Award Winners!
In other good news, New City College has recently won two high-profile national Commendations in the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards for its work on sustainability and for the successful progression pathways established for ESOL students.
One of just 4 colleges nationally to receive the Commended status in The AoC Award for Widening Participation, New City College was recognised for its exceptional initiative to provide otherwise marginalised ESOL students with vocational and employability skills, ultimately leading adult learners to securing good jobs.
The bold, whole-college curriculum strategy has been successful in establishing progression pathways for ESOL students so that those starting on entry-level qualifications can progress to higher-level vocational qualifications. Through the initiative, these students have been able to take advantage of unrivalled life and work opportunities which has led to upskilling within local communities.
Career routes for ESOL students at NCC now range from teaching assistants and healthcare through to service industries, accounting and specialist computing subjects, with many more individuals who speak English as their second language, realising their career goals.
In the Inenco Award for Education for Sustainable Development, New City College was one of just 5 colleges nationwide and the only college in London, to receive Commended status for its implementation of a whole-college Green Strategy over a period of several years, which has created a reduced carbon footprint and real change on the ground.
NCC’s work towards net zero has included the launch of two low carbon technology labs which deliver training in retrofit skills and the installation and maintenance of low carbon energy systems. A heat decarbonisation project to stop the reliance on fossil fuel-based gas boilers and upgrading them with low carbon alternatives, will bring ‘green’ heating to college buildings.
Together with student-led climate change events and a teaching and learning research project on replacing printed materials with online tools, these have led to NCC becoming one of the leading FE providers on environmental sustainability.
Click here for the full article – NCC wins through to become a Finalist in two prestigious Beacon Awards!
Epping Forest Wellness Centre
Another new initiative which will benefit the community tremendously was the opening of the Epping Forest Wellness Centre.
In a launch event on Saturday 20 January, New City College officially opened their latest New City Fitness facility, the new Epping Forest Wellness Centre in Loughton. Former Tottenham Hotspur club captain, Spurs Legend Ledley King cut the ribbon to officially open the centre.
In a short address to the group, King said: “Sport and recreation are a big part of many young people’s journeys through to adulthood, and centres like this really help to provide the community with the highest quality facilities in a safe space. My hope is that this centre will help to build a healthier, stronger, and more connected community, where the pursuit of fitness becomes a shared endeavour that transcends age, background, and ability.”
The Epping Wellness Centre is the latest New City Fitness Centre, an exciting new venture from New City College. New City Fitness now boasts centres in both Hoxton and Loughton, which aim to provides affordable, welcoming, high-quality sport and fitness facilities for local communities. The Epping Forest centre also includes a café open to non-members, with views across an open park.
Click here for the full article – New Community Sport and Wellness Centre Now Open
Our Policy Asks
Despite all these recent successes, the FE sector continues to be faced with major challenges, and New City College’s policy asks from government remain the same as they were in 2023.
As one of the largest and most successful colleges in the country, New City College recognises the pressures and limits of public funding. However, we also know that within the further education sector there is a wealth of experience, innovation and common sense.
Like colleges across the sector, New City College wants to work in partnership with the next Government. We believe that a few simple policy and administration changes (at no or little cost) would have significant impact by maximising available funding, reducing inefficiency and making sure the money is targeted where it is needed.
The suggested policy adjustments below would cost little or nothing, but would help the further education sector to continue what we do best: supporting students to achieve and progress to great careers, and delivering the right skills and qualifications for individuals and for the economy.
We are grateful for your consideration of these suggestions, and hope to have the opportunity to start a meaningful discussion that will help the further education sector to remain at the forefront of skills and opportunity.
