A former The Sixth Form Bolton student has been shortlisted as a regional finalist in the T Level Student of the Year category at the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2026, recognising her outstanding achievements in education, early years practice and personal resilience.
Mariam Yousaf, a former student of Smithills School, successfully completed her Education and Early Years T Level at The Sixth Form Bolton in August and is now celebrating national recognition after being named a finalist in the North West regional awards.
The National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards celebrate exceptional apprentices, T Level students, employers and skills champions from across the country. Mariam will attend the North West Regional Apprenticeship and Skills Awards Ceremony at Manchester Hall, Manchester, on Thursday 1 October 2026, where regional winners will be announced. The event will begin with a welcome reception at 11.15am, followed by the awards ceremony at 12.00pm and a celebratory lunch.
Throughout her studies, Mariam demonstrated a remarkable commitment to her future career in children's nursing while balancing her academic studies with employment in nursery settings to support her progression to university.
During her industry placements, Mariam worked across two nursery settings, caring for children aged 0 to 5 and taking responsibility as a key person for ten children. Her contribution included supporting children's development and school readiness, monitoring progress, building strong relationships with families and supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Despite facing the unexpected closure of one of her placements, Mariam showed exceptional resilience by supporting staff, children and families through the transition before independently securing a new placement, where she quickly established herself as a valued member of the team.
Her dedication and professionalism led to offers of paid employment from both nursery settings, with employers praising her natural ability to work with young children and her positive impact on the wider team.
Mariam said:
"I am incredibly proud to have been shortlisted as a regional finalist. My T Level has given me the confidence, skills and experience to pursue my dream of becoming a children's nurse. The placements challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, develop professionally and make a real difference to children's lives. Being recognised in this way means a great deal to me and I'm grateful for all the support I've received from my tutors and placement providers."
Fiona Ainsworth, Education and Early Years T Level teacher at The Sixth Form Bolton, said:
"Mariam has been an exceptional student throughout her T Level journey. She consistently went above and beyond in her placements and demonstrated outstanding professionalism, compassion and resilience. The way she responded to the closure of her placement showed real maturity and determination. She is a fantastic ambassador for T Levels and technical education, and this recognition is thoroughly deserved. We are incredibly proud of everything she has achieved."
The Sixth Form Bolton wishes Mariam every success at the regional awards ceremony and congratulates her on reaching the finalist stage.
Being shortlisted from a highly competitive field is a significant achievement in itself and reflects the hard work, commitment and excellence Mariam has demonstrated throughout her studies and industry placements.
Regional finalists will gather at Manchester Hall on 1 October to celebrate skills excellence from across the North West, with winners progressing to the national stage. Whatever the outcome, being shortlisted represents a major achievement and is testament to Mariam's talent, determination and positive impact within the early years sector.
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