THE art and design department at St Mary’s College is celebrating university offers from top art departments. There has been an unprecedented rise in offers from Manchester Metropolitan University, for its prestigious art and design course.

Four St Mary’s students, Ella Blackmore (ex-St Augustine’s), Henry Mills (ex-Bowland), Cecily Astin (ex-St Augustine’s) and Katy Edwards (ex-West Craven) have all received offers for Manchester Metropolitan’s foundation course.

University offers are also well up on last year, with particular success for A-level graphic design students.

Abbie Riley (ex-Pleckgate) has received offers from both UCLan and Blackburn for a BA (Hons) in graphic design and illustration.

Daniyal Aywan (ex-Witton) has an offer from Manchester Metropolitan for architecture.

Matthew Eccleston (ex-St Augustine’s) has received and offer from Edge Hill University. Emma Ashton (ex-St Christopher’s) has received an offer from Manchester Metropolitan University for graphic design. Haider Assi (ex-Pleckgate) has received an offer from UCLan for Interior Design and Kayleigh Burton (ex-St Augustine’s) has received offers from Leeds University, Loughborough University and Reading University for graphic communication.