A LITTLE older than the usual graduates but this group have made history as the first Higher Education graduands to complete degrees at the Adult and Higher Education Division of Peter Symonds College.

The 14 graduands have shown that the adage ‘Lifelong Learning’ can apply and can make a difference. The students, who between them achieved seven first class honours, five 2:1’s and two 2:2’s.

The group of 12 Bachelor of Arts and two Foundation Degree students had their degrees conferred by the college principal, Neil Hopkins, at the inaugural Graduation Ceremony held at the Hospital of St Cross.

All of the degrees conferred, both Bachelor of Arts and Foundation, were in counselling and were validated by Middlesex University.

Also graduating with Diplomas in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS), validated by Greenwich University, were five PGCE students; two further students received their Professional Certificate in Education (PCE).

Graduate Jonathan Trubshaw said: “I am so pleased, chuffed even, to have been part of this historical event.  On behalf of the whole group I would like to thank all the course teachers and everyone at ACE who helped us to get here. We are indebted to you all.”

Alexandra Day, director of Adult & Higher Education at Peter Symonds, said: “We were delighted to have been able to host a graduation ceremony for our first ever group of graduands. The ceremony at St Cross was a very special event and a wonderful way for the college and family members to acknowledge the incredible successes of these students.  We are immensely proud of them all.”

She added: “The development of this, our first higher education qualification, came about both as a result of a very successful Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and the concern that adult funding for it would be cut. The counselling team approached  a local university about converting the diploma into a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling and after much drafting and redrafting our first home grown HE qualification was approved.”

GRADUANDS
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Humanistic Transactional Analysis Counselling:
First Class Theresa Mitchell, Jonathan Trubshaw, Emma Turrell;
2:1 Samantha Barnes, Alison Butler, Christine Costidell;
2:2 Jane Dixey.

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Humanistic & Integrative Counselling:
First Class Alice King, Tania Hall, Sharon Kreschmer, Denise Mein;
2:1 Carla Hale, John Harnett;
2:2 Wendy Haskell.

Foundation Degree - Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional
Analysis:
Passed with Distinction - Jonathan Blease and Joanne Brooks.

Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) -
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE):
Fiona Dicks, Sarah Grierson, Maria Lloyd-Critchley, Annett Neubauer,
Robert Seymour.

Professional Certificate in Education (PCE): Roma Field, Malcolm
Harvey.