deliver innovative, high-quality teaching that helps learners to achieve their career goals.  

This year’s winner, Dawn Waite from Halesowen College, has done all these things and more, wowing our judges to scoop the Teacher of the Year title.  

Read Dawn's story.

Stone Soup Academy

Stone Soup Academy won our Centre of the Year Award 2020. Historically, our Centre of the Year category was only open to schools and colleges. However, this year we opened the competition up to independent training providers to capture the range of phenomenal centres operating across the UK. The aim of this award is to recognise centres that go above and beyond to deliver an exceptional teaching experience to learners.   

Stone Soup Academy in Nottingham, an Alternative Provision Free School Academy for learners aged 11-18, impressed judges with its innovative approach to learner engagement. This approach helped young learners who had lost their way to turn their lives around.   

Read Stone Soup Academy's story.

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