Year 11 Queen Eleanor Technology College student Sam Ford beat off intense competition to secure this year’s coveted Q Factor crown. 

This year’s final, once again sponsored by Cummins, had sold out within hours of tickets going on sale and a noisy and enthusiastic crowd of over 200 parents and students crammed into the college’s hall to hear the finalists perform in the college’s version of ITV’s ‘X Factor’.  

This year’s final was closer than ever with many fantastic performances from students of all age groups who had won through from earlier rounds. The final decision fell to three teachers who had the unenviable task of filling the roles of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole on the judging panel. 

After much soul searching the judges chose a Year 8 group – Mistaken 2 – in third place with year 11 student Toni Ward coming a close second. However, Toni was pipped at the post by Sam who was a popular winner with his version of Oasis’ Wonderwall. 

Head of Music, Cris Freeman, who organised the competition, remarked that ‘each year the standard has got higher and higher’ and that ‘the quality of the singing in the final was a testament to the finalists’ hard work, commitment and undoubted talent’.