The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) Summer Conference is an annual event in every college leader’s calendar. Held in Nottingham, it is a time where senior leaders from around the country can get together to share their ideas, their struggles and their triumphs.
Over this 2 day event attendees have the chance to hear from a range of speakers and organisations looking to develop and enhance various elements of the education world. This included Pathways – an interactive tool which allows students to see career pathways related to their chosen A-Level choices (you can see this throughout our course pages on our website under ‘Progression’).
At the end of day one, the SFCA hold their celebratory annual awards ceremony, where the Sixth Form Colleges Association celebrates the fantastic work that goes on across the sector. The College submitted entries for both the Independent Learning and Enrichment & Employability categories. We are thrilled to say that WE WON the Independent Learning Category for our 50/50 learning model!
‘We were delighted to get recognition for our approach 50/50 model. Learning is central to every aspect of College and helping our students to be more effective independent learners is a key priority. The 50/50 approach is a large part of that. We are very proud that this has been acknowledged as best practice in our sector nationally’ Emma Young (Principal)
50:50 learning model I hear you say… what is this? This is our mantra that helps our students manage their full time learning, if they have 4.5 hours taught in the classroom we then expect them to complete 4.5 hours of study outside the classroom. This consists of structured homework set by teachers, as well as consolidation of their learning, revision or carrying out further research.
We believe this effectively prepares our students for their next steps, whether that is university, apprenticeships or employment. Fostering confident, independent young adults is such an important part of our ethos. It is so amazing to be recognised for our dedication and hard work. A big thank you to all our staff for their continuous commitment to the College and to our students, this would not be possible without you!