THE first wave of students at a new veterinary nursing school have all graduated with a 100% pass rate.

ChesterGates Referral Animal Hospital at Dunkirk, near Chester, opened the school in May 2009, with the support of Myerscough College, offering training to student nurses in the North West and North Wales.

School principal Dr Judith Skerritt said: ‘‘The success of our first graduating class is due to the hard work of both the students and the staff at the ChesterGates School of Veterinary Nursing.

“It was an exciting adventure for all of us. We would also like to thank the practices who sent us their students and Myerscough College for their great support. We are all looking forward to the new academic year.’’

The first cohort of students to graduate achieved a 100% pass rate, completing their NVQ level 3 qualifications in Veterinary Nursing in the March exams which is well above the national average. All graduating students are now fully qualified registered veterinary nurses.

The school is currently running year two of the nursing course as a transitional year from the old NVQ scheme to the new Level 3 diploma in Veterinary Nursing. The school will start the new Level 3 diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2012.

The course is currently being delivered by Joanna McEwen and Jackie Evans.

Joanna and Jackie achieved their Certificate in Education and graduated from West Cheshire College in the summer of 2010. Kelly Marshall is the course administrator.

The school, which benefits by being part of a working hospital environment, includes a lecture theatre and a library/computer suite as well as more consulting rooms and a physiotherapy/hydrotherapy suite.