Perseverance paid off for hundreds of students who celebrated their graduation at Waltham Forest College.

At the ceremony on Friday, September 28, graduates shared with the audience how they overcame barriers to reach their goals.

The campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow was transformed into a lavish venue for the event which was attended by college governors, staff and students’ families.

Guests were treated to several music performances by the London Community Gospel Choir, who have performed at the Brit Awards and supported acts such as Justin Timberlake, Elton John and Madonna.

Student Melodie Kiff said: “Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor - I was very fortunate to have four.

“The college staff genuinely cared about my future. The graduation ceremony was a real boost to my confidence to pursue my next step.”

Special guests included the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Sally Littlejohn, who presented students with their graduation scrolls, and motivational speaker and author Ruth Pearson.

Dr Joy Kettle, principal of the college, said: “This is the pinnacle event of the year where everything we have all worked towards comes together.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than celebrating great achievements and today I am proud to be able to congratulate all our graduates and their remarkable journey.”