Essential facts on Accrington and Rossendale College.

SCHOOL MOTTO: 'Release Your Potential,' which is a great message to both young and old. Accrington and Rossendale College is all about giving people the opportunities to get the best out of themselves and the best out of life.

HISTORY LESSON: Accrington College opened in 1953 and Rossendale College in 1956. They merged in 1973. In 1993 the college was taken out of local authority control and funded by central government. Last year we celebrated our 25th year of specialising in A-levels and our 10-year anniversary of offering Higher Education degree programmes.

OUT AND ABOUT: In addition to our main Rawtenstall and Accrington centres we use dozens of community venues so that we can offer opportunities throughout Rossendale, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. We run learning programmes in schools, libraries, mosques and many other places so that people can feel comfortable in familiar surroundings. We regularly organise overseas trips to France, Holland, the USA and Germany and run a highly successful overseas programme which attracts students from Russia, China, Thailand and beyond.

HOW MANY STUDENTS: We have more than 20,000 students per year, ages range from 14 to 95.

SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT: We were recently the only college in the UK to be awarded Centre of Vocational Excellence status in Construction training.

ABOUT THE PARENTS: With our younger students we encourage parental involvement from the earliest possible opportunity. When students enrol we ensure parents are kept informed of their progress, have the opportunity to talk to tutors and are fully aware of any problems.

STAR PUPILS: Far too many to mention in a small article, but many have gone on to become household names and picked up awards including: a Bafta, the Egon Ronay Chief of The Year, the Whitbread Literary Prize and the European Champion's League and Premiership trophies. Performing Arts graduates include: Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street), Dominic Brunt (Emmerdale) and Mina Anwar (The Thin Blue Line).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH £100,000: We have a constant battle to keep up-to-date with all aspects of Information and Communications Technology and so we would use it to keep up with industry standard kit for students and staff.