Penzance student Alfie Brown has been presented with an award for child and health and social care BTEC learner of the year.

Alfie, from Penwith College, was up against students from 60 countries and wowed the judges with his drive and ambition to be a paramedic.

He has managed to gain challenging practical work, becoming a qualified RNLI lifeguard and covid vaccination advocate.

Alfie said: “I can’t believe I have won this award. I am so grateful to all of my family and my teaching staff for their amazing support. I feel really proud of myself for following the goal I have always wanted to achieve – even though at times it felt difficult to try new things, I persevered, and I am so happy I got into university to finally study to be a paramedic.”

Katie Maggs, deputy team leader at Penwith College said: “This award means so much to all the staff, students, and parents. Alfie is just one of a multitude of success stories we have here each year at Truro and Penwith College.

“Gaining beneficial practical skills in diverse and varied work placements also supports the students within their higher education, employment positions and their university personal statements.” Twenty award winners won prizes in categories including health and social care, engineering, music, esports and creative media, each selected from thousands – and often tens of thousands – of eligible students.