THE principal of Farnborough College of Technology has received a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list. Christine Slaymaker, from Liphook, who has been at the college for 13 years, received the award for services to further education. Mrs Slaymaker was appointed principal in 2001 having held a similar post at a West Sussex College. Farnborough regularly features near the top of the league tables, coming second in the UK overall. She said: "It's just amazing and obviously a huge surprise, I see it as recognition for the whole team and not just for me." The college was awarded "outstanding" marks across all categories by Ofsted in 2011 and also has the top rating for its degree courses and its financial health. Farnborough College of Technology has served over 100,000 students since her appointment, with a third of full-time students studying for degrees awarded by the University of Surrey, whose vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, said: "This is very appropriate recognition for Christine's outstanding leadership, placing it among the very best colleges in the UK."