ANOTHER fantastic year of success at Foxes Academy was celebrated at an emotional graduation awards ceremony.

More than 350 students, family, friends and staff gathered at Butlin’s to recognise the achievements of individuals and teams.

Nigel Way MBE, owner of the Luttrell Arms in Dunster, was this year’s guest speaker.

Foxes leaver Amy Clayson will be employed at the hotel from September in the housekeeping department.

The ceremony opened with a video of the choir performing Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ with learners singing and dancing around Minehead’s hotspots.

A Foxavision Drama Club production of ‘Fairytales Have Talent’ followed.

Foxes’ ex-learner Olivia Watkins, who graduated in 2013, gave an inspiring presentation about her own life since leaving the Academy.

She has used the skills she learned while at Foxes to live independently, and get two jobs – one at a primary school and in a university catering team.

Olivia has also won a prestigious Learning Life Skills Individual Award.

Awards and graduation certificates were presented to the third year leaders by Mr Way and directors Sue Jenkins and Maureen Tyler-Moore MBE.

Tanya Korrison was awarded Best Newcomer, Molly Cregg won the award for Personal Achievement in NVQ Hospitality and Catering, Daniel Weston the Catering to Cooking and Charlie Riley won the Transition Award.

Sarah Merriman, Claudia Booth and Liam Grant were all awarded the Outstanding Learner Awards.

Director Maureen Tyler-Moore MBE reminded parents about the huge challenges that young adults face when planning their further education.

She spoke about attending the ‘Right Not A Fight’ campaign outside Parliament.

Maureen added: “Learners with disabilities deserve the choice to attend the college that enables them to reach their full potential.”

After the awards ceremony, a seasidethemed ball was held.

Sharon Bowden, principal said: “I am immensely proud of our learners’ success.

“The most important thing is the difference we make to young people in all areas of their lives through our personalised learning programmes.

“The individual success stories speak for themselves, and they provide huge inspiration for all of us.”