SOUTH Cheshire students proved top of the class in a county-wide awards night.

Five foundation degree students from South Cheshire College scooped first prizes in the Cheshire HE Consortium Awards.

The consortium is made up of Mid-Cheshire College, Macclesfield College and South Cheshire College, in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, and promotes higher education opportunities across the region.

Alison Salim was crowned overall Student of the Year, while other top curriculum awards were given to South Cheshire College students who have excelled in different courses.

They included Jason Bloor in creative industries, Paula Bancroft in education, Liam Morris in engineering and Livia Mutsa Sengwayo in travel and tourism management.

There were also commended awards for Oliver Dean in business management and computing, Neil Stockdale in education and Ben Elliot in sports and public and community services.

Student of the Year Alison, 37, completed her two-year teaching and learning support (teaching assistants) foundation degree programme in 2011/12 at South Cheshire College, and received a £1,000 bursary towards her ongoing studies as a prize.

The mother-of-two said: “I’ve never felt so confident in my life, and this award has made it all worthwhile. I’d recommend the foundation degree course to anyone, and it has been a huge help to me.

“I used to work in a post office, but this course has given me a new lease of life and has helped me to get a job as a teaching assistant in a school.”

Suzanne Wainwright, vice- principal for skills, HE and business development at South Cheshire College, said: “We are thrilled with so many student successes’ this year across a good cross-section of our foundation degree programmes.

“All our students have worked enormously hard to achieve these awards, and it’s pleasing to see so many of them being recognised by the consortium.”