STUDENTS from Foxes Academy graduated into TV stars at the college's annual awards ceremony.

This year the event was filmed as the finale to a Channel 5 series called ‘A Very Special Hotel’ which will hit TV screens this autumn.

More than 350 students, family, friends and staff gathered at the Crazy Horse venue in Butlins for an emotional graduation awards ceremony.

Principal, Tracey Clare-Grey said: “Graduation is always an inspiring and emotional event. After training at Foxes Hotel our third year leavers move on to get a job in hospitality and live independently. Therefore our passion is to inspire these young people to go into the world with skills, confidence and a passion to succeed.

"I think our results speak for themselves, 75% of leavers in 2014 entered employment. When you consider that nationally only 6.8%* of people with a learning disability are in any form of paid employment that is an achievement we are very proud of.”

The VIP guest speaker was Matt Carr, Executive Chef of the University of West of England. He oversees 13 outlets spread across Bristol in 3 campuses servicing around 6,000 customers per day.

He explained how he had wanted to be a chef from an early age, trained under the guidance of Albert Roux and was proud to work in an industry which adapts to include people of all disabilities.

Sophie Morris, who graduated in 2014, gave an inspiring presentation about her own life since leaving the Academy. She has used the skills learned while at Foxes to live independently and work in three part-time jobs including helping at a lunch club where she lives near Exeter.

Matt Carr and Foxes’ Directors Sue Jenkins and Maureen Tyler-Moore MBE presented most of the awards and the graduation certificates to the 3rd year leavers. Best Newcomer went to Katie Brennan, Personal Achievement in NVQ Hospitality and Catering went to Mickaela Robinson - with the accolade being presented by Kirstie Donnelly, UK Managing Director of City and Guilds, Catering and Cooking to Firielle Alju’beh and Transition to Jack Hale. The top three Outstanding Learner Awards were given to Archie Donovan, Calum Kilburn and Ashleigh Callaway respectively.