Former students who were among the first cohort to enroll at Coleg Cambria’s Deeside Sixth Form Centre gathered yesterday to mark a significant milestone as the institution celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The £14.6 million facility, which first opened its doors in September 2016 and was formally inaugurated by First Minister Carwyn Jones, has become a cornerstone of post-16 education provision in Flintshire.
Over the past decade, the centre has supported hundreds of young people in progressing toward higher education, degree-level apprenticeships and skilled employment opportunities.
Alumni have gained admission to leading universities throughout the United Kingdom and secured positions in competitive professional fields.
Nathan Hall, who hails from Holywell, completed Advanced Level qualifications in Business, Law and French at the centre.
He subsequently obtained a solicitor degree apprenticeship position with the international law firm Ashurst Perkins Coie.
In his current role training as a solicitor while finishing his law degree, Hall has acknowledged the institution’s role in exposing him to alternative career pathways beyond the conventional university route.
He cited the independence and trust extended to students as factors that facilitated a smoother transition following sixth form studies.
The trajectory of Dr Ellie Moore demonstrates the transformative potential of educational intervention.
After departing school at 16 and entering employment, she enrolled at Deeside Sixth Form to study A Levels, harbouring reservations about her academic capabilities.
She has since been awarded a doctorate by Loughborough University.
According to her account, the college experience rebuilt her self-assurance and fundamentally altered her perception of what she could accomplish.
She has stated that the right support and mentorship can enable individuals to achieve remarkable outcomes.
Louise Barnard, who now serves as a resident medical practitioner within the National Health Service, pursued Medicine at Newcastle University.
She has observed that the college equipped her with the independence and self-belief necessary for navigating one of the most challenging undergraduate programmes available in the country.
Alice Cleave currently holds the position of Engagement and Learning Officer at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden.
She has described her arrival at the centre as a formative experience that encouraged greater autonomy.
She credited the teaching staff with igniting her enthusiasm for politics and providing sustained encouragement during and after her studies.
Tom Billington, another former learner, graduated with honours in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University in New Jersey, representing another notable achievement within the institution’s expanding alumni network.
Matthew Barnes, who now serves as Assistant Press Officer at New Scotland Yard for the Metropolitan Police, began his communications career in Westminster.
He has maintained that the centre’s approach to teaching provided him with the academic competencies required for university success and fostered greater belief in his own capabilities, which subsequently shaped his professional direction.
Jonathon Dawes, recognized nationally for his accomplishments in tennis and youth politics, identified Deeside Sixth Form as the origin of his ambitions.
He has explained that the college encouraged him to pursue higher education when alternative possibilities seemed more probable, nurturing his sporting interests while bolstering his confidence.
A significant number of former students have returned to share their experiences with current learners, establishing a tradition of mentorship that has emerged as a distinguishing characteristic of the college during its first decade of operation.
Mim Riddell, who leads Deeside Sixth as Assistant Principal for Academic Studies at Coleg Cambria, emphasised that the anniversary commemorated individual achievements rather than merely the physical structure.
She noted that over the preceding ten years, former students had progressed to leading universities, obtained distinguished apprenticeships, launched successful careers and generated meaningful impact across their respective fields.
She expressed pride in the entire staff body’s contribution to these outcomes.
According to Riddell, former learners now serve in roles including healthcare provision, policy development, community protection, academic research, business leadership, charitable work and educational inspiration.
She stated that collectively, they make a substantial contribution to society and the economy, with their journeys commencing from the moment they first enrolled at the institution.
Riddell also conveyed optimism regarding the centre’s future prospects, indicating that each successive September brings new cohorts carrying aspirations and potential, and that staff anticipate witnessing continued development over the coming decade.