East Kent Colleges Group has been shortlisted for the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards.
The prestigious awards celebrate excellence in the sector with the Beacon Awards highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges throughout the UK.
These awards also help to increase the understanding of colleges’ contribution to their communities’ economic and social development.
EKC Group submitted an application for the widening participation category and has successfully reached the AoC Beacon Standard and Commended Status. This means the Group is in with a chance of being a finalist for the category at the awards.
Cementing the Group’s commended status is its EKC Training site in Eastchurch – an adult learning centre providing training to prisoners.
The centre aims to equip individuals with the skills necessary to secure employment upon their release from prison.
The open-prison status also allows inmates to participate in courses and, in some cases, engage in paid employment through the Release on Temporary Licence scheme.
Since the Group began delivering provision there, the Centre has experienced significant growth in both enrolments and successful outcomes. It achieved an overall success rate of 97.2 per cent in 2023-2024 with the provision helping to deliver training courses that have a real impact on the learners. The prison now boasts one of the lowest reoffending rates in England.
The Beacon finalists will be announced on Tuesday, November 12 at the AoC Annual Conference.
AoC is the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England.
It is a not-for-profit membership organisation established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Its members make up more than 90% of the sector – educating and training 1.6 million people each year.
More articles
Two EKC Group sites scoop prizes at Green School Awards 2024
Student meets only bear in UK to have same brain surgery as him
