Our performance and recognition
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We are proud to be able to support our learners with an award-winning education, with year on year increasing student success that exceeds the UK National average; and a student satisfaction rate that exceeds the national average.
We have seen year on year increasing student success that exceeds the UK National average; and a student satisfaction rate that exceeds the national average.
Activate Learning has been praised as “a good provider” of further education and skills by Ofsted in its latest report.
Following the inspection in November 2022, Ofsted awarded the Activate Learning colleges Banbury and Bicester College, Bracknell and Wokingham College, City of Oxford College, Farnham College, Guildford College, Merrist Wood College and Reading College with an overall rating of Good. Its provision for learners with high needs was rated Outstanding.
Some of Ofsted's key findings from their inspection were:
- The large majority of learners achieve their qualifications and progress to further education, training or employment because of good support and preparation for their next steps.
- Learners develop particularly good personal, social and employability skills.
- The majority of learners benefit from good teaching, learning and assessment. Teachers help learners to develop their confidence and make good progress.
- Leaders “provide clear strategic direction, vision and mission.
- Employers’ strong involvement with learning programmes helps prepare learners well for work
- Since the previous inspection, governors and senior leaders have been successful in improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.
- The college is an effective learning organisation.
Ofsted's findings relating to learners with high needs:
- Provision for learners with high needs is Outstanding, with “highly effective personalised programmes.
- Outstanding work experience opportunities for learners with high needs.
- Excellent partnership working with local community and the local council influence change and promotes a positive image of what learners with high needs can do.
The inspection team commended Activate Learning as an “effective learning organisation”. They highlighted “employers’ strong involvement” in developing learning programmes and in preparing learners for work and complimented the way learners develop their confidence and their personal, social and employability skills.
Inspectors hailed improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment that have improved results so that the “large majority of students progress” to employment or higher study.
Our success
An award-winning education
Our sector-leading approach to learning has been recognised with two Association of Colleges Beacon Awards, recognising our use of technology and practical approach to teaching and learning.
Where do our student alumni go?
95% of students that completed a programme with us progressed directly into employment or onto higher-level learning such as a higher-level programme, apprenticeship or university study. *From AL destination data for 16–19-year-olds
How are they achieving?
We are proud that our student achievement is increasing year-on-year, now standing at 84.1% in 2017/18.
Our Access to Higher Education students enjoy great success
Each year, around 95% of our Access to Higher Education alumni progress to university on completion of their programme. 26% of Access graduates go on to get a first-class degree.
TEF Silver
Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the higher education provider delivers high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It consistently exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK higher education. This award was made in June 2017.
Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award
Activate Learning are proud to be supporting our Armed Forces by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. This is the first step on our journey to achieving the Gold award. We are now working on implementing the pledges we have made within the Covenant ensuring we are an armed-forces friendly organisation and are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.