Penryn College is celebrating the achievements of several of its students who have all succeeded in obtaining an Arts Award with special mention going to Cora Griffin who received the school’s first gold award.

In total 25 students have achieved their award after moderation, thanks in part to Debbie Stokes who has been working alongside the school’s creative arts department to oversee the pupils and their projects.

There are three levels of Arts Awards - bronze, gold and silver. To achieve bronze, a level one national qualification, pupils take part in an arts activity they enjoy, go to an arts event, research their arts inspiration and share their skills with others.

A silver Arts Award, a level two qualification, has two units – arts practice and arts leadership – and involves achieving an arts challenge, reviewing arts events, researching artists and arts organisations, and delivering an arts leadership project with other people.

A gold Arts Award is the highest level at Level 3, and develops young people’s creativity, communication, planning, teamwork and leadership skills. The award is also recognised on the UCAS tariff, equating to 35 points. It also has two units – personal arts development and arts projects leadership.

At Penryn, 23 pupils achieved bronze, three were awarded silver and Cora, from Mylor Bridge, scored gold which staff say is “testament to an amazing amount of work she had to dedicate to her project.”

Mrs Stokes said: “A massive congratulations must go to all our students for all their hard work. The students that have achieved their awards have done above and beyond their normal day’s work in the classroom.

“All work has been done independently and for some this has been an opportunity to escalate their personal challenges from bronze to silver and for Cora a massive gold of which is A Level standard.

“This is a wonderful way for students to develop the skill of communication, the ability to build a portfolio of work with evidence to support their challenge set, giving them an insight to what it might be like for college life later on.

“I feel humble and extremely privileged to work with the calibre of students seeking to achieve the award.”