Amy Mitchell was given the award for health and social care in the World Skills competition. The 17-year-old is a student at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, where she is part of the Skill Squad, a group of students who go above and beyond the usual requirements of their vocational courses.
The principle and chief executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme College, Karen Dobson, spoke about Amy's achievements, saying:
"We're immensely proud of Amy's success in the skills competition, especially as this is the first time Amy has competed at a regional level.
“Amy's success highlights the high quality of teaching provided at Newcastle-under-Lyme College. We work hard to provide students with the practical and academic skills needed to succeed in their chosen profession.”
Amy was awarded with the gold medal as part of a celebratory ceremony. She was also given a certificate which had been produced by a printing company in Stoke-on-Trent. Speaking about her achievement, she said:
“I'm delighted to have won the regional competition; I've worked extremely hard during my course as I'm determined to have a successful career in Care. Winning a regional competition like this will set me apart when applying for jobs.”
Stoke-on-Trent is home to a number of schools and colleges with students who would be eligible to win a medal next year. The success enjoyed by Amy may well spur on other students to follow in her footsteps.