Gower College Swansea has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Association of Colleges Beacon Awards for Widening Participation.
The 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.
The judging process consists of a two-stage assessment process taking on board sector feedback, including the ongoing awards review led by the AoC Beacon Awards Chief Assessor. For 2023-24 there are 9 award categories. The awards are judged by independent assessors, with an independent Chief Assessor ensuring consistency across the categories. All initial applications are anonymous to ensure impartiality. Finalist colleges are then subjected to a visit.
Mark White CBE DL, Chair of AoC’s Charitable Trust said:
“The AoC Beacon Awards showcase exactly why colleges are so important to every community and why people value them. This award recognises the critical role undertaken by boards, governors and governance professionals developing capacity for sustained improvement in the quality of provision for students.”
The AoC Beacon Award Winners will be announced in Spring 2024.