Royal seal of approval for college

Feb 18 2008 By Tony Collins

A COLLEGE in Birmingham has been given the royal seal of approval.

Staff and former students from Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, in Highgate, were invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's Award for Higher and Further Education.

It was presented to college principal Lynne Morris and assistant principal Chris Hall by the Queen and Prince Philip in the palace ballroom.

Joseph Chamberlain is one of 20 universities and colleges across the UK to receive the royal prize, which is awarded every two years in recognition of outstanding work in supporting the country's reputation as a world-class provider of education.

Ms Morris, who collected the award from the Queen, said: "We received the award for our strategy of high student aspiration.

"It is so important to have high expectations of students and ensure that those who are capable of reaching the top universities do so.

"Joseph Chamberlain was the only sixth form college in the UK to be on the list of prize winners and it is particularly pleasing that a sixth form college was recognised for its outstanding contribution to education."

She added: "This is a testimony to the hard work of our staff and governors."