2020 -21PROSPECTUS

AoC Beacon Awards

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About the awards

General criteria and eligibility to apply

Benefits of applying

Why you should apply

Assessment

The application process

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Award winners

Individual awards and sponsors

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CONTENTS

Principal of Beacon winning college

We’re still ‘glowing’ and everyone is

really pleased to have won the

Award. It was a great boost,

especially in this current climate

‘‘

The Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK further education (FE) colleges. It is managed by AoC and run through AoC Charitable Trust - a registered charity.

The aim of the awards Programme is to demonstrate and promote the far-reaching impact of colleges on their students and the communities they serve. The commended and winning case studies will be used to increase understanding of colleges’ contribution to educational skills policy and economic and social development.

This year we have amended the application and assessment process; this is part of our ongoing review and led by the AoC Beacon Awards Chief Assessor. We have also taken on board feedback from colleges regarding the additional demands placed on colleges and staff due to Covid 19. We have also ensured the guidance to applicants and what assessors will be looking for is more explicit to help applicants capture the information assessors require.

Recognise innovative and exemplary teaching and learning practice in colleges.

Draw attention to provision which encourages and supports students to approach challenges positively and creatively.

Support learning and continuous improvement through sharing best practice.

Promote and celebrate the college sector’s commitment to pioneering approaches to equality and diversity.

Project profiles of past ‘Commended’ and ‘Winning’ colleges are available via the website AoC Beacon Awards.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

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Awardsaims

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

We are as always extremely grateful to our award sponsors who have once again demonstrated their commitment to the college sector by sponsoring our awards.

The support of sponsors is crucial to the success of the Awards and we are delighted that the sponsors have demonstrated their commitment and support to the 2020/2021 awards programme.

Our sponsors also provide valuable advice on award categories, the application and assessment process and assist with promoting the college sector and sharing best practice.

There is considerable value to us being associated with the awards - the examples and best practice helps inform how we develop our support and services to colleges

Our Sponsors

‘‘04 AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY

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We ask staff to tell us the areas they feel we should be put forward for a Beacon and we have a cross college group who look at the examples and vote on the one to take through to application‘‘

Colleges can reflect on the successful approaches they have developed to teaching and learning, as well as review the positive impact that they have on their students.

Commended colleges that have reached the Beacon Standard will have their individual case studies profiled on the AoC website and will also feature in the AoC Annual Conference programme.

Winning and finalist colleges will be invited to showcase and share their outstanding practice at various AoC events in 2021.

Award sponsors will promote and share winning and commended college best practice case studies to their partners and affiliates.

Commended, Finalists and Winners will receive a relevant logo to use on their college headed paper, websites and other promotional materials.

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The awards offer colleges the opportunity to showcase the inspiring and innovative ways they support students, staff and communities. It represents the very best approaches that colleges have developed and are implementing to meet the skills needs of local employers and the career aspirations of their students.

Feedback from applicants tell us how they use the Beacon process to help staff to examine their practice, evaluate what is working well or could be developed further, create plans for improvement and inform college strategic planning and CPD support.

Benefits of applying

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

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The application and assessment process have been redesigned and streamlined this year given the challenges facing colleges due to Covid 19.

Please see our updated Guide for Applicants which provides information on how to apply and the key dates and deadlines.

Please note no awards are confined by age, gender, other groupings, size, or category of provision.

We have designed a simpler, more accessible application form to help guide applicants. This form will set out the assessment criteria (inclusive of Beacon and Sponsor criteria) as a series of questions which are then organised into three main sections: Innovation, Impact and Sustainability.

We are confident applicants will find that this structure will help them navigate the application process more easily and provide the evidence to show they meet both Beacon criteria, sponsor criteria and the elements of innovation, impact and sustainability.

By submitting your online application, you agree to the terms and conditions in the AoC privacy notice.

Online application via

AoC College Awards Wesbite

Announce commended

collegesAnnounce

finalistsAssessor visits to

finalists

Celebratory lunch for all finalists and staff hosted by AoC and Sponsors

Afternoon Parliamentary reception to announce Beacon winners

Beacon best practice Webinars hosted by Award sponsors and

AoC

Opens: 9 July 2020 Early November

2020

17 / 18November

2020

December 2020- Early February 2021

Spring 2021 June 2021 - October 2021Closes: 21 September

12 noon

THEPROCESS

07 AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

GENERAL CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY TO APPLYThe Beacon awards recognise exemplary initiatives that are truly innovative, can demonstrate impact and are sustainable. The awards seek to highlight and promote outstanding practice of further education colleges by highlighting the positive impact on students and the communities they serve.

Applicants must check that they meet the eligibility criteria to apply as specified in the Guide to Applicants.

Applicants are invited to complete a bespoke application form for each Beacon Award (maximum three awards). This form will give applicants the opportunity to address all the criteria that will be assessed.

All entrants must be FE colleges incorporated under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and be eligible for membership of the Association of Colleges. Please check your colleges eligibility in the Guide for Applicants.

Please note a college or college group can only submit three applications in 2020/21.

All initiatives should show evidence of imaginative yet sustainable teaching and learning practice or other relevant practice. An application can relate to a programme, course, project or other form of teaching, learning, advice, guidance or support. The application process will be in two stages.

Applicants must also take account of the specific requirements set out by the sponsors for their award and it is advisable to refer to the AoC Beacon Awards Chief assessors report 2019/20.

The guide to applicants and the Chief assessors report is the go-to documents and helped us make a really strong application and we won

‘‘

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ASSESSMENTAssessment of applications is carried out by a team of independent assessors, led by the Chief Assessor and overseen by the AoC Charitable Trust.

All Beacon award winners and commended colleges are awarded or withheld at the sole and absolute discretion of the AoC Charitable Trust and those acting on its behalf. No explanation will be provided on these decisions.

Please see the AoC Beacon Awards Guide for Applicants for more information.

Obligations for Award winners

There are certain requirements that a college will need to follow, and these are explained in the Guidance for Applicants. It applies to each college and AoC Beacon Award.

Those applying should confirm with their college Principal/CEO that the college will honour these requirements before applicants apply and proceed on this basis.

Winning and finalist colleges will be expected to take part in a best practice workshop hosted by the Awards Sponsors and AoC during 2021 to showcase and share their outstanding practice. These workshops will be free to AoC member colleges and staff to attend.

Great opportunity for the College and especially external stakeholders to showcase their involvement and hard work. The assessors were very approachable, knowledgeable and supportive

Beacon finalist

‘‘

THE AoC BEACON AWARDS PROGRAMME 2020/21

Individual awards and sponsors

BRITISH COUNCIL International Award

Inclusive Learning Leadership Award supported by the NATIONAL CENTRE

FOR DIVERSITY

JISC Award for effective use of Digital Technology

in further education

NOCN Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing

NOUS GROUP Award for Education for Sustainable

Development

PEARS #iwill Award for Social Action and

Community Engagement

RCU Support for Students Award

The CAREERS & ENTERPRISE COMPANY

Award for Innovation in Careers and Enterprise

CITY & GUILDS Award for College Engagement with

Employers

COPYRIGHT LICENSING AGENCY Award for

Creative Industries and intellectual property

EDGE Award for Excellence in Real World Learning

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10 AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

BRITISH COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL AWARD

This award will celebrate an outstanding example of a college’s international work. The winner will have exceptional strategies to embed international activity within the broader college aims and have identified how this contributes to improved organisational, staff and curriculum development and learner outcomes.

In particular, assessors will look for effective and imaginative approaches undertaken to use international work to raise aspirations, share best practice and act as a catalyst for improvements in teaching and learning. Outcomes will be measured by evidenced improvements to key college objectives through international work. International work is varied and so long as applications meet the criteria there is no absolute requirement for international travel to have taken place.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

Our work in Skills encourages closer links between education, employers and policy makers in the UK and the countries we work in to help enhance the skills and employability of young people globally. Our work creates opportunities for individuals to broaden their horizons and be equipped with the skills needed to face today’s global and multicultural world of work.

About the British Council

Our Beacon Award celebrates and promotes the value of international

exchange for systems, organisations, staff, learners

and the wider community.

‘‘

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THE CAREERS & ENTERPRISE COMPANY AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN CAREERS AND ENTERPRISEThis award will celebrate an outstanding example of innovative careers leadership and practice. In a world where enterprise, education and work opportunities are constantly changing, students of any age need easy access to high quality support and information. Learning how to make informed decisions is increasingly critical to a successful working life.

The award is aimed at Careers Leaders in colleges and will celebrate careers programmes that demonstrate examples of innovative practice when engaging with schools, employers and other agencies, to provide learners with excellent impartial careers education, advice and guidance.

Assessors will be particularly interested to see applications where colleges are able to provide evidence of either meeting or making rapid progress towards achieving the eight Gatsby Benchmarks (GB).

Our mission is to prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work.

We support schools and colleges by linking them to employers and helping them deliver world class careers support for all young people. We do this by:

• Building Networks: Linking schools and colleges to employers and other external careers providers through the Enterprise Adviser Network and Careers Hubs.

• Supporting Careers Leaders: Providing training and support for Careers Leaders in schools and colleges.

• Backing the Gatsby Benchmarks: Supporting implementation of a best practice standard for careers support, the Gatsby Benchmarks, with tools and targeted funding.

About The Careers & Enterprise Company

We are delighted to be once again supporting the AoC Beacon Awards and look forward to hearing

about the great examples of innovative approaches in

colleges.

‘‘

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CITY & GUILDS AWARD FOR COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT WITH EMPLOYERSThis award will recognise exemplary practice in the delivery of provision: responsive to the needs of employers. The winner will need to demonstrate an outstanding ability to work with and provide a direct service to employers, be highly effective in meeting employers’ skills needs and/or apprenticeship requirements.

In addition, it is likely that there will be excellent examples of the college engaging with employers - to support the development of employability skills within the curriculum.

The award is not targeted at a specific group, but applications should demonstrate a clear, long-term vision of partnership and working with employers. The provision offered should enable the development of a skilled workforce and contribute to local and regional economic development. The successful programme is also likely to be very responsive to identified skills priorities and levels of unemployment.

City & Guilds is a global leader in skills development with a rich history over the last 140 years within the UK and more recently world-wide. We work closely with employers and providers with all aspects of skills development and training to enable learners to reach their potential. We have been an affiliate subscriber of AoC for many years and value the work that AoC undertakes with its college members, specifically the Beacon Awards.

About City & Guilds

City & Guilds is delighted to sponsor this award. We have

worked with the further education sector for many years and this

award recognises the enormous contribution that colleges make

in working closely with their local employers to ensure learners receive

the most relevant training and best chance of recruitment following

completion of programmes.

‘‘

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AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORTING CREATIVITY- COPYRIGHT LICENSING AGENCY

Creations abound in the everyday life of a college, and colleges play a vital role in supporting the creative industries and promoting their importance to the UK economy. Knowing how to responsibly source and use copyrighted material and protect intellectual property rights are also crucial life and work skills. We want to recognise and celebrate colleges who nurture and support creativity through the promotion and understanding of intellectual property. Examples of best practice will see that students are taught the value of their creative output, and are given guidance on seeking fair remuneration once they enter employment.

We are the Copyright Licensing Agency and we exist to simplify copyright for content users and copyright owners. Our mission is to help customers legally access, copy and share the published content they need, while also making sure that copyright owners are paid fair royalties for the use of their work. For more than 30 years we’ve been providing rights, licences, and a growing range of services, that simplify copyright by making it easier to access and re-use content.

About the Copyright Licensing Agency

We are thrilled to sponsor an AoC Beacon Award, and we’re so excited

to see the best practice conducted by colleges. From writing, technologies and through to the visual arts, staff

and students in every corner of the college will be using and also generating ideas. We welcome

entries from colleges that equip their community to use and protect these

creations responsibly.

Julie Murray, Education Account Manager

‘‘

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EDGE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REAL WORLD LEARNING

This award will celebrate colleges that have developed excellent practical teaching and learning. Assessors will be looking for initiatives which:

• Develop a curriculum which enables learners to have experiences that are real, meaningful, challenging and life changing

• Develop a responsive curriculum for professional and vocation education which has a direct and sustainable impact on employment and enterprise

• Demonstrate excellent engagement with employers and local communities, leading to sustained and successful involvement of learners in the workplace

• Demonstrate innovative best practice that delivers identifiable results and benefits for both learners and teaching professionals.

• Develop and implement flexible teaching, learning and assessment methods

Edge is an independent education foundation which via its projects, research, policy and campaign work, strives to make education relevant.

The world is changing fast, education needs to keep up. Edge believes that all young people need to be equipped with the skills that today’s global, digital economy demands, through high quality training, a broad and balanced curriculum, interactive and engaging real world leaning and rich relationships between education and employers.

Edge gather evidence through research, trials and projects on the ground and use this to lead the debate around future policy and practice. For more information visit www.edge.co.uk

About Edge Foundation

As a longstanding sponsor of the Beacon

Awards we are impressed every year at the standard of entries

for our award

‘‘

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INCLUSIVE LEARNING LEADERSHIP AWARD - SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DIVERSITY

What makes people feel included in organizations? That they feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully, are valued and belong. And this really matters because the more people feel included, the more they speak up, go the extra mile, and collaborate — all of which ultimately lifts performance. Inclusive leadership is emerging as a unique and critical capability helping colleges adapt to diverse and changing markets, and nurture ideas and talent.

The National Centre for Diversity’s mission is ‘fairness for all, everywhere’. For us the most critical element of Diversity is not where you are on your journey; it’s where you want to be. Diversity and Inclusion are very much on the corporate agenda for forward-thinking, ambitious companies.

About the National Centre for Diversity

We are delighted to be working in partnership with

AoC Beacon to recognise and celebrate examples of colleges

who champion and practice inclusive leadership

‘‘

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JISC AWARD FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN FURTHER EDUCATION

This award will celebrate an outstanding example of the ‘use of digital technology’ carefully designed to improve the student experience - in a digital age. Underpinning the best applications with evidence demonstrating enhancements to teaching, learning and assessment and/or the creation of business efficiencies. In every case, changes made will be valued by learners and easily evidenced. The innovative use of technology might be applied across specific provision or support a college wide approach.

Applications should show how the college goes above and beyond what is the ‘norm’ and applications are not restricted to a specific type of course, for example, ‘Information Technology’. Outstanding use of technology might be targeted at specific age groups or more generally those who study for all their time at a main campus or remotely.

Jisc is the further education and skills sectors’ not-for-profit organisation for digital services and solutions, embedded in the education community.

As a member of Jisc, you are part of this community and all the benefits that brings, from the power of shared effective practice to access to the latest digital products and thinking.

About Jisc

Jisc is delighted and proud to sponsor this AoC Beacon Award as

we see daily the amazing work being done across our members within further education. So, this award

provides the opportunity for a spotlight to be placed on colleges to

share their innovations and effective practice and show the community

what can and is possible.

‘‘

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NOCN GROUP AWARD FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEINGThis award will celebrate the important work colleges are doing to support the mental health and wellbeing of their students and staff. The rise in ill health amongst learners and the greater public is of great concern and is attracting heightened attention nationally. Support in mental health and wellbeing has never been more important, as the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the mental health of the nation becomes apparent.

Proposals will be expected to take into account the 11 points of the AoC mental Health Charter (2019).

Applications that show how colleges have successfully supported people in their local communities, existing students or teaching and support staff will be welcome. Of importance will be the sustainability of such innovation, and some recognition by those outside the college that this work has longer term benefit and is sustained over time.

As a leading education and skills charity, our focus is on social and economic mobility, not profit.

We offer a wide range of high-quality education and skills services, including regulated qualifications, EPA for apprenticeships, Job Cards in construction, Access to HE Diplomas, bespoke accreditation, endorsed courses and educational and skills support training.

We are committed to improving the opportunities of all learners, and we are proud to be an accredited Leader in Diversity (awarded by the National Centre for Diversity) and a Silver Investor in People.

About NOCN

Colleges care deeply about their students and staff. Their primary purpose is to

educate, to help students gain qualifications, to progress in work and further study but we

know that we also need to support them to gain skills to lead happy, successful lives. To achieve

all these outcomes, we need to help all students to be healthy, to develop skills in resilience,

to manage what life throws at them and we need to target specialist support to students with particular challenges. NOCN Group are delighted to once again sponsor this Beacon

Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Graham Hastings-Evans – Group Managing Director

‘‘

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NOUS GROUP AWARD - EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Education for sustainable development gives students the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to create a more sustainable and just society. This award celebrates colleges that have incorporated sustainable development into their teaching and operations, including issues Climate change, Biodiversity. Sustainable consumption and production, and Disaster risk reduction. Learning about these issues will empower students to change their behaviour and shape their future society.

Colleges may be emerging, established or leading in this area highlighted within the Climate Commissions FE colleges Roadmap and we look forward to hearing about your examples that others can learn from.

Nous Group is an international management consultancy operating in 10 locations across the UK, Australia and Canada. For over 20 years we have been partnering with leaders to shape world-class businesses, effective governments and empowered communities. Our work reflects our optimism and ambition for a better future.

We are delighted to sponsor this award with the support of the AoC and the UK Climate Commission for HE and FE Leaders.

About NOUS Group

We are delighted to support this award. It recognizes those colleges

helping the UK to transition to a cleaner economy, a fairer society, and a more

sustainable future. These are the colleges equipping the next generation

to take on the jobs of the future, adopt more sustainable lifestyles, and become more engaged citizens locally and globally. We can’t wait to see all

the brilliant entries.

Simon Lancaster, Nous Group

‘‘

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PEARS #IWILL AWARD FOR SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

This award will celebrate an outstanding example of a college’s ability to engage in social action and engagement in their communities. The winner will have exceptional strategies to provide transformational educational opportunities through social action and learner participation for students.

Assessors will look for effective and imaginative approaches to enhancing communities through student-led initiatives, especially those which benefit ‘non-traditional’ students.

Outcomes will be measured in the successful acquisition of skills, knowledge or qualifications and clear progression routes to further learning or employment for students, and impact on students and communities beyond the college.

Pears #iwill Fund, is a match fund created by Pears Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in support of the goals of the #iwill campaign – to make involvement in social action a part of life for young people, by recognising the benefit for both young people and their communities.

About Pears #iwill Fund

The Pears #iwill Fund is delighted to be partnering

with Association of Colleges to recognise and celebrate the

incredible contribution students and colleges are making to

communities across the UK.

Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair, Pears Foundation

‘‘

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RCU SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AWARD

This award will celebrate outstanding examples of student support provided by a college for a significant group of students, across a whole provision or college wide approach. This award might cover both learner and learning support.

The provision will be above and beyond what is the ‘norm’ and applications are not restricted to a specific type of course or programme. For example, applications would be welcome from colleges describing their bespoke provision for students with autistic spectrum disorders, or an outstanding example of information, advice and guidance, or excellent learner or learning support for adults returning to learn.

RCU provide market intelligence and research for the further education sector. Our mission is to develop and deliver practical and relevant research solutions for clients through innovation, professionalism and market expertise. Our products and services help our clients to improve what they do through increasing efficiency, effectiveness or reputation. We constantly refresh our approaches and scan the outside world for better ways to deliver value to our clients and we strive to be seen by the sector as the market leader in innovative data analysis and pragmatic and effective research.

About RCU

We are extremely proud to be sponsoring this award. We feel the

Support for Students Award provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase

the exceptional work colleges are doing to support students of all abilities

and from all backgrounds, within a quickly changing and often difficult

environment to ensure that they have a fair chance to progress and fulfill

their potential.

‘‘

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We are proud to continue to sponsor the AoC Beacon Awards as an opportunity to highlight success in the further education sector. The awards are beneficial to showcase best practice and promote the high standard of work delivered.

The Welsh Government is the devolved government for Wales and consists of the First Minister, Welsh Ministers and is supported by Civil Servants. The work of the organisation varies across areas such as health, education and the natural environment.

Welsh Government

It’s important to take time to celebrate the achievements

of colleges and the impact their contribution has on the

students and communities they serve across Wales.

‘‘

www.collegeawards.ac.uk

AoC Beacon Awards were set up by The Partnership Trust in 1994.

Since August 1996 they have been administered by the Association of Colleges.

AoC Beacon Awards are run through AoC Charitable Trust which is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (charity number 1040631) and in Scotland (charity number SC039064).

© AoC Charitable Trust 2020 2-5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU 01935 823444 | awards@aoc.co.uk

@AoC_info | #AoCBeacon