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History of the Awards
The national Keith Fletcher Memorial Prize has long been synonymous with honouring the outstanding achievements of Access to HE students.
The prize is named in memory of Keith Fletcher, who worked for many years in the South West of England and was a great supporter and enthusiast of adult learning. His family continues to support this award which is run by all nine Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) across England and Wales. The judging panel is drawn from across all participating AVAs.
Nominations are taken from each AVA and the winners and runners up in each category are invited to a special presentation event at the House of Commons. Each of the winners and runners up receive a certificate and a monetary prize to help them with their future study.
For 2024-25 the successful students were:
Outstanding Academic Achievement Winners
Winner:
Catherine Hennessy
“I am absolutely thrilled to have received the Keith Fletcher Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. Returning to education as an adult has been hugely rewarding yet challenging, so it means a great deal to have my hard work recognised in this way and feels especially encouraging. I am now pursuing a long-held ambition to study for a Master’s Degree in the History of Art, something I never imagined would be possible just a few years ago. My Access to Higher Education Diploma with City Lit gave me the skills, confidence and encouragement to continue with academic study, and to receive this Award is testament to how transformative that experience has been.” - Catherine Hennessy
Highly Commended:
Jake Anderton
“I am really pleased to have been named runner-up for the Keith Fletcher Memorial Award. It is a great honour to be recognised alongside so many talented and hardworking people, and I am incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement I have received along the way. The Award represents dedication, passion, and high standards within the industry, and it means a lot to be acknowledged in this way. While I am proud of this achievement, it also motivates me to keep learning, improving, and pushing myself further. I would like to thank the judges, organisers, colleagues, as well as everyone who has supported me throughout this journey such as my tutors from my Access to Higher Education Course. This is an achievement I am immensely proud of, and I am excited for my next journey.” - Jake Anderton
Outstanding Commitment to Study
Winner:
Name withheld at the recipient’s request – The Growth Company learner at Ascentis.
“I am incredibly honoured and delighted to receive the prestigious Keith Fletcher Memorial Award. This achievement marks a significant moment in my educational journey, and to have my efforts recognised in this way is truly humbling and motivating.”
Highly Commended:
Amy Bartlett
“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected as a recipient of the Keith Fletcher Memorial Award, particularly given the challenges I have faced in having to return to full-time education following my cancer diagnosis at a young age.
The Access to Higher Education Course helped me regain my confidence and overcome my anxiety in returning to an educational environment, and engaging with people my own age again. Despite my reduced energy levels and mobility challenges, I still got involved with all aspects of the Course, and I was so pleased to graduate with Distinctions. The Access to Higher Education Course was the perfect springboard for me to build the confidence I needed to then go on to study Zoology at University.
I feel a great sense of pride that my commitment to education has been recognised, and it will undoubtedly encourage me to continue to do well in my future studies.” - Amy Bartlett
