BISHOP Burton College, near Beverley, has been named the best in the country at a national awards ceremony.

The college, which specialises in agriculture, animal management, equine studies and sport, was named Outstanding College of the Year at the BTEC awards in London.

Jeanette Dawson, chief executive and principal, said: “Ensuring our students are given the platform to follow their dreams and fulfill their potential is the priority of everyone here at Bishop Burton College and I’m incredibly proud that we have been recognised as BTEC College of the Year.”

Judges were impressed by the commitment of all staff – 97 per cent of students secure employment or go on to a higher level of study within six months of completing their course.

Steph McGovern, BBC television presenter and journalist, announced the winners at the Royal Horticultural Halls, in London, following a lunch reception in Parliament with MPs.

Richard Atkins, the Government’s Further Education Commissioner, presented Bishop Burton with the Outstanding College of the Year award.

Bishop Burton is a Centre of Vocational Excellence for agriculture and equine and has its own 360-hectare mixed use farm where students build up their skills and knowledge.

They also work on cutting-edge research projects in the dedicated Centre of Agricultural Innovation (CAI), in partnership with NFU Mutual, and benefit from links with industry partners, including Agrii, which provide them with further routes into employment at the end of their studies.