Tutors and students from Birmingham Conservatoire are heading to Soweto, Johannesburg in South Africa this week to perform with a group of children they have been teaching virtually over the last 18 months. The visit comes as a climax to the collaborative project, Cape Gate MIAGI Centre for Music & Birmingham Conservatoire – or ARCO, which is also the name for the technique of playing a stringed instrument with a bow.

A-level students are not the only ones celebrating their success at the moment, as many students on vocational courses are also receiving their results and certificates. BTEC Level 3 Students at Walsall College have achieved outstanding results with high levels receiving distinctions and merits. Walsall College’s courses have been designed with significant input from employers to ensure students graduate with the skills and knowledge to give them a head start in the workplace or prepare them for university.

The Coleshill School have had another record breaking year for their A Level and Vocational Diploma students, with 40% of examination entries being achieved at A*-B grades. This is the highest total in the school’s recent history and a further increase on last year’s results. These fantastic results are a reflection of the dedication of their students and staff. The strength of these results will mean the students are well placed to go on and achieve their ambitions.

Adults looking to get back into work, change career or get a promotion by going back into education, but have been held back by their finances, can now apply for an advanced learning loan to help with the cost of their course fees at Walsall College. A new scheme now allows any UK resident aged 19 or older and looking to enrol on a level 3 course or above, including QCF Certificates and Diplomas and Access to HE courses, to access funding.

Four of the first cohort of students on Walsall College’s Level 6 BSc Computing course are celebrating after graduating with first class honours degrees! The college, which has offered a range of Access to HE, HNC and HND courses for a number of years, started offering full degree level courses, in Fashion, Photography and Graphic Design for the first time in its history in 2014, after forming a partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU). Business and Computing programmes were introduced last year.

The very best in Asian apprentices will be celebrated at a gala event in November that will be the first of its kind. Apprentices from all over the country and their employers will get the chance to compete for 22 different awards. There is also an opportunity for businesses and organisations with an interest in training to become partners and a range of sponsorship options are available.