Banbury education provider wins national award

The education provider behind three Oxfordshire college campuses, including Banbury and Bicester College, won the Support for Students’ prize at the 2019 Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards last week.

The award recognises Activate Learning’s innovative partnership programme for young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities). SEND students gain real life work experience either on campus at a college-run learning company, at an off-site work placement or on an external supported internship programme working towards a paid position.

Activate Learning’s CEO, Sally Dicketts CBE, said “We are immensely proud to have won this prestigious national award. It is a real testament to our learners, staff, parents and partners.

“We have put a great deal of effort not only into what our students learn, but how they learn it, and our unique Learning Philosophy sits at the heart of everything we do at Activate Learning.

“The development of the student’s emotional intelligence is key to this Learning Philosophy and the development of personal attributes of both our staff and students is crucial to this.

She added: “This unique approach ensures that learner achievement levels remain high, and that we create sustainable employment opportunities for all our learners.”

Activate Learning work with partners to improve life chances and create sustainable job opportunities for students with learning difficulties or disabilities. Since launching in 2013, the programme has supported over 1500 Oxfordshire and Berkshire SEND learners with work experience.

Now in its 24th year, the AoC Beacon Awards showcase best practice and innovation in colleges. It is designed to promote the interdependence of colleges, businesses and professional and voluntary organisations. The awards also highlight excellence and helps share best practice across the sector.

Will Gardner, Unit Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Oxfordshire Employment Unit says: “Oxfordshire Supported Internship has been hugely successful in supporting young people to find and stay in work.

“The quality and stability of the partnership between ourselves, Activate Learning and our delivery partners Mencap has been key to developing a programme that understands the needs of young people and local employers.

“I’m delighted that Activate Learning has won this award, which really demonstrates a commitment to helping every individual achieve their full potential.”

Alison Pike, communities and programmes country director for programme partner Mencap said: "We are thrilled that our partnership with Activate Learning and Oxfordshire Employment has been celebrated by winning this richly deserved award.

"It’s testament to the hard work that has been put in over the last few years to provide fantastic employment outcomes for SEND learners in Oxfordshire. We look forward to seeing the partnership continue to develop and support people with a learning disability."