Commended in Three Categories for the AoC Beacon Awards 24/25

We're thrilled to announce that Plumpton College has been commended for not one, but THREE AoC Beacon Awards!

This recognition celebrates our commitment to excellence in education and our dedication to making a meaningful impact in the lives of our students and response to a changing world. We couldn't be prouder of our team for their hard work and passion that made this possible.

We look forward to hearing the announcement of the finalists at the AoC Annual Conference on 12 November 2024.

The NOCN Group Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing

In 2022 the College undertook an audit, utilising the AoC’s CMET (College’s Mental Health and Evaluation) tool and soon recognised that mental health and wellbeing for staff was more than signposting resources on the College’s wellbeing hub. The tool demonstrated that effective staff wellbeing was an all-encompassing approach, and included far wider reaching elements such as belonging, inclusion, settling in and having fun in the workplace.

An action plan and college wide strategy was created, but one key thread through this was to find out from all staff what was important to their wellbeing and how we could bring this to life. We recognised that a well-supported staff community would in turn lead to higher staff engagement, motivation, retention and attendance. We further recognised that a consistent and happy workforce would bring benefits for our students and increase the overall student experience and help to improve their attendance and achievement. Through a series of ‘World Cafe’ style engagement events, all staff helped to create the first edition of the workplace manifesto.

A guide demonstrating a whole college approach to how the college provides opportunities for colleagues to be creative, feel rested, belong, able to take risks and ultimately, feel empowered to make a difference within their role. The guide, now in its 3rd edition, is used as part of induction, as a reference guide for daily practice and in one-to-ones with line managers.

And the impact? The College’s staff turnover is the lowest for 9 years and significantly below the regional sector average, staff absence is tracking positively low, and staff satisfaction is being recorded at an all-time high. Our engaged, motivated and settled staff community provide consistency for our students, resulting in positive student development, achievement, and sector leading progression into the workplace.

The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning

One Garden Brighton is a pioneering initiative, a destination garden open to the public and as such provides a real-life commercial working environment many graduates will go on to experience in industry. The garden has welcomed over one million visitors since 2021. The project focuses on real-world learning, offering accredited and non-accredited horticultural courses that cater to diverse student populations.

The garden serves as an immersive learning environment where students engage in live client projects, sustainable practices, and horticultural therapy. One Garden Brighton’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its 100% peat-free programmes, teaching students about environmental stewardship. The initiative has had a profound social impact, particularly through its collaboration with local councils to offer therapeutic horticulture to vulnerable adults, achieving a 100% retention and achievement rate.

By integrating practical learning with community engagement, the college and garden not only equips students with industry-relevant skills but also fosters personal and professional growth among participants. The garden’s role as a centre of excellence in horticulture education positions it as a model for other institutions seeking to innovate in real-world learning.

The RCU Award for Support for Students

Nationally 5.2% of young people between 16-18 are NEET. Locally, the figure is even higher at 6.9%. Furthermore, the number of young people who are severely absent is 150% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Outreach Programme has been developed to respond to the growing number of young people who are NEET and provide these vulnerable young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to find a pathway for progression.

The programme moves away from the traditional pathway for post-16 and employs an adapted and personalised approach. Outreach is divided into two key areas of focus: personal development and preparation for adulthood and developing study skills through lessons and activities connected to the different programmes and vocations available at the College. It has a collaborative approach with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that there is a holistic focus on the young person.

This enables them to engage whilst reducing not just educational barriers but any social, emotional or mental health challenges. The individualised and adaptive approach, co-created with the young people, creates an environment for students to feel safe and build connections. This is a turning point for many which leads them to positively reintegrate into education, training or employment as well as developing independence and important life skills.

Read more