College gets royal award for English teaching

Hull College has been given a royal award for its work teaching English to speakers of other languages.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education was presented by the King and Queen at a ceremony at St James's Palace on Tuesday.

The college said the recognition was for its Silent Voices, Vivid Stories project "that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant learners to rebuild their lives through education".

The scheme includes translation tools as part of the learning process, including AI-powered online storytelling.

Tina Lynam, head of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the college, said the training was "about human connection, creativity, and empowerment".

"We are incredibly proud of our ESOL students, who bravely shared their journeys and identities through this powerful platform," she said.

"Winning this award shows the value of inclusive innovation - and the vital role storytelling plays in education and community."

The award is handed out every two years on the recommendation of the prime minister.

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