YORK College has been recognised for its contribution to the production of the York Mystery Plays.

The further education (FE) college was highly commended in the FE First Collaboration category at the recent FE First Conference, held in Warwick.

Liz Moon, head of marketing at York College, said: “Several divisions of the college worked alongside external agencies towards the success of the plays. Our involvement involved significant cross-college participation and gave our students a fantastic opportunity to get professional hands-on experience, from the building of Noah’s Ark by construction students and staff to the creation of the huge topiary animals for the Garden of Eden scene by the art, design and craft division, as well as media make-up students providing their services at every performance.

‘‘Members of staff and students performed and volunteered in the production and the entire project provided the college with a really wonderful opportunity to showcase student and staff talents.”

Liam Ford-Evans, community producer of the York Mystery Plays, said: “Hundreds of people from the college were involved, alongside 1,700 people from across the city.

‘‘Students and staff excelled within the briefs given to them by the Mystery Plays team and they played a very important part in the success of the plays.”