York school wins prestigious award at the 2022 BTEC awards

The remarkable accomplishments of York’s Archbishop Holgate’s School were celebrated today as it was awarded the prestigious BTEC Award for School of the Year 2022 at the BTEC Awards. 

With approximately 300 pupils in every year, the school is one of the largest in York. However, its teachers, pupils and everyone associated at the school didn’t let quantity come at the expense of quality.  

BTEC Learners at Archbishop Holgate’s School are spoilt for choice when it comes to the experience opportunities their school offers. This year alone Applied Law students have gone to the court, Engineering learners have done work at Northumbria University, Protective Services students have spent a week with the Army, and Media and Travel students were even lucky enough to go to Disneyland Paris! 

However, it wasn’t just what Archbishop Holgate’s does for its pupils outside the classroom that wowed the judges. The school’s ability to bring BTECs to life in the classroom was equally outstanding. Each member of BTEC staff within its academy regularly demonstrated how passionate they are about the qualification they teach, and the learners they are responsible for. 

Archbishop Holgate’s fantastic pastoral and extra-curricular framework also contributed to its win. The school has an ethos and character that is consistently and convincingly built around a set of core values – justice, compassion, forgiveness and trust – which run at the heart of everything the school does. 

Andrew Daly, Head of Archbishop Holgate’s said of their school’s win: “I and everyone associated with Archbishop Holgate’s could not be more delighted with being named BTECs School of the Year. I know only too well all the work that the pupils, the governors, parents, the teachers and all the other staff members have put in day in day out to make our school one that is a truly special place to learn. And to see that recognised by one of our biggest stakeholders makes all of us so incredibly proud.” 

Freya Thomas Monk, Senior Vice President for Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said: “After two long years spent giving and receiving lessons behind a computer screen, through face masks, or socially distanced, 2022 has been a whirlwind for everyone involved in education. Considering this, it makes the inspiring achievements documented in Archbishop Holgate’s submission all the more impressive. The hard work and commitment its teachers, learners and everyone associated with it have demonstrated is extraordinary, and I am proud we were able to celebrate them all through this year’s set of Awards.”     

Twenty award winners won prizes in categories including Health and Social Care, Engineering, Music, Esports and Creative Media, each selected from thousands – and often tens of thousands – of eligible students. 

Hundreds of thousands of learners across the globe have completed BTEC courses over the past year. The career-focused qualifications are a vital route for those pursuing careers in sectors such as IT, business, the creative industries, healthcare, engineering, construction and future industries.