aoc beacon award mini profiles 2010/11

Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Design and Development

Leadership and Quality Improvement

Responsiveness, Partnership and Impact

AoC Beacon Awards2010/2011 Winning College Profiles

Beacon Awards 2010/2011

Awards for Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Design and Development

Becta Award for Efficiency through the Effective Use of Technology in FE and Skills

DfE Award for Successful Delivery of Level 2 and 3 Qualifications

Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions Award for Health and Community Care

Mencap/RNIB Award for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities

OCR Award for Functional Skills

E-Learning Team, Walsall College

Efficiency through on-line e-personalisation

When moving into a new state-of-the-art building, Walsall College did not want to migrate into its new campus with old, traditional ways of working; it wanted to change peopleÕ s lives. Its aim was to utilise the benefits of its world class technology infrastructure by becoming an e-College fit for 21st century practices. The College set out to provide e-personalised information to each individual learner through their intranet homepage.

Every learner has instant and real-time access to their e-attendance, e-punctuality, e-timetable, e-printer account and e-ILP, empowering them to take ownership of their learning. The learnersÕ e-ILP records and monitors their progress against their Walsall College Graduate programme: skilled, professional and enterprising experiences.

The College also wanted curriculum staff to have easy access to data, reports and learner tracking systems, ensuring effective and efficient use of information to support the learner to succeed. It was important that information, and consequently intervention and action were timely to have a real impact.

The project has proven successful, transforming Walsall College into a modern and contemporary knowledge workplace, whereby technology is used throughout the learner journey and in many operational processes. It has resulted in smarter ways of working and more effective use of information.



“...really interactive, exciting and good that I can access it from home”

Level 3 ICT Student




Hull College

Narrowing the Gap

The Award for Successful Delivery of Level 2 and/or 3 Qualifications, sponsored by the Department for Education, recognises the work of Hull College in narrowing the achievement gap in performance for learners from a widening participation background through outstanding pastoral support and a differentiated teaching and learning strategy. This is driven by an embedded values culture based on excellence, respect, innovation and celebration which ensures all learners irrespective of age, gender, background or disability are fully supported to achieve their full potential. The project demonstrates how Hull College, which serves a deprived local community, enrols 6,600 16-18 year olds each year and achieves outstanding results, particularly for students from minority groups such as BMEs, learners in receipt of educational maintenance allowance (EMA) and learners who have a poor previous track record in educational attainment, particularly at Level 2 and 3.

These results are set in the context of one of the lowest performing local authorities for 5 A-C GCSEs including English and Maths, nationally. Ofsted judged the College to be outstanding in all areas in May 2008 and in summary concluded “The College’s role in changing the lives of many learners is significant”.

Department for Education Award for Successful Delivery of Level 2 and/or 3 Qualifications


“The tutors sacrifice their breaks to help students. They are always willing to listen and are very helpful. I struggled with a particular area on my course and have received tremendous support from staff.”

Student


Creative Studies Team, Coleg Morgannwg

Skills for Costume Construction for Screen & Stage

The project emphasis is on the development of specialist practical skills of measuring, pattern cutting, fitting and alteration, industrial machining, screen printing, garment construction, surface embellishment and adaptation underpinned by knowledge of fabrics, visual awareness and professional and business skills.

The combination of carefully selected appropriate teaching and learning methods and environments contribute to students acquiring confidence and high level skills over an intensive two year period working alongside experts to deadlines and production standards.

A range of work settings is planned over two years in partnership with industry experts for students to experience the exacting demands of costume construction. Placements offer students the opportunity to experience all aspects of the costume industry. This provides real-life opportunities for students to be challenged to achieve high levels of skills with experts.

The CollegeÕ s collaboration with theatre Mappa Mundi provides an example of a sustainable partnership with a local theatre company over three years. In 2009 the collaboration was on She Stoops to Conquer with a review stating “.....there is no stinting on the look of it. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones’ costume design, created by first and second year students at Coleg Morgannwg is all lace and gorgeous crimson and purple satins”.

Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning

“It is a way of growing up. You are involved and learn so much about yourself and the industry.”

Student

Awards for Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Design and DevelopmentAwards for Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Design and Development


Department of Education, Health and Care, Hartlepool College of Further Education

Community Care for Health and Well Being through Learning and Teaching/ The Horticulture (Allotment) and Havelock Centre Project

The project is a joint venture between Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Borough Council Day Services, this programme now includes key partners in Criminal Justice and Health provision. The client-centred approach enables vulnerable adults to improve employability and contribute to their local community whilst offering an innovative learning platform for students in healthcare.

The Community Allotment provides opportunities for individuals with physical or learning disabilities, mental health issues or involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes to gain a nationally recognised qualification. Partners involved in this programme include the College, MIND, DISC, NACRO, NHS, Hartlepool Borough Council Day Services and The Criminal Justice Service.

There are great hopes for the future of the project; for instance, an NVQ Level 1 programme in Horticulture is under development. There is provision on site for a structured training environment and there are plans for therapeutic activities promoting well being, exercise referral and therapies for people with mental health, heart disease and weight management issues is in planning.

The programme has expanded to include enterprise development and a range of products and produce is now available to sell to the community, encouraging community relationships and the full inclusion of vulnerable adults as they move towards the independent management of their lives.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions Award for Health and Community Care


“This programme has been a fantastic opportunity for the staff and students involved in the project. We have demonstrated that by challenging expectations we can change aspirations.”

Sue Baker, Lecturer Health and Care

Foundation Studies Team, City College Norwich

ProjectSearch ProjectSearch is a tailored programme of work rotations and training which prepares students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities for work. Students’ employability skills are developed by giving them experience of different job roles in the workplace, supported by on-site tutors using Training in Systematic Instruction. Through ProjectSearch the College has worked with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Remploy and Serco) and facilities management company Norse. To date 14 of the 28 students have got jobs on completion of the programme, including some who had previously been hard to place in a work environment. With the support of these employers ProjectSearch has successfully opened up job opportunities to young people and adults who might not otherwise have been given the chance to work. Following on from the success of the initial two projects, City College Norwich is now seeking to engage further employers in Project Search and is also developing a new employment agency for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Mencap and RNIB Award for Students with Learning Difficulties and or/Disabilities


“...we are delighted with the success of ProjectSearch. It has been a pleasure to work with these young people and they are already making a valuable contribution to our hospital life.”

Deputy Director of Nursing, Norwich University Hospital



Skills Support and Development Team, Leicester College

Cross College delivery of Functional Skills

Leicester College uses the whole organisation approach to provide opportunities for learners to develop their Functional Skills. Through participating in the Functional Skills pilots, the College has been able to use the experience and knowledge gained to support and develop Functional Skills across all its provision.

The CollegeÕ s Skills for Life strategy was revised in 2009 to incorporate Functional Skills. The implementation of the strategy addressed the training needs of managers, teachers and workplace trainers, developing customised training programmes which were delivered by a team of Skills for Life specialists to all curriculum areas at the College. The training was also made available to external partners.

Each vocational curriculum area was provided with a Functional Skills Champion who was given time to help develop resources and provide support to colleagues. One-to-one support, along with coaching, helped teachers to become more confident in delivering Functional Skills. Cross College support was co-ordinated by the Skills for Life Manager and a team of three Functional Skills specialists. The team set up a site on the College’s Virtual Learning Environment and communicated developments in the Functional Skills Newsletter, which was made available to all College staff and shared as best practice with other providers.

As a result of the project, participation in Functional Skills increased year on year from 135 enrolments in 2007/08 to 2,450 in 2009/10. Similarly, learner success rates also increased rising to 84% in 2009/10. The success of the project has helped learners to succeed on their vocational programmes.

OCR Awardfor Functional Skills


“It makes you enjoy what you do and develop learner skills”

Tutor Comment

Awards for Leadership and Quality Improvement

Awards for Leadership and Quality ImprovementBeacon Awards 2010/2011

City & Guilds Award for Staff Development in Further Education

DfE/BIS/AoC Award for Smarter Procurement

LSIS Award for Leadership of Innovation in Curriculum Development


BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College

A University for Teachers

In 2006 BSix was on the verge of closure or merger. It was characterised by poor outcomes, a bad reputation, high staff turnover and dwindling student recruitment.

In order to turn the College around, a strategy of effecting a deep-seated, sustainable cultural change was introduced. The aim was to transform the everyday experience of students, both in the classroom and when they use the CollegeÕ s services.

This entailed an extensive and innovative Continuous Professional Development programme in order to make the College Ô a university for teachersÕ . The premise of this programme was that if the College wanted the students to be aspirational and high-achieving, then the staff have to be the same.

There are two key characteristics of the programme. First, it is focused on teaching and learning (and increasingly on the delivery of services) as a serious, intellectual activity worthy of continual analysis and debate. Second, it recognises that development is not just about Ô trainingÕ in technical aspects of work but should also be an exploration of its deeper, emotional, dimensions.

The result is that BSix is now booming. Ofsted reports, national awards, burgeoning student applications and significantly improved outcomes all testify to the qualitative improvement generated by this programme.

“The College has taken the initiative in establishing a strong and extremely successful link with the Institute by which the teaching staff have had access to a degree of support and encouragement that is unique across London post-compulsory provision.”

Institute of Education

City & Guilds Award for Staff Development in Further Education

Awards for Leadership and Quality ImprovementBeacon Awards 2010/2011

Blackpool and The Fylde College on behalf of the Northern Colleges Collaborative Group

Collaborative PC Procurement – No longer a virtual reality

Following on from the success of previous collaborative projects for the procurement of I.T. hardware, Blackpool and The Fylde College was approached by the Learning and Skills Council to lead a similar procurement exercise in 2010.

Thirteen Colleges signed up to the collaboration and a project team comprising Procurement and I.T. professionals from several of the participating Colleges was established.

The objectives of the project were:

• to ensure compliance with European procurement regulations• to generate efficiencies through the use of an appropriate framework• to reduce and simplify process costs for all involved• to create a case study for use within the sector

The team, led by Blackpool and The Fylde College, ensured that a robust project process was completed which resulted in a final contract value of £1.7million for 3,750 desktop PCs.

The initial efficiencies when compared against prices that Colleges could obtain in isolation, as generated by the project were:

£184,835 cashable efficiencies

£11,571 process efficiencies

In addition, a comprehensive user guide has been prepared for the sector which will enable other Colleges to undertake collaborative procurement in this area.

DfE, BIS and AoC Award for Smarter Procurement


“Coming together for a shared benefit is certainly something we’ll all be expected to do more of in the future, and I think we’ve all made a significant step in the right direction.”

Ric Kelly, IT Manager, Accrington and Rossendale College



Media Department, Creative Arts Faculty, College of West Anglia

Springboard TV.com

The College of West Anglia’s ground-breaking project involved setting up Springboardtv.com, an internet TV channel which has radically changed the teaching and learning on its full-time media courses.

With a fully-operational TV production and broadcast environment, students are involved in the creation, production and broadcast of a wide range of programmes, and the web-based format allows feedback from the general public, peers and teaching staff. The majority of the course is now spent in a realistic working environment, generating the evidence required for the course.

Both staff and students are more confident in using the new technologies and students are taking more responsibility for their own learning. Team working is promoted and collaborative work with community groups, local press, commissions and external agencies is integral. The increase in the pace and pressure of work requires greater learner focus in order to meet challenging deadlines.

Springboard has made a significant difference in students’ aspirations and achievements. The percentage of students progressing to university increased by 40% in one year, from 37% to 77%, and the percentage of high grades rose by 50%, from 38% to 88%. Students’ feedback: “It’s broadened my horizons”; “really boosted my confidence”; “challenging but it gives a taste of the real world “.

LSIS Award for Leadership of Innovation in Curriculum Development


“This is a clear example of a College doing something very innovative, very creative and it needs to tell the rest of the sector about it.”

JISC Critical Friend

AQA Award for College/School Partnerships

AoC Create Award for College Engagement with Employers

Association of Colleges Award for Widening Participation

British Council Award for International Student Support

Edexcel Award for Lifelong Learning

Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise

Welsh Assembly Government Award for 14-19 Collaboration

YPLA Award for 14-19 Collaboration

Awards for Responsiveness, Partnership and Impact



14-19 Collaboration and Partnerships Team, Exeter College

Exemplary 14-16 Partnership and Collaboration

Excellent educational working partnerships with schools and local stakeholders enable Exeter College to be regarded as a hub for 14-16 practical learning throughout the region. The College has established outstanding partnerships with local schools in the city and the heart of the county which have added significant value to the local and regional learning communities at 14-16 years of age.

Working in collaboration with a wide range of organisations, the College has significantly contributed to creating a complementary post-14 curriculum which has resulted in a wide and diverse range of quality provision for 14-16 learning. The number of partners collaborating with the College has grown significantly over the last three years.

The approach has not only enabled an increase in the number of learners progressing to full-time education in the City (from below 60% to above 80%), but also added significant value to the success of Key Stage 4 attainment. A whole range of supportive processes have been implemented to ensure logistical, financial and transition barriers do not deter continuous education in the area.

Sharing facilities, providing flexible staffing and implementing outreach approaches to delivery have broadened the reach and impact of provision and enhanced the learning experience for Exeter and the heart of Devon.

“The course is great, such a fantastic experience and helped me get to where I wanted to be. I am currently doing a full-time apprenticeship at a local firm.”

Ex 14-16 Learner

AQA Award for College/School Partnerships




“ncn at work” New College Nottingham

Journey for Excellence through Employer Engagement

New College Nottingham’s (ncn) employer engagement initiative has changed the College ethos over the last five years. Curriculum teams have improved their responsiveness and flexibility, enabling them to respond more effectively to employer demand.

The use of embedded Organisational Needs Analysis and evaluation processes provides employer feedback on the positive impact of ncn training interventions and generates a high level of repeat work and commitment from employers to recommend the College to others.

The initiative has enabled ncn to grow its provision for employers during a period of economic downturn:

• income increased from £1.2 million to over £7 million• employed learners increased from under 1,000 to over 5,000• number of employers engaged extended from 300 to 2,000• ncn now ranked in the top 10% of FE Colleges for employer engagement

The College’s employer provision was deemed “Outstanding” by Ofsted, and has achieved Training Quality Standard (TQS) for excellence in Construction, Retail and Adult Social Care.

The reach of ncn’s employer provision has spread from Nottingham across the East Midlands and, in some cases, to a national level. The College also shares good practice; producing over 20 case studies in the last two years.

AoC Create Award for College Engagement with Employers


“I’ve been impressed by how the New College Nottingham assessors have worked with our employees, building their confidence. They’ve also demonstrated the benefits of improving their qualifications.”

Deanne Atkin, Manager, Conkers activity centre


Employers network at one of the CollegeÕ s business forums


Mental Health Education and Employment Service, Student Services Directorate, Hackney Community College

Bridging the gap between mental health services and mainstream education

The Mental Health Education and Employment Service was established to address concerns around the lack of provision for supporting mental health service users to access education and training and to provide support with study and progression. It has evolved into a multi-faceted service delivering a range of interventions, support and activities for learners and prospective learners with mental health support needs. The service also provides professional support to teachers and support staff. Its development and success is due to intensive multi-agency liaison, dedication and professional expertise across all partners. The service is a partnership initiative between Hackney Community College, the East London Foundation Trust, NHS City & Hackney, and local community and voluntary partners. In the first year, 50 people were supported. Since then around 4,000 people with mental health support needs have been supported to education and/or employment. It was the first project of its kind when it was established 14 years ago, and has seen developments each year to make it what it is today. It is now unique in its off-site provision with community health teams and how this is integrated into the CollegeÕ s mainstream work.

Association of Colleges Award for Widening Participation


“Since I have been at College my confidence has grown and I’m looking forward to the future I now have in front of me.”

Learner

International Team, Edinburgh’s Telford College

The International Learner’s Journey – Global to Local

EdinburghÕ s Telford College supports students on their learning journey from enquiry or study in their home country (global) through to successful completion of their course and progression into university and post study work (local).

Coming to a different country to study is a life changing experience for students Ð t hey come with great hopes and expectations and EdinburghÕ s Telford College ambition is to support them achieve their goals, be successful and enjoy their UK educational experience.

With a comprehensive international strategy, the College recruits students from 96 countries worldwide and has developed 28 trans-national partnerships in 11 countries. It has established three partnership overseas campuses delivering nine curriculum areas and courses taught in partner institutes are supported remotely and visited regularly by teaching and international staff.

High levels of students progressing from in-country delivery, responding to the learner voice, a unique and exclusive support service for visa applications and internships to help develop workplace skills are some of the key features of this successful programme.

British Council Award for International Student Support


“Studying at the College has been an incredible experience. I have grown in confidence not only in my studies but also on a personal level.” Atwell, South Africa



Business Development, Vocational and Environmental Science Team, Birmingham Metropolitan College

LifeLong Learning – Commitment to Vocational Science

Birmingham Metropolitan College is one of the leading providers of further and higher education in the West Midlands, supporting over 9,000 16-19 year olds, 30,000 adult learners and a range of employers across the United Kingdom.

The development of a prestigious, authentic and stimulating environmental excellence academy at the College has embodied the true spirit of lifelong learning as students can access a range of opportunities and diverse curriculum including Environmental Awareness, Infection Control, Health and Safety and Cleaning Operators Proficiency. The facility is state of the art, using the latest technology including learning materials which were designed to maximise equal opportunities for all learners, every citizen matters and the safeguarding agenda. The academy has delivered cleaning science training for the unemployed, Apprenticeship programmes and qualifications for cleaning professionals which have supported re-skilling opportunities and career progression for many individuals that are part of this evolving vocational sector.

The esteem in which the training provision is held was recognised when the College won the 2010 Building Cleanability Award. The vocational delivery team received the BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science) National Award for Excellence in Training and Assessment in 2008 and 2009 and one of their learners, Michael Bird, who works at Birmingham ChildrenÕ s Hospital, was named as the BICSc Ô Outstanding Student of the Year 2010Õ .

The Vocational Science team will continue to promote lifelong learning opportunities to a wide range of students, whilst delivering and maintaining excellence and promoting the College ethos of Shaping Futures, Changing Lives.

Edexcel Award for Lifelong Learning


“...thanks for a really interesting and informative training session, it will not be forgotten for a long time I’m sure, as the lads keep referring to it and the fun that they had.”

Estate Supervisor, Castle Vale Housing Action Trust

Inspire Inspire Programme, Southern Regional College

INSPIRE

The Southern Regional College’s INSPIRE programme aims to redefine and embed enterprise across the student body. For a large number of people, enterprise evokes images of brick and mortar businesses or business activities however, the College defines enterprise as a mind-set or skills-set that enables one to take an idea from concept to creation.

The INSPIRE programme aims to achieve this shift in mindset by allowing students to discover and practice their enterprising skills in a safe or low risk environment and in a social setting away from the confines of the classroom.

The role of the Graduate Enterprise Intern has been vital in facilitating this process. It is the CollegeÕ s experience that by organising activities that enable the student to explore their enterprising abilities in a fun yet challenging, way with the Graduate Interns, there is a greater likelihood of these ideas being embraced and becoming successful.

The Enterprise Interns have helped establish the Student Enterprising Innovators Society, organising inter-campus competitions, enterprise conferences, business master classes and running workshops which have had immense impact, thus far, within the Southern Regional College. The wide range of extra curricular activities including, teamwork, negotiation, confidence, leadership skills, calculated risk taking and project planning ensure students are challenged in various ways.

An innovative framework has now been established across the Southern Regional College that has the potential to contribute to increasing numbers of its own students taking their business ideas through to pre-incubation and incubation stages, hosted within the Southern Regional College’s Incubation facility, Greenshoots-Ltd.

Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise


“From all the events I have attended, I have learned something different from each occasion. I have realised how much support there is to develop a business idea and to assist you in opening up your own business.”

Student



14-19 Network, Coleg Sir G‰r

Transforming 14-19 learning through collaboration

This submission to AoCÕ s Beacon Awards, celebrated the CollegeÕ s involvement in Carmarthenshire CountyÕ s 14-19 Network. This has been a highly successful project and has had a major impact on learner choice in the county.

Over 1,000 school pupils were supported by Coleg Sir G‰r in 2009-10, accessing vocational options as part of their wider curriculum. This provision was offered on one of five College campuses, at local schools or other vocational settings as appropriate. Over 21 schools worked with the College and excellent support was provided by Carmarthenshire County Council, the local education authority, the schools and other training providers locally. This led to the development of joint governance arrangements in the four clusters established to manage this in the county.

Provision ranged from entry level through to level three and included Welsh medium provision. Innovative work-related pathway programmes were developed with sector skills councils in engineering and fashion. Innovative approaches to quality assurance were developed with all partners undertaking an annual self-assessment exercise with cross-provider peer observation. LearnersÕ views were sought to make improvements and detailed transition arrangements between the schools and College were put in place.

Welsh Assembly Government Award for 14-19 Collaboration


ÒT his course is a new and interesting opportunity for us to enjoy learning in a different way. The course will show us a true picture of the real world of work, because experience of industry forms an integral part of the course and the content sounds so different to the usual traditional content we usually have to follow.Ó

Student on Workbased Learning Pathway in Fashion.

14-19 School Liaison Team, South Devon College

Raising aspirations through collaboration

The South Devon College project delivers high quality personalised learning for 14-19 year old students which increases engagement, retention, achievement and progression to further education. This is delivered through a diverse breadth of curriculum, which remains dynamic and responsive to individualÕ s needs and agendas set both locally and nationally. There are outstanding levels of achievement and progression coupled with an inherent determination to raise aspirations and expectations across the partnerships.

Key features of the project are:

• exceptional leadership with clearly focused aims which ensure ongoing development and strategic partnership• clear priorities and expectations which are disseminated to all stakeholders through highly effective communication channels• embedding ideals of seamless 14-19 education and sharing of good practice through direct engagement with schools at strategic levels• development of skills centres on school sites to increase access to specialist resources

YPLA Award for 14-19 Collaboration


“The IF Childcare course completely changed my aims and ambitions, I knew after finishing this course that I had found my ideal career and did not have to follow a traditional A Level academic route. It opened up new career options to me and was thoroughly enjoyable.”

Student



PROGRAMME12.00 – 12.30 Arrival of Guests

Reception in the Great Hall

12.30 Presentation of 2010/2011 AoC Beacon Awards in the Telford Theatre

Welcome and Introduction

Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb

Chair, AoC Beacon Awards

Presentation of Parchments

John Hayes MP

Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning

Presentation of the Seventh Annual President’s Award

Lord Willis of Knaresborough

President of AoC Charitable Trust

Vote of Thanks

Martin Doel

Chief Executive of Association of Colleges

13.15 Buffet Lunch in the Great Hall

14.30 Departure

Onwards

AoC Beacon Awards National Presentation Ceremony 2010/2011

Wednesday 9 February 2011


The following bodies have given invaluablesupport to the Programme in

2006-2007 whi208 is greatly appreciated:

Association of Colleges

Department for Employment and Learning

The Welsh Assembly Government

Administered by theAoC Charitable Trust

The AoC Beacon Awards are run through the AoC Charitable Trust which is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (charity number 1040631)

and in Scotland (charity number SC039064).

Association of Colleges2-5 Stedham Place

London, WC1A 1HU

Telephone: 020 7034 9900 Fax: 020 7034 9950www.aoc.co.uk

The following bodies have given invaluable support to the Programme in 2010/2011 which is greatly appreciated:

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