WEST College Scotland has won two first prizes at a ceremony regarded as the Oscars of Scottish further education.

It was named Innovative College 2017, and also triumphed in the Health-Promoting College category in the College Development Network awards.

The Innovative College prize was accepted by Gordon Murray, college qualified leader in science and humanities, and Sharon Gardiner, head of social sciences, science and sport.

It recognises the college’s work in developing teachers through the Access to Primary Education programme, which provides students with specialised training.

Sharon said: “The programme has not just been truly innovative, it has also been hugely successful and is a really important win for the college. The vast majority of students who have undertaken it have gone on to complete their studies at university.”

Joe Rafferty, head of organisational development and human resources, said he was thrilled to accept the Health-Promoting College award.

He said: “We have worked extremely hard to connect our health promotion activities with the needs of our college community.

“Our activities involve different aspects of health and wellbeing, not just fitness and periodic health campaigns.

“We have been running a resilience-based programme this year which has included training in stress awareness, mindfulness and mental health awareness, as well as providing flu vaccinations on campus, and one of our boldest moves was to make the college an entirely no-smoking institution.”