ALMOST 200 school pupils were honoured for their success in vocational studies at West College Scotland in Greenock.

Run in partnership with local schools, the programme offers youngsters the opportunity to study courses such as computer gaming, child care, sport, engineering and construction at college as part of their options.

The afternoon of celebration at the Finnart Street campus recognised the achievements of the pupils from Port Glasgow High, Inverclyde Academy, Clydeview Academy, St Stephen’s High, St Columba’s High and Notre Dame High.

College young learning officer, Sandra Gardiner, said it was a great success, with certificates of achievement being presented by Rose Brown, director of student services.

Sandra said: “In addition to the certificate presentation, we asked the lecturers to nominate a prize-winner from each class who they felt deserved special recognition for personal positive attitude, commitment and effort.” Also receiving certificates were students who completed the ‘energy and the individual’ course through the Skills for Work programme.

Delivered in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, this pilot course was designed to provide pupils with an insight into renewable energy, giving them the opportunity to investigate how much energy they use annually and how they can change their lifestyles to reduce it. Presenting the pupils’ certificates was Gordon Cunningham of Skills Development Scotland.

Lecturer Robert Shields said: “The pupils got the opportunity to interact with some of the lecturers at our Paisley campus who currently teach the green deal advisor course, and were given a tour of the renewable energy systems that are currently in place at the Paisley Campus.” The Attitude, Commitment and Effort prizewinners were: Construction — Ross Gray, Port Glasgow High; construction — Nathan Collins, Port Glasgow High; Auto Engineering — Mark Anderson, Inverclyde Academy; Engineering Technological Studies — Graham Rodgers, Clydeview Academy; NPA Hairdressing — Nadine Bowie, Clydeview Academy; NPA Beauty — Chiara Hope, Inverclyde Academy; Computer Games Development — Steven Shearer, Inverclyde Academy; Higher Psychology — Sian Waddell, St Stephen’s High.

The S4 Award winners were: Engineering — Andrew Morton, Inverclyde Academy; Engineering: Dean McDiarmid, Inverclyde Academy; Sport — Janie Mulgrew, Inverclyde Academy; Early Education in Child Care — Abbey Nicholson, St Columba’s High; Construction — Aiden McClumpha, Inverclyde Academy; Hairdressing — Morgan Boyd, Port Glasgow High.