Spanning 24 categories, the Pearson BTEC Awards were hosted by financial journalist and TV Presenter Steph McGovern. They showcase the fantastic effort made by students to gain recognised qualifications which are heavily in demand from employers and universities.

The ceremony was attended by the winners, their families and teachers as well as leading representatives from education and business. An expert panel of 52 judges carefully considered each nominee before deciding upon a winner.

Members of Parliament and celebrities were also present at the event alongside the winners and judges to hear the students’ success stories and present them with their Awards. Double Olympic Gold medallist and BTEC Ambassador Max Whitlock presented the Award for BTEC School of the Year 2019 and shared with Steph McGovern his experiences competing as one of the world’s elite sportsmen, the importance of teamwork, and his goals for Tokyo 2020.

Also performing on the day were the four winners of the Showstopper Challenge, groups from schools and colleges offering BTECs in the performing arts: Deanery High School, D16 Performing Arts College, Jackie Palmer Academy and Bury College.

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson in the UK, said: “All of those that won this year deserve huge congratulations and stand every chance of continuing that success into the careers they are now ready to start. This year’s awards are a fantastic celebration of them, alongside the schools, colleges, universities, training providers, and employers who have underpinned their efforts. But I also want to congratulate every single one of the hundreds of thousands of students who will be awarded a BTEC qualification this year. All of them now have the confidence that they have earned a qualification which is recognised by employers small and large, by universities across Britain and around the world.”

Notes to Editors

Pearson has overseen BTEC qualifications for over 30 years. Employers know that a BTEC qualification will mean candidates are career-ready, and have the knowledge and practical skills to make a contribution from day one in the workplace. BTEC’s applied, vocational qualifications continue to be respected as a valuable route straight into employment, and are also accepted by all but one of Britain’s universities as a route into employment via higher education.

In a recent poll, Pearson has found that two thirds of medium sized businesses have hired BTEC graduates in the last five years, and over a quarter of students going on to university do so with a BTEC. An overwhelming majority of employers and young people want to keep their options open at 16, and gain a blend of academic and practical skills which the BTEC offers.

About Pearson

Pearson is the world’s learning company with more than 24,000 employees operating in 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. For more visit www.pearson.com. All below to be updated.

The final judging panel comprised of:

• Cindy Rampersaud: Senior Vice President, BTEC and Apprenticeships, Pearson
• Vanessa Wright, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, UK Schools, Pearson
• Manos Kapterian, Chief Operating Officer, Core and Growth Markets, Pearson
• Derek Richardson: Vice President, Responsible Officer Quality Services & Governance, Pearson
• Macgregor Williams, Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Asia Pacific, Pearson
• Andrew Phillips, Managing Director, Europe and Africa, Pearson
• Tommy Robinson, BTEC Teacher of the Year 2018 and Head of Performing Arts, John Madejski Academy
• Shane Mann: Managing Director, Lsect Ltd - publisher of Schools Week & FE Week

The 2019 winning students were:

• BTEC Art and Design Student of the Year: Francesca Horn, East Surrey College, UK
• BTEC Business and Enterprise Student of the Year: Ttanya Sachdev, Braeburn International School Arusha, Tanzania
• BTEC Child and Social Care Student of the Year: Teanna Maguire, Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College, UK 
• BTEC Construction Student of the Year: Kasra Soltani, Croydon College, UK
• BTEC Creative Media Student of the Year: Sam Pope, The Bath Studio School, UK
• BTEC Engineering Student of the Year: Ryan Kimber, Isle of Wight College, UK
• BTEC Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Student of the Year: Luke Bearpark, Exeter College, UK
• BTEC Land-based Student of the Year: Chloe Rochester, Bishop Burton College, UK
• BTEC Music Student of the Year: Katie Cherry, Holmer Green Secondary School, UK
• BTEC Performing Arts Student of the Year: Millie Davey, Scarborough TEC, UK
• BTEC Public Services Student of the Year: Ryan Jolly, East Surrey College, UK
• BTEC Science Student of the Year: Abbie Densham, Exeter College, UK
• BTEC Sport Student of the Year: Dominika Bzdon, Nelson and Colne College, UK 
• BTEC Apprentice 16-18 of the Year: Connor Coupland, Leeds College of Building, UK
• BTEC Apprentice 19+ of the Year: Christopher Meredith, Leeds College of Building, UK
• BTEC School of the Year: Milton Abbey School, UK
• BTEC College of the Year: Sunderland College, UK 
• BTEC Teacher of the Year: Shalini Rajan, The Winchester School, Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates
• BTEC Tutor of the Year: Gwyn Williams, Abingdon and Witney College, UK

BTEC Students of the Year 2019: 

• Josephine Kiaga, Braeburn International School Arusha, Tanzania
• Christopher Meredith, Leeds College of Building, UK