Friends, family and lecturers fill Great Hall as Hopwood Hall College celebrates higher education success.
Hopwood Hall College honoured its higher education Class of 2025 with a ceremony celebrating academic achievement, perseverance, and ambition.
Graduates of all ages filled Rochdale Town Hall’s Great Hall in traditional caps and gowns, watched by proud family members, friends, and lecturers. Each graduate received a scroll recognising the completion of a university-level qualification, including Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs).
Among the highlights of the evening were inspiring keynote speeches from Warrington Wolves winger Matty Ashton, a former Hopwood Hall student, and Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK and Chair of the Middleton Mayoral Development Corporation. Ashton shared his personal journey from local student to England rugby international, urging graduates to “believe in what’s possible when you work hard.” Marley invoked the legacy of the Rochdale Pioneers and praised the graduates’ dedication to learning and their community.
Two graduates received special awards presented by Chair of the Corporation, Gary Buxton MBE. The Award for Academic Excellence went to Allan Doherty, 38, a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training graduate recognised for consistently outstanding work. Meanwhile, 39-year-old HTQ Computing graduate Ragiba Mayilova was honoured with the Award for Remarkable Achievement and Dedication for her enthusiastic approach to every challenge.
Julia Heap, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College, applauded the graduates, many of whom have already secured employment or progressed to further study. “They are shining examples of how you can stay local and still go far,” she said. “We’re proud to offer the kind of higher education that changes lives here in Rochdale.”
The event also spotlighted a growing trend: expanding educational pathways in Rochdale. Hopwood Hall College now offers full Bachelor degrees, including a new BSc in Zoo Science and Wildlife Conservation launched in partnership with The Open University. The course enrolled its first students this September.
This upward trajectory for local higher education coincides with Rochdale’s wider investment in early years development. The government recently confirmed a £1.31 million funding boost for the borough through the national Start for Life programme. The initiative aims to support families with children from pregnancy to age two, focusing on mental health, infant feeding, parenting skills, and access to community services through Family Hubs.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh described the funding as “fantastic news” for the town, noting it reflects a government commitment to giving every child “the best start in life.” His counterpart, Heywood and Middleton North MP Elsie Blundell, echoed the sentiment: “Giving families more support between pregnancy and the age of two can be transformational.”
Together, these developments reflect Rochdale’s commitment to education at every stage, from the earliest days of a child’s life to adult learners donning graduation robes in the town’s most historic building.
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