CONGRATULATIONS to the indie band Arctic Monkeys. Their first album has become the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was released on 23 January and has sold more than 360,000 copies. The Sheffield band's album is currently outselling the rest of the top 20 album chart combined.

The ex-Barnsley students went straight into the studio having completed Edexcel’s Music Technology A levels and join Edexcel’s other musical alumni including:

Katie Melua – musician who did music BTEC ND
Justin  Hawkins - The Darkness frontman did BTEC ND in Music Technology at Highfields Technical College
Tom Swann, bass player with Speedway – BTEC HND in modern music
James Stelfox, bassist for Starsailor - HND in Music at Wigan and Leigh college
David Gray – Singer-songwriter – Foundation in Art & Design at Carmarthenshire College
Emma Bunton – Baby Spice – BTEC ND in Performing Arts at Barnet College
James Walsh – Singer Starsailor – BTEC ND in Popular Music at Wigan & Leigh College
Shakira Akabusi's group Soul Deep UK has recorded a tack called 'Why?' for the Don't Trigger campaign, which has been backed by PM Tony Blair and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone – BTEC ND
Andrew Kinlochan in Phixx did BTEC in Performing Arts at Cricklade College Andover
Kate Rusby award winning song writer – nominated for a mercury music prize did BTEED at Barnsley College 90-2000, Performing Arts
Kim Gee – Pop Idol runner up – BTEC HND Music Production at Grimsby College

http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/