Beacon10yrs

“Receiving each Award was a source of tremendous satisfaction and pride for all staff and students involved and an impetus to continue to strive for excellence.”Coleg Gorseinon

“The Award has raised the profile of the College in the FE sectorand enabled the further development of project partnerships with professional practitioners, employers and sector colleges. The project work through these working partnerships continues todevelop with students being able to widen their experience throughcommunity project work, working alongside students from other colleges …”National Star College

“The Beacon Award programme provides colleges with a valuableframework for the development and subsequent recognition of newapproaches to supporting our learners.”Nelson and Colne College

“Warmest thanks to all those colleges that contributed material

towards the production of this brochure. Unfortunately we were

unable to use all of the items submitted, but they will be kept on

file and may be used in future as examples of the way in which

UK colleges are liberating the talents of learners in every

region and in every age group.”

AoC Beacon Awards 1994/95 – 2003/04 ■ 1

AoC Beacon Awards – Celebrating 10 Years of ExcellenceForeward by the Rt Hon Charles Clarke MPSecretary of State for Education and Employment

I am delighted to provide a foreward to this document which celebrates theachievements of all those colleges that have won Beacon Awards since 1994.

The Beacon Awards have now firmly established themselves as a quality markfor the sector, highlighting the exceptional and remarkable ways in whichcolleges have developed provision to enhance and enrich the experience oftheir learners.

The statistics speak for themselves; since 1994 there have been nearly 2,850applications for just over 250 Awards. Across the whole of the UK, 443 collegeshave applied, over half of whom have been shortlisted and around 140 haveultimately gone on to win. This in itself not only demonstrates the hugepopularity of the Awards, but also reflects how much excellent work goes on in colleges.

It almost goes without saying that the winning colleges should be rightlyproud of their achievement in reaching the Beacon Award standard. Not onlyare they being recognised for exemplary and sometimes innovative work, butthey are also fuelling curriculum development across the sector as othercolleges learn more about the winning projects.

I fully endorse the Beacon Awards scheme as one which not only helps to raisethe profile of colleges in the further education sector, but also assists the UK asa whole by providing an increasingly skilled workforce thus ensuring that wecontinue to be one of the world’s leading economic countries.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank each of the 60 sponsors whohave supported the Beacon Awards over the years. The partnerships you arehelping to establish between the business community and the education sectorat a local, regional and national level have a hugely beneficial affect on all ourpost-16 learners.

Finally, I should like to thank the Association of Colleges for administering thisscheme and for everyone involved in maintaining the high regard in which it isheld; including the Chair and members of the Beacon Awards Steering Group,the Assessors, the President and Trustees of the AoC Charitable Trust and theteam within the Trust that oversees the day-to-day running of the Awards.

Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP

2 ■ AoC Beacon Awards 1994/95 – 2003/04

AoC Charitable TrustSamantha Boggia . . . . . . . . . . . . Work Shadowing Manager,

AoC Charitable Trust

Dr John Brennan . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Executive, AoC, Trustee

Peter Brophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Finance and Administration, AoC, Trustee

Sue Dutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy Chief Executive, AoC, Trustee

Anna Gillespie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Work Shadowing Co-ordinator, AoC Charitable Trust

Julie Mellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chair, Equal Opportunities Commission,President

Margaret Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . Chair, AoC, Trustee

Judith Norrington. . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Learning and Quality, AoC, Trustee

Debra Stych . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clerk to the Board, AoC

Alice Thiagaraj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manager, AoC Charitable Trust, Trustee

Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb . . Chair, Beacon Awards

Julie MellorChair of Equal Opportunities CommissionPresident, AoC Charitable Trust

Dame Patricia Morgan-WebbChairBeacon Awards

Dr John BrennanChief Executive of AoCTrustee

Alice ThiagarajManager, AoC Charitable TrustTrustee

AoC Beacon Awards SteeringGroup as at November 2004Mary Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Director –

Vocational Assessment, OCR

Samantha Boggia . . . . . . . . . . . . Work Shadowing Manager, AoC Charitable Trust

Ahmed Choonara . . . . . . . . . . . . Representative, Network for Black Managers

Ngaio Crequer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FE Focus, TES

Brenig Davies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice Principal, Coleg Morgannwg – Wales Representative

Sue Dutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy Chief Executive, AoC

Olivia Farnesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Communications Manager –Learning, LSC

Phil Kilby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head of Public Sector Charities Team, Allied Irish Bank (GB)

Wilbert McKee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy Director, Upper Bann Institute ofF&HE – Northern Ireland Representative

Judith Norrington. . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Learning and Quality, AoC

Sally-Ann Saull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marketing Manager – Lifelong Learning andHE Division, RM plc

Andrew Sich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head of Corporate Affairs, City & Guilds

Debra Stych . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clerk to the Board, AoC

Alice Thiagaraj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manager, AoC Charitable Trust

Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb . . Chair, Beacon Awards


AoC Beacon Awards - A HistoryThe Beacon Awards programme was established in 1994 under the auspices ofthe then Association for Colleges, at the suggestion of The Partnership Trust. ThePartnership Trust had established a similar awards programme for the highereducation sector, and following the incorporation of further education colleges,wished to establish an awards programme for the further education sector. Afeasibility study was carried out and in 1994 the Beacon Awards were born.

The AoC Beacon Awards were set up to recognise and reward outstanding andexemplary teaching and learning practice in further education colleges. TheAwards started with just six sponsors in their first year, offering the 13 Awardsthat were given. A total of 101 applications were received from 61 colleges andthe winners were announced at the Annual Conference in Edinburgh. It nowregularly attracts over 300 applications a year for around 20-30 Awards.

The Awards have been overseen since their inception by a Steering Group and,for the first 10 years of their operation, this was chaired by Geoff Melling. Geoff was a Trustee of the Partnership Trust and later became Director of AoCLondon Region. Geoff put a tremendous amount of energy and dedication intothe development of the Beacon Awards and his contribution helped to firmlyestablish the Awards as the respected means for recognising the commitment tolearners and outstanding achievements of the further education sector.

It was a stipulation of the Partnership Trust that the Awards should be open toall further education, sixth form, specialist, agricultural and art, design andperforming arts colleges from across the whole of the UK, irrespective ofmembership of the Association. Applications have been received from ThursoCollege in the north of Scotland to Penwith College in Penzance and fromPembrokeshire and Fermanagh Colleges to the west in Wales and NorthernIreland to Great Yarmouth in the east.

The winning projects over the years have been as diverse as the sector; forexample, a project to build a hovercraft, a peer education project to promotehealth and raise awareness of health issues, a range of courses built on theideas of the Agenda 21 papers from the Rio Earth Summit, a tutor trainingproject for deaf people and a project to prepare young people for entry into avariety of service industry posts such as retail assistants, resort representativesand cabin crew.

The range of organisations that colleges are working with to enhance learners’experiences is breathtaking – partnerships with local police, agricultural andhorticultural bodies, overseas partners, car manufacturers, ship builders, localbusinesses, the NHS, awarding bodies, schools, universities, other colleges,LEAs, arts centres, shopping centres, broadcasters and national newspapers toname but a few.

As the AoC Beacon Awards enter their second decade, the AoC CharitableTrust and the Steering Group will continue to ensure the ongoing developmentof the awards to reflect the ever changing needs of the sector and of the UK asa whole.


AoC Beacon Award WinningColleges 1994/95 – 2003/04Aberdeen Aon Award for Lifetime Learning 1996/7

AQA Award for College/School Partnerships 2001/2Allied Irish Bank Award for College/FoyerPartnerships

2003/4

Accrington & Rossendale

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health andCommunity Care

1997/8

Amersham & Wycombe

Basic Skills Agency Award for ESOL/EAL 2001/2

Barking Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Skills 1998/9Barnet City & Guilds Award for Health and Community Care 1995/6Barnfield Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 2003/4Barnsley Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry and Physics 1995/6

EMTA Award for Modern Apprenticeships in Engineering

1997/8

TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 1998/9CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for Construction 2001/2

Basingstoke TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 2002/3Bede Partnership Trust Award for Combined, General or

Vocational Science1999/0

Partnership Trust Award for Biology, Botany or Zoology 2001/2Bedford AQA Award for College/School Partnerships 2002/3Belfast Institute Becta Award for the Effective use of ILT to Enhance

Teaching and Support Learning2002/3

FENC Award for Blended Learning 2003/4MENCAP and RNIB Award for Students with LearningDifficulties and/or Disabilities

2003/4

Bell Becta Award for IT to Support Learning 1995/6Beverley NEBOSH Award for Teaching Programmes

in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management

2001/2

Blackpool & Eversheds Award for New Deal Provision 1999/0The Fylde Basic Skills Agency Award for Extending

Participation in Basic Skills2002/3

LSC Award for Equality and Diversity 2003/4Blackpool SixthForm

Edexcel Foundation Award for English, Social Studiesand the Humanities

1999/0

Boston AQA Award for College/School Partnerships 2003/4Bournemouth City & Guilds Award for Hospitality and Catering 1999/0& Poole LSDA Award for Quality in Staff Development for the

Application of ILT2000/1

Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 2002/3Bournville BT Award for Distance Learning 1998/9

NCFE Award for Foreign Language Teaching 1999/0Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills for Industry

2001/2

Bridgend BT Award for Distance Learning 1995/6Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Community Action Award 1998/9

Bridgwater Professor John Tomlinson Award for Inclusive Learning(sponsored by NIACE, LSDA and MENCAP)

1998/9

AQA Award for College/School Partnerships 2000/1LSC Award for Delivery to Meet Specific Employer Needs

2001/2

LSC Award for Innovation in Improving Quality and Standards

2002/3

TES/AoC Award for Staff Development 2002/3Broxtowe British Council Award for International Student Support 1998/9

British Council Award for International Student Support 2003/4Bury LSDA Award for Staff Development in ILT 1998/9

Edexcel Award for Lifelong Learning 2002/3

“(winning the ESOL Award) has raisedstudents’ self-esteem and engendered a senseof pride in their being part of a successfulteam. It has also helped boost enrolments andexpand our curriculum offer.”Amersham and Wycombe College

“Award money has been used to gain a deeperunderstanding of school issues and identifynew ways of teaching and learning, allowingthe College to develop more vocationalprogrammes and make a huge difference tomany students.”Bedford College

“The annual publication of the profiles of thewinning projects is particularly helpful.These demonstrate both the overall quality offurther education provision throughout theUK and also let us see the good practicedeveloped by others, giving us a referencepoint to pursue developments withcolleagues.”Aberdeen College

“Tyne Tees Television included an item on theAward … Following the tremendous successof the Biology Department, Bede College hasbeen flooded with requests from colleges allover the country … all wanting to know moreabout how to liven up their lessons.”Bede College


Cardonald United Biscuits Award for Work Related ‘Applied’ Education

1999/0

CLA Award for Encouraging Creativity throughCopyright (with SFEU)

2003/4

Chesterfield Post Office Award for Special Needs Provision andBasic Literacy

1994/5

Post Office Award for Learning Difficulties 1996/7Chichester British Council Award for International Student

Support1999/0

British Council (ECS)/Chartered Institute of MarketingAward for International Marketing

2001/2

Christ the King BT Award for Distance Learning in the Provision of ALevels and GNVQs

1999/0

Cirencester United Biscuits Award for Work Related ‘Applied’ Education

1998/9

City College ABC Award for Counselling Education 2000/1Manchester BTI Award for International VET Projects 2000/1City of Bath Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 2001/2City of Bristol EMTA Award for Contributions to Modern

Apprenticeships in Engineering1998/9

NCFE Award for Foreign Language Teaching 1998/9NACETT Award for Delivery to meet SpecificEmployer Needs

1999/0

Clackmannan CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for Construction 2003/4Coleg Gorseinon Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for the

Performing Arts1999/0

Partnership Trust Award for Science and Mathematics 2003/4Coleg Llandrillo Edexcel Award for Art and Design 1995/6

LSDA Award for Staff Development in ILT 1997/8Professor John Tomlinson Award for Inclusive Learning(sponsored by NIACE, LSDA and MENCAP)

1998/9

Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills for Industry

2000/1

TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 2001/2Eversheds Award for New Deal Provision 2002/3City & Guilds Award for Teaching IT 2003/4

Coleg Menai BBC Education Award for the use of Television, Video& Audio Media in the Delivery of Distance Learning

2000/1

Coleg Morgannwg Post Office Award for Special Needs 1995/6BBC Education Award for Technology to Enhance Learning

1997/8

Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Skills 1997/8Becta Award for IT to Support Effective Learning 1997/8Edexcel Award for Engineering 2000/1

Coleg Sir Gâr OCR Award for NVQs for Business 1998/9FENC/LBCNC Award for Land-based Industries 1999/0Professor John Tomlinson Award for Students withLearning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (Sponsored byNIACE, LSDA and MENCAP)

2000/1

OCR Award for NVQs for Business 2000/1LSDA Award for e-Learning 2001/2

Cornwall LSDA Award for College/Employer Partnerships 2002/3Darlington OCR Award for Delivering Business Excellence through

FE Collaboration2002/3

Deeside TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 1997/8Becta Award for using ILCT to Support EffectiveTeaching and Learning

1999/0

LSDA Award for College/Employer Partnerships 2000/1Derby TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 1999/0

BT Award for Lifelong Learning 2000/1FENC Award for the Effective Integration of FlexibleLearning and ILT

2001/2

City & Guilds Award for Teaching IT 2002/3

“The impact upon our students of thiscontinuing project and the recognition of theproject afforded by the achievement of theBeacon Award, has proved to be verysignificant. The project … plays a major rolein increasing social awareness and culturaldiversity.”City of Bath College

“The Beacon Awards offer Coleg Llandrillothe opportunity of taking part in a UKcompetition. It reflects extremely well on staffand students to win an Award and is a way ofhighlighting that you are amongst the best inthe UK. This gives everyone involved a greatsense of pride and achievement.”Coleg Llandrillo

“The Beacon Award was a clear advantage inthe college gaining full status as a Centre ofVocational Excellence in Digital Media(Production and Design) and in forming othervaluable industry partnerships.”Darlington College of Technology


Dewsbury Partnership Trust Award for Mathematics 1996/7Partnership Trust Award for Combined or General Science

1997/8

Dudley CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for Construction 1999/0British Council Award for International Student Support 2000/1British Council/Chartered Institute of MarketingAward for International Marketing

2000/1

Partnership Trust Award for Numeracy and Mathematics

2002/3

Dundee BT Award for Distance Learning 1995/6Gardner Merchant Award for Environmental Health in Catering

1995/6

Dunstable Churches’ Award for Sustainable Community Development

1999/0

East Surrey United Biscuits Award for Work Related ‘Applied’ Education

1997/8

Fermanagh FENC Award for the Effective Integration of ILT-basedLearning Resources into Lesson Plans

2002/3

Filton NACETT Award for Delivery to meet SpecificEmployer Needs

1999/0

Gateshead Post Office Award for Special Needs 1995/6Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Community Action Award 1997/8

Greenhead Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry and Physics 1996/7Partnership Trust Award for Biology, Botany or Zoology 1996/7AQA Award for Business Studies 1999/0Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for Colleges EncouragingGood Citizenship

2000/1

GreenwichCommunity

LSDA Award for College/Employer Partnerships 2002/3

Grimsby BT Award for Distance Learning 1995/6BBC Award for Learning with the Media 2001/2Edexcel Award for Lifelong Learning 2003/4

Gwent Tertiary Post Office Award for Special Needs Provision andBasic Literacy

1994/5

Halton Becta Award for Using IT to support Effective Learning 1994/5BBC Education Award for Multimedia to Enhance Learning

1996/7

BT Award for Distance Learning 1996/7City & Guilds Award for Land-based Industries 1997/8Kidsons Impey Award for Finance and Business Teaching

1997/8

Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry and Physics 1997/8OCR Award for NVQs for Business 1999/0

Harrow City & Guilds Award for Health and Community Care 1996/7Hartlepool Eversheds Award for New Deal Provision 2001/2Hereward Post Office Award for Learning Difficulties 1996/7Highbury,Portsmouth

NEBOSH Award for Teaching Programmes in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management

2003/4

Hugh Baird Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health andCommunity Care

1999/0

Hull BT Award for Distance Learning 1994/5CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for Construction 2002/3LSC Award for College Engagement with Employers 2003/4

Jewel & Esk Valley Post Office Award for Special Needs Provision andBasic Literacy

1994/5

John Leggott British Council Award for International Student Support 2002/3John Ruskin City & Guilds Award for Health and Community Care 1996/7Joseph Chamberlain Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health and

Community Care2001/2

King Edward VIStourbridge

IFA Award for Finance and Business Studies 2002/3

King George V Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry or Physics 1998/9Kingston Edexcel Award for English, Social Studies, Foreign

Languages and the Humanities2000/1

Partnership Trust Award for Mathematics 2001/2

“We are quadruple Beacon Award winners atDudley College … The winning of theprestigious awards led to a high profiledissemination conference held at and hostedby the college to other providers in the Furtherand Higher Education sector”Dudley College

“All the staff of the College and the LondonLeisure College are proud to have theopportunity to showcase the quality andbreadth of our work and for it to be recognisedvia these prestigious awards given annuallyby the AoC. It represents a quality standardmarker to both our colleagues in educationand to those in the wider world showing thatour partnership working results in an offer ofthe best industry linked training available.”Greenwich Community College

“The recognition that Beacon Award statusbrought has been key in allowing the Collegeto promote good practice with respect to workwith the long-term unemployed.”Hartlepool College of Further Education

“Celebrating our success with our learners,staff, employers and the local community hashelped us reinforce the value of learning,achievement and excellence in all of ourpartners. It has instilled a sense of pride inthe College and spurred us on to greaterefforts and challenges.”Hull College


Lambeth Becta Award for using ILCT to Support EffectiveTeaching and Learning

2001/2

Leicester Basic Skills Agency Award for Extending Participationin Basic Skills

2001/2

Lewisham Partnership Trust Award for Initiatives in Education forthe Health Service and Care Occupations

1994/5

Whitbread Award for Hospitality and Catering 1996/7Eversheds Award for New Deal Provision 2000/1TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 2003/4

Lincoln City & Guilds Award for Teaching IT 2001/2LiverpoolCommunity

Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Literacy 1996/7

Loreto Churches’ Award for Sustainable CommunityDevelopment

2001/2

LSC Award for Improving Quality and Standards 2002/3Matthew Boulton Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health and

Community Care2002/3

Mid Kent Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills for Industry

1999/0

National Star Centre Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 2002/3Nelson & Colne BT Award for Distance Learning 1994/5

FENC Award for the Effective Integration of ResourceBased Learning and ILT

1999/0

CoLRiC Award for the Effective Integration ofLibraries/LRC in Curriculum Delivery

2003/4

New College Post Office Award for Inclusive Learning 1997/8Nottingham Aon Award for Adult Lifetime Learning 1998/9New College Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills 1997/8Swindon Partnership Trust Award for Mathematics 2000/1

Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry or Physics 2001/2Newark &Sherwood

FENC Award for the Effective Integration of ResourceBased Learning and ILT

2000/1

CoLRiC Award for Effective Integration ofLibraries/LRCs in Curriculum Delivery

2001/2

Newcastle underLyme

Partnership Trust Award for Biology, Botany or Zoology

1995/6

Newham Sixth Form Edexcel Award for Art and Design 1997/8LSDA Award for Employer Partnerships 1998/9Partnership Trust Award for Combined, General orVocational Science

1998/9

Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 2000/1Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for the Performing Arts

2000/1

North East Institute BBC Award for the use of Television, Video & AudioMedia in the Delivery of Distance Learning

1999/0

Becta Award for using ILCT to Support EffectiveTeaching and Learning

2000/1

North WestConsortium

TES/AoC Award for Staff Development 2001/2

North West Institute Peugeot Award for Initiatives in Engineering Education 1994/5Northumberland Aon Award for Adult Lifetime Learning 1999/0Oaklands City & Guilds Award for Vocational

Engineering Education1994/5

Professor John Tomlinson Award for Inclusive Learning for Adults with Profound or MultipleLearning Difficulties (Sponsored by NIACE, LSDAand MENCAP)

1999/0

Oldham, The Commission for Black Staff in FE and Network forBlack Managers Award for Promoting Race Equality

2003/4

Otley Trident Feeds Award for Animal Husbandry 1995/6Park Lane BT Award for Distance Learning 1997/8

City & Guilds Award for Hospitality and Catering 1998/9

“The learners have benefited from the honourof achieving the Beacon Award through theenhanced profile of this area of learning andthe continued commitment and support of theCollege and partner organisations … the(award) has given the instructors teamrecognition and credibility for the professionalsupport provided for the community…”Lincoln College

“These awards have helped build a reputationfor the college by giving recognition to someoutstanding work undertaken by staff withstudents and others in the local community…our five Beacon Awards have providedrecognition for innovation and good practice,helping the college achieve and often excel inall aspects of its mission.”Newham Sixth Form College

“In 1996 the mechanical section of the NorthEast Institute of F&HE was at the point ofshutdown. Many factors, including a newprogramme manager, dedicated and highlymotivated staff, a desire to introduce new andup-to-date curriculum and working practicesand a focus to deal directly with themanufacturing industries brought about achange that has seen the section go fromstrength to strength. Part of this has includedthe winning two Beacon Awards that haveserved to promote the section and encouragethe staff and students to greater things.”North East Institute of F+HE


The AoC Beacon Awards 2004-2005 WinAnnounced at the AoC Annual Conference

The AQA Award for College/SchoolPartnershipsAward WinnerStanmore College FE CorporationHighly CommendedBury College

The Allied Irish Bank Award forCollege/Foyer PartnershipsAward WinnerNewham College of Further Education

The Becta Award for the Effective use of ILTto Enhance Teaching and Support LearningAward WinnerWest Nottinghamshire CollegeHighly CommendedOldham Sixth Form College

The Basic Skills Agency Award for ESOLAward WinnerNewcastle CollegeHighly CommendedExeter CollegeSouth Thames College

The Basic Skills Agency Award for ExtendingParticipation in Basic SkillsAward WinnerGrantham CollegeHighly CommendedBoston College

The British Council Award for InternationalStudent SupportAward WinnerBournemouth and Poole CollegeHighly CommendedAberdeen College

The CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for ConstructionAward WinnerCollege of North West London

The Churches’ Award for SustainableCommunity DevelopmentJoint Award WinnersNorth Devon CollegeNorthern College for Adult ResidentialEducation

The City & Guilds Award for the Teaching of IT

Award WinnerGrimsby Institute of F&HE

The Commission for Black Staff in FE andNetwork for Black Managers Award forPromoting Race EqualityAward WinnerHackney Community CollegeHighly CommendedSouth Birmingham College

The Department for Employment andLearning Award for College Engagement withEmployersAward WinnerNewry and Kilkeel Institute of F&HEHighly CommendedEast Down Institute of F&HE

The Edexcel Award for Lifelong LearningAward WinnerHavering College of F&HEHighly CommendedColeg Sir GârTameside College

The ELWa Award for College Engagementwith EmployersAward WinnerPembrokeshire College

The FENC Award for Blended LearningAward WinnerThe Sheffield College

The Jardine Lloyd Thompson HealthcareAward for Health and Community CareAward WinnerBridgwater CollegeHighly CommendedAberdeen CollegeMerton College

The Learning + Skills Council Award forCollege Engagement with EmployersJoint Award WinnersCornwall CollegeNewham College of FEHighly CommendedManchester College of Arts andTechnology

The Learning + Skills Council Award forEquality and DiversityAward WinnerCollege of North West London

The MENCAP and RNIB Award for Studentswith Learning Difficulties and/or DisabilitiesJoint Award WinnersAlton CollegeCollege of North West London

The NEBOSH Award for TeachingProgrammes in Occupational Health, Safetyand Environmental ManagementAward WinnerCornwall CollegeHighly CommendedWarwickshire College


Winning and Highly Commended Colleges e at a reception sponsored by The Guardian

The OCR Award for Basic Skills in theWorkplaceAward WinnerCornwall CollegeHighly CommendedTotton College

The Protocol Professional Award for Art and DesignAward WinnerYale CollegeHighly CommendedAberdeen CollegeCleveland College of Art and DesignColeg Morgannwg

The RM Award for Leadership in LearningAward WinnerNational Star CollegeHighly CommendedBrockenhurst CollegeHighlands College

The TES/AoC Award for Staff DevelopmentAward WinnerColeg MenaiHighly CommendedBournville College of FE

The TES/AoC Award for WideningParticipationAward WinnerChichester CollegeHighly CommendedCity of Bristol CollegeHuntingdonshire Regional College

The Ufi/learndirect Award for DeliveringLearning through learndirect Centres inCollegesAward WinnerLincoln College

The following colleges are congratulatedfor reaching the shortlisting stage for thefollowing Awards, the assessors havecommented on the high standard of allthe shortlisted colleges and have greatlyenjoyed visiting them.Aberdeen CollegeTES/AoC Award for Staff DevelopmentArmagh CollegeFENC Award for Blended Learning Basingstoke College of TechnologyOCR Award for Partnerships in Basic SkillsBury CollegeCity & Guilds Award for the Teaching of ITColeg MenaiELWa Award for College Engagementwith EmployersColeg Sir GârCITB-ConstructionSkills Award for ConstructionCornwall CollegeAQA Award for College/SchoolPartnerships Deeside CollegeELWa Award for College Engagementwith EmployersFE Reprographic Managers’ Forum(represented by Barnet College)CLA Award for Encouraging Creativitythrough CopyrightGrimsby Institute of F&HECommission for Black Staff inFE/Network for Black Managers Awardfor Promoting Race EqualityMyerscough CollegeBecta Award for the Effective use of ILT toEnhance Teaching and Support Learning New College DurhamTES/AoC Award for Staff DevelopmentNorth West Institute of F&HEAQA Award for College/SchoolPartnerships Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form CollegeRM Award for Leadership in LearningSouth Cheshire CollegeChurches’ Award for SustainableCommunity DevelopmentTresham InstituteBecta Award for the Effective use of ILT toEnhance Teaching and Support LearningWeston CollegeUfi/learndirect Award for DeliveringLearning through learndirect Centres inCollegesWeymouth CollegeBritish Council Award for InternationalStudent Support

The following bodies have giveninvaluable support to the Programme in2004-2005 which is greatly appreciated:


Pembrokeshire British Council Award for International Student Support

2001/2

Partnership Trust Award for Life Science 2002/3TES/AoC Award for Staff Development 2003/4

Pendleton Basic Skills Agency Award for ESOL 2003/4Plymouth BT Award for Distance Learning 1995/6

Edexcel Award for Engineering 1996/7United Biscuits Award for Applied Education 1996/7LSDA Award for Employer Partnerships 1997/8Partnership Trust Award for Biology, Botany or Zoology

1998/9

Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry or Physics 1999/0Allied Irish Bank Award for College/Foyer Partnerships

2002/3

LSC Award for High Performance in Equality and Diversity

2002/3

Preston Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health andCommunity Care

2000/1

CITB-ConstructionSkills Award for Construction 2000/1Queen ElizabethSixth Form

Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills 1998/9

Reading BT Award for Distance Learning 1994/5Richard Huish Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for the

Performing Arts2001/2

Richmond uponThames

Aon Award for Adult Lifetime Learning 1997/8

Royal Forest ofDean

Basic Skills Agency Award for Extending Participationin Basic Skills

1999/0

Runshaw AQA Award for Finance and Business 1998/9Partnership Trust Award for Biology, Botany or Zoology

1999/0

IFA Award for Finance and Business Studies 2001/2Salisbury ABC Award for Counselling Education 2001/2Sandwell IFA Award for Finance and Business Studies 2000/1Sheffield, The LSDA Award for e-Learning 2002/3Sixth Form Partnership Trust Award for Mathematics 1998/9Farnborough Partnership Trust Award for Chemistry or Physics 2000/1

Partnership Trust Award for Physical Sciences 2002/3Skelmersdale NACETT Award for Delivery to Meet Specific

Employer Needs2000/1

Solihull OCR Award for Business Studies 1996/7OCR Award for Basic Skills in the Workplace 2003/4

Somerset LSC Award for Delivery to meet Specific Employer Needs

2001/2

Soundwell NACETT Award for Delivery to meet SpecificEmployer Needs

1999/0

South Birmingham Basic Skills Agency Award for English as an AdditionalLanguage

1999/0

CLA Award for Encouraging Creativity through Copyright

2002/3

South East Essex Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Skills 1997/8South Trafford City & Guilds Award for Hospitality and Catering 2000/1Southend AdultCommunity


2003/4

Southgate Edexcel Award for Lifelong Learning 2001/2Southwark Protocol Professional Award for Art and Design 1998/9Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust Award for Combined or

General Science1996/7

FENC and LBCNC Award for Land-based Industriesand Associated Programmes

1998/9


2000/1

Churches’ Award for Sustainable Community Development

2000/1

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health andCommunity Care

2003/4

“The annual Beacon brochure is carefullyscrutinised by the managers and variousprojects are highlighted for future Beaconconsideration, sometimes two or three years inadvance… Success in the Beacon processdefinitely contributes to the impetus for higherquality, to staff satisfaction and to theultimate benefits of students.”Pembrokeshire College

“The Award has acted as a spring boarddeveloping relationships with Arts providersand has enabled the College to develop abusiness plan launching a recording labelpromoting College and local bands. Thequality of our work is now recognised atNational level and has helped put RichardHuish College forward as a centre ofexcellence for the performing arts.”Richard Huish College

“Following on from its Beacon Award, theCollege was also awarded a CoVE forhospitality and catering in 2003 and recentlylaunched a new £3.5m Hospitality andTourism building together with acontemporary public restaurant, AspireRestaurant Bar. The restaurant has recentlyachieved Northern College Restaurant of theYear status by industry publication,Restaurant Magazine.”South Trafford College


Strode Edexcel Award for English, Social Studies and the Humanities

1998/9

Churches’ Award for Sustainable Community Development

2002/3

Marks & Spencer Award for Transferable Skills for Industry

2002/3

Swansea LSDA Award for Staff Development in ILT 1999/0Tameside OCR Award for Business Studies 1995/6

OCR Award for Business Management 1997/8Becta Award for the Effective use of ILT to EnhanceTeaching and Support Learning

2002/3

Telford City & Guilds Award for Vocational Engineering Education

1994/5

EMTA Award for Engineering 1995/6City & Guilds Award for Health and Community Care 1995/6Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Literacy 1996/7Becta Award for ILCT to Support Effective Learning 1998/9Basic Skills Agency Award for Basic Skills 1998/9Jardine Lloyd Thompson Award for Health andCommunity Care

1998/9

FENC Award for Effective Modularisation & use ofTechnology-based Learning Resources

1998/9

LSDA Award for College/Employer Partnerships 1999/0LSDA Award for College/Employer Partnerships 2001/2OCR Award for Helping Business Deliver the New Economy

2001/2

Thomas Danby Basic Skills Agency Award for ESOL/EAL 2002/3Thurso BT Award for Distance Learning 1994/5Totton Churches’ Award for Sustainable Community

Development2003/4

Waltham Forest Gardner Merchant Award for Environmental Health in Catering

1995/6

BBC Education Award for Multimedia to Enhance Learning

1995/6

WarringtonCollegiate

EMTA Award for Engineering 1995/6

Warwickshire Becta Award for the Effective use of ILT to EnhanceTeaching and Support Learning

2003/4

Westminster City & Guilds Award for Hospitality and Catering 1997/8Kingsway TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 2000/1Wigan and Leigh MENCAP, RNIB, RNID Award for Students with

Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities2002/3

Ufi/learndirect Award for Delivering Learning throughlearndirect Centres in Colleges

2003/4

Wilberforce Partnership Trust Award for Mathematics 1999/0Wiltshire LSC Award for Delivery to meet Specific

Employer Needs2001/2

Wirral Metropolitan Becta Award for IT to Support Learning 1996/7Wolverhampton Post Office Award for Special Needs Provision and

Basic Literacy1994/5

Yale Protocol Professional Award for Hospitality and Catering

1999/0

York TES/AoC Award for Widening Participation 2000/1

“Sharing good practice with other colleges hasbeen hugely rewarding and we haveestablished on-going partnerships.Dissemination activities and collaborationwork have been encouraged both within otherareas of the College and with colleges locally,regionally and nationally.”Telford College of Arts and Technology

“The Welcome to Leeds project … was aresponse to the locally identified need toprovide a more holistic and supportiveapproach to working with asylum seekers andrefugees within the third most deprived wardin Leeds, ranking in the bottom 5%nationally… The project provided aninfrastructure of language learning tailored tothe immediate needs of those arriving in Leedsand a social support structure including …volunteer support for befriending … theBeacon Awards has had a positive impact onthe college ability to attract additionalcontributors funds from single pot and LeedsLearning Partnership.”Thomas Danby College

“The award … signifies the college’scommitment for delivering learning throughlearndirect centres both within the College andits partnership venues. The award alsosignifies recognition of the work carried outwith students, which demonstrates the mostinnovative provision of learning facilities.”Wigan and Leigh

“When we were announced as winners thesurprise and delight were immense. But thesefeelings don’t last long; what does is theextraordinary pride and confidence which isnow evident in the team involved. Howevermuch they knew they were doing good,innovative work, the affirmation of this by anindependent party at national level really hashad a lasting impact on the large numbers ofstaff involved.”Totton College


NILTA was established in 1989 and is an independent membership body thatsupports the application of new technologies in lifelong learning. Its objectivesare to lead the agenda for e-learning; raise awareness and enhance thereputation of the sector; support members to drive up quality in teaching andlearning, engage all learners and raise achievement; and use consultation andcommunication to inform, influence and invest.

AoC and NILTA announced their merger in August 2003 as part of a jointstrategy to promote e-learning in colleges throughout the UK. As such theyhave combined their resources to offer corporate members of bothorganisations high quality services which will assist their staff in delivering,supporting and managing e-learning. Benefits include enhanced regionalservices and special interest groups, and greater promotion of technologicaland e-learning issues within and on behalf of colleges. The prime benefit ofthe merger is the ability of the Associations to reach staff at all levels withincolleges and other learning providers. The new company, AoC NILTA is awholly owned subsidiary of the Association of Colleges.

Unique amongst its partners working in the e-learning arena, AoC NILTA’sindependence as a Membership body brings key benefits to the sector throughits ability to respond to issues at local, regional and national level, and itsability to influence e-learning agendas through its dialogue with the DfES andLSC.

AoC NILTA believes that supporting and encouraging learning is paramountand that e-learning is an essential part of the future of teaching and learning.As part of a blended learning process, the use of e-learning is one of a range ofsolutions that, fitting seamlessly into the whole learning experience, is key towidening participation and raising standards.

We are therefore delighted to support the production of this document,celebrating the achievements of all colleges that have won a Beacon Award inthe past 10 years. The ethos of the Beacon Awards is directly in accord withNILTA’s objectives, in particular: to raise awareness and enhance the reputationof the sector; and to drive up quality in teaching and learning.


(formerly Gardner Merchant)

BAE SYSTEMS

AoC Beacon Award Sponsors since 1994


AoC Beacon Award Sponsors since 1994 (cont)


Eddie BrittainLead Assessor

Rob AdamsonKevin AndersonMary ArnoldJohn BennettPaula BurtonStuart BurtonHoward ClarkePhil ClarkeMichael Colenso (deceased)Barry CrossLewis DarbyshireCynthia DeesonEric DeesonColin FalconerMaureen FraserLiz FryerBrian FurnissGillian HayesSteve HillmanJoe Howgego

Ian JardineTom JardineKathleen KimberProfessor Gordon LawrenceSue LovellPetra MajorArnot MillarJohn MillingtonGerard O’DonnellTony RobertsPaula SayerBrian SmithKevin SmithJennie SparksProfessor John ThomasAnthea TurnerPatricia TwymanPeter WebbSandy WilliamsJudith Worsnop

The Beacon Awards AssessmentTeam since 1994


More quotes from AoC Beacon Award Winners

“… the amount of effort taken to enter theBeacon Award competition is rewarded 100fold with the winning.”Broxtowe College, Nottingham

South Trafford College

South Trafford College

“Coleg Morgannwg has enjoyed the success offive awards in as many years. Collectively,the acknowledged quality of provision hasresulted in staff being involved in severalcurriculum initiatives in Wales.”Coleg Morgannwg

Richard Huish College

“The Beacon Award put the College in aprime position to engage with … employersand show them the advantages of educationand training to their business success.”Barnsley College – EMTA Award for ModernApprenticeships in Engineering

“Blackpool and The Fylde College views theAoC Beacon Awards as an opportunity tocapture innovations, raise awareness of goodpractice and to promote their replication.”Blackpool and The Fylde College

“Putting the submission together provides theopportunity to analyse all aspects of theprogramme and to particularly consideraspects of good practice which may betransposed elsewhere. The word limit focusesthe mind to ensure that all the pertinentaspects of the programme are highlighted.”Bournville College of Further Education

“Since winning the Edexcel Beacon Award forLifelong Learning and work in communityadult learning, Bury College has continued toexpand and enhance community basedlearning, providing effective and imaginativeapproaches to motivate adult learners andwiden participation in the local community.”Bury College

“Winning the Beacon Award… cemented ourexcellent working relationship with theemployer, the Royal Armoured Corps, into atrue long-term partnership. The sharedexperience and recognition gained from theachievement has established the collegepartnership as a quality provider to the Army. It has also validated the two Collegesworking together to share resources in equal collaboration.”Wiltshire College and Somerset College of Artsand Technology

“Beacon Awards are given only after agruelling selection process, which has a realvalue – whether you win an award or not.Questions we were asked helped us identifythe difference between the excellent workdelivered every day in all areas of the collegeand the truly outstanding contributionrecognised by Beacon Awards.”City College Manchester

“The Beacon Award has given Deeside Collegethe opportunity to position itself as aprogressive, innovative and high qualityprovider of education and training and thecollege went on to be awarded The Queen’sAnniversary Prize in 2002 for its work withindustry.”Deeside College

“The award has been a tremendous advantagein our international marketing… When wetell parents of present and prospectivestudents, they are clearly encouraged to sendtheir sons and daughters to us because theaward specifically acknowledges the supportand care that we give.”John Leggott College

“… the College now has its own internalBeacon Awards. Each year one particularlyeffective, interesting or innovative project ischosen from each School. The projects areincluded in the College’s annual report as away of celebrating responsiveness andinnovation.”Lambeth College

“ …the winning of the 2003 CITB-ConstructionSkills Award has galvanisedaction to share good practice across theCollege … all too often, examples of goodpractice fail to be shared within Colleges. Asa result, the College is introducing a system toencourage sharing of good practice bypresenting examples to its Academic PortfolioCommittee and thereafter to all staff throughthe College Newsletter.”Clackmannan College

Association of Colleges5th Floor

Centre Point103 New Oxford StreetLondon WC1A 1RG

Telephone: 020 7827 4600Facsimile: 020 7827 4650

email: [email protected]: www.aoc.co.uk

Beacon10yrs

Education

Transcript of Beacon10yrs