Brilliant Bethany earns reward

Former Oldham College and North Chadderton School pupil Bethany Bilton receives her award after being named Apprentice of the Year

A FORMER North Chadderton School pupil who missed two years of classes through leukaemia has won a national award.

Bethany Bilton was named Apprentice of the Year at the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) annual awards.

The 21 year old, from Royton, was diagnosed in 2006 and had to leave the Chadderton Hall Road school for five months of lifesaving treatment at Pendlebury Children’s Hospital.

After the all clear, she returned home and had private tuition organised by the school to catch up.

Despite missing two of her most important years at school, Bethany achieved A to C grades in her GCSEs, went on to do a BTEC and CILEx units at Oldham College and was crowned Student of the Year at the National Employability Skills Awards.

Bethany will complete her legal services apprenticeship with Manchester law firm Addleshaw Goddard later this year.

She has already volunteered to become an apprenticeship ambassador and said: “I am very proud to have won this award and I am really thankful for all the support I have received from my colleagues during my apprenticeship.