A CAMPAIGN to promote a course helping potential X Factor stars has received a national award.

Bishop Auckland College launched the X Factor Preparation course in January to train people for the hit reality TV programme.

The aim was to use popular culture as a way of attracting young unemployed people to enrol at the college for the first time.

Students who enrolled on the 17-week programme, which ended just in time for this summer’s auditions for the show, received technical tuition in singing and performing and coaching on how to project themselves confidently.

It came about because previous show winners Joe McElderry and James Arthur both performed at the Bishop Auckland Music and Arts Festival, which takes place at the college every year.

The course is believed to be the first of its kind to directly link the NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Music to TV talent shows.

The idea was picked up not only by regional and national media, but interest included the Hollywood Reporter in the US, Australian press and titles across Europe.

The college received a silver award in the PR campaign category at the College Marketing Network’s FE First Awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Warwick.

Kevin Burns, head of marketing and schools liaison, said: “We were astonished by the level of media interest in this course, which helped us successfully recruit a group of students, some of whom have since progressed on to higher level full time courses.”