A coastal college has celebrated the achievements of students and staff as it signed off the 2022/23 academic year.

East Coast College hosted four nights of student awards as further education students from both its Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth campuses, apprentices, Lowestoft Sixth Form students and Access students celebrated.

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

With the students having demonstrated outstanding resilience, determination and progression, the celebration week also included an all-staff celebration, with awards presented to teachers, managers and support staff who have gone above and beyond.

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College staff awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College staff awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

The end of the academic year also saw the launch of the college’s annual review, setting out East Coast's progress over the past 12 months.

Lowestoft Journal: The East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeThe East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

The college has invested over £1.8m in new facilities to improve the learning experience for students, including the launch of a new Welding Academy in Great Yarmouth, as well as further developments in the new Civil Engineering Campus at Lound.

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

East Coast is also working jointly with Health Education England to offer higher level specialist health teaching facilities in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Lowestoft Journal: The audience at the East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeThe audience at the East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

East Coast College chief executive, Stuart Rimmer, said: "A huge credit to our students for such a successful year and an important vote of thanks to all staff who are tireless in their care and efforts.

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College chief executive Stuart Rimmer at the student awards. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College chief executive Stuart Rimmer at the student awards. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

"A stunning professional family with a focus on every one of our students being successful.

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College student awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

"We continue to be a college with so much to celebrate for ourselves and our community."

Lowestoft Journal: East Coast College staff awards 2023. Picture: East Coast CollegeEast Coast College staff awards 2023. Picture: East Coast College (Image: East Coast College)

Plans for the next academic year include the development of new curriculum in green and digital skills to respond to local demand, a new University Centre in Great Yarmouth, the total redevelopment of the college’s Great Yarmouth Campus in Suffolk Road, the Sizewell C Adult Skills Centre opening in Lowestoft with a renewed focus on delivering skills for adults, projects with the health sector and new Skills Bootcamps across engineering, health, and civil engineering.

To read the full East Coast College 2022/23 Annual Review, visit www.eastcoast.ac.uk/college-literature