Hopwood Hall College’s hair and beauty division has struck up a partnership with Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and local high schools to develop and implement a variety of progammes for 14- to 16-year-olds. One of its greatest accomplishments is the Young Apprenticeship Programme, which has had a 100 per cent success rate with all learners achieving five GCSEs, grades A-B.

Ford Inner Cities Cup, hosted by youth cricket charity The Lord’s Taverners, came to an exciting finish as Bradford took victory in the Grand Final at Arundel Castle Cricket Ground. Former England captain Mike Gatting was on hand to cheer on the eight teams.

More than 800 looked-after youngsters learned to love the written word at a literature festival hosted by Derbyshire County Council. The Big Book Bash, in its seventh year, attracts many top children’s authors.

South Cheshire College’s Equality and Diversity Competition winners - Alannah Curran, Jess Brooks, Michaela Warner and Marco Marques - were awarded prizes by Lee Smith, head of curriculum for humanities and applied social sciences.

A languages showcase at Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, near York, attracted some 600 pupils, including those at Poppleton Ousebank Primary. They were put through their French paces by Sergeant Major Mark Sullivan, a lecturer at York St John University, the event’s organiser.