On Thursday 12th June 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Enrichment Awards Evening — a highlight of the New College Bradford Awards Calendar. This inspiring event was held at the University of Bradford and recognises students who exemplify what it means to be GREAT learners, celebrating their dedication to personal development, academic achievement, and the growth of their cultural capital.
The evening shone a spotlight on students who have actively engaged with enrichment opportunities — both within their subjects and through wider extra-curricular and cultural experiences. For our Year 12 students, we hope the event serves as inspiration to continue embracing enrichment throughout their time at New College Bradford and beyond. For Year 13, it was a well-deserved celebration of their achievements and a chance to reflect on everything they’ve accomplished over the past two years.
A very special part of the evening was the inaugural presentation of the Phoebe Laycock Award for Performing Arts. In March this year, we were heartbroken by the passing of Phoebe Laycock, a Year 12 student whose exceptional warmth, creativity and spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Phoebe’s passion and talent in the performing arts were nothing short of inspirational, and she brought energy, light, and kindness into every space she entered.
To honour Phoebe’s remarkable contribution to college life, we were deeply moved to introduce a new annual award in her memory. The Phoebe Laycock Award for Performing Arts will be presented each year to a student who demonstrates excellence, creativity, and commitment in the performing arts — a tribute to the legacy of a student who continues to inspire us all.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success — from our dedicated staff and student ambassadors, to the University of Bradford, and of course, our wonderful students and their families. We would like to extend special thanks to our Guests of Honour:
- Mr and Mrs Laycock, parents of Phoebe, whose presence made the first presentation of the Phoebe Laycock Award for Performing Arts especially meaningful.
- Sidiq Ali, Vice Chair of the New College Bradford Advisory Board,
- Taibah Akhtar, our alumni ambassador and former NCB sport student, now studying sport at university and aspiring to become a teacher,
The evening was a powerful celebration of the talent, resilience, and ambition that defines our college community.
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See the full gallery of photos on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/ncpontefract/W9Z8ne4c09
