Bedford College bosses celebrated ten great years at a special evening to mark rising standards.

The event last Thursday recognised individual triumphs as well as general changes which have been seen at the Cauldwell Street campus since 1997.

In the last decade the college has trebled its student numbers and
doubled pass rates, culminating in being granted the British Quality
Foundation Five-Star Status For Excellence this year.

Ian Pryce, chief executive and principal, said 2007 in particular "has been an exceptional, record-breaking year. I do not believe any other college in the UK can match our achievements".

Landmarks included:
** Record numbers of full-time 16 to 18-year-old students
** A sixth form ten times the size of a typical school
** Adult student recruitment ahead of targets
** Record Higher Education recruitment
** A best-ever audit and teaching reports
** Top-performing finances, one of the highest among FE colleges.

The evening also marked the retirement of Mervyn Weedon as chairman of
governors while Philip Feeney was named outstanding student of the year.

He won a gold medal in the UK Skills Challenge film production class when he created his own television channel, Vagabond TV, which focuses on music and extreme sports.

Phil also now has his how website www.philfeeney.com and is studying moving images at Ravensbourne College Of Design And Communication in Kent.