Strode College in Street has made it into the finals for the Beacon Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning.

Strode is one of three colleges that will now be visited over the coming months to determine who will win the title of Excellence in Real World Learning, sponsored by the Edge Foundation.

The submission was based around the college's unique partnership with Historic England and the delivery of the Higher Apprenticeship in Historic Environment Advice Assistant.

The Association of Colleges' Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year.

This award is sponsored by Edge, the independent education charity dedicated to shaping the future of education to meet the demands of the 21st century global economy and ensure opportunity for all.

It celebrates colleges which have developed high quality practical teaching and learning approaches that give students experiences that are real, meaningful, challenging, stretching and life-changing.

Katy Quinn, Strode principal and CEO, said: "We already have a national reputation for excellence in academic learning and being selected as a finalist in the category of Excellence in Real World Learning is evidence of our growing national reputation as an outstanding provider for technical and vocational education too.

"I'm confident that when the judges visit us early in the new year they will be suitably impressed at the quality of what they see and the feedback from our students."

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: "This award showcases exactly why colleges are so important to every community and why people value them.

"Colleges are inspirational because the teaching delivered is accessible and students get to experience education in a relatable way.

"Having a curriculum that students can identify with is hugely important for developing skills that will be used long after they have left and gone onto the next stages in life."

The winners of the AoC Beacon Awards will be announced in the spring.