Choose Activate Learning and we will help you develop the skills, knowledge, resilience and confidence to succeed in your chosen career pathway.
Ready to kickstart or advance your career? Expand your learning horizons at our welcoming campuses - with dedicated learning spaces, industry standard facilities and experienced teachers to support you all the way.
Join us on a learning journey that will transform your career - and your future.
Discover how far you can go with our support.
Activate Learning is based at City of Oxford College.
Everyone should have the chance to achieve their best. Discover our supported foundation and foundation programmes, for learners who need additional support.
Our learners have the opportunity to learn independent living and self-care skills, employability skills, digital literacy, English and maths, and in some cases, take part in work experience - depending on the programme they choose.
We work closely with colleagues from across our colleges, offering learners the opportunity to progress into new vocational areas. Our partnerships with external organisations and employers are central to equipping learners for successful futures. They include:
In addition, we provide learners with the opportunity to develop vital employability and independence skills through our learning companies. These are social enterprises run by staff at students, and include on-campus shops and delivery services.
Activate Learning have recently been recognised for the work we do to inspire special needs students into employment with a coveted education award. The Association of Colleges' Beacon Awards 'Support for Students' prize 2019 recognises our innovative partnership programme for young people with special educations needs and disabilities. Read more about the award here.
Activate Learning is proud of the outstanding and award-winning Supported Foundation Programmes which offer students the opportunity to develop in the exciting setting of a mainstream further education college. Highly-skilled and specialist teams strive for excellent outcomes for our young people through tailored programmes.
Supported Foundation - Tier 2: This programme is for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities who are working towards supported or independent living. Learners will develop skills in food hygiene, food preparation, self-advocacy, travel training, personal care, English and maths, digital literacy and more.
Supported Foundation - Tier 3: This programme is for learners with learning difficulties who are working towards supported employment or an internship. Learners will develop employability and independent living skills through work experience, digital literacy and citizenship learning.
Student case study - Rachel, Reading College
Foundation programmes at Tier 4 and 5 are for learners who may have been disengaged from learning, underachieving, or unsure about their study choices.
Foundation - Tier 4: This programme is for learners who have been disengaged from learning or underachieving, and who want to try different vocational options. Learners will develop vocational and employability skills, including English and maths, digital literacy and citizenship learning. Work experience is part of this programme.
Foundation - Tier 5: This programme is for learners who need to develop their personal and social skills to achieve success. Learners will also take part in an introduction to a chosen vocational area at Level 1. The programme includes personal and social development, employability skills, work experience, English and maths, digital literacy and citizenship.
Vocational foundation study routes
Learners can follow one of the following vocational routes available at each of our colleges. Please note, at Bracknell and Wokingham College, Foundation Programmes combine multiple subject areas and vocational routes.
Chad has developed his employability skills through a work experience placement at a community centre, preparing and cooking food. He has been offered paid employment.
We work in close partnership with a number of organisations to provide excellent teaching and learning for our students, including: Optalis choices for living, Project Search, Westgate Oxford, Oxfordshire Employment Service (part of Oxfordshire County Council), Big Lottery Fund and OxLEP.