Association of Colleges

The AoC Beacon Awards, launched in 1994, recognise and are designed to promote the interdependence of Further Education Colleges, business, professional and voluntary sector organisations to their mutual advantage.

The aim of the programme is to highlight the breadth and quality of education in Colleges throughout the UK and increase understanding of Colleges’ contribution to UK educational skills policy and economic and social development.

The Awards:

• Recognise imaginative and exemplary teaching and learning practice in Colleges
• Draw attention to provision which encourages and supports learners to approach challenges positively and creatively
• Support learning and continuous improvement through the dissemination of Award-bearing practice
• Promote and celebrate the further education sector’s commitment to pioneering approaches to equality and diversity

The Programme represents partnership in action by providing significant benefits for the major players involved:
 

• An Award acts as a development grant to help realise the full potential of a project based in a College of further education
• An Award serves to promote the business needs and interests of the sponsor

The dissemination of exemplary practice represented by the Award-winning projects is a major purpose of each year’s AoC Beacon Awards Programme. Project Profiles of each year’s winning Colleges are written up and disseminated to the FE sector after their announcement.

The AoC Beacon Awards Steering Group

The AoC Beacon Awards Programme is operated through the AoC Charitable Trust which is a Registered Charity in England, Wales and Scotland, and is administered by the Association of Colleges (AoC). The AoC Beacon Awards office is offered advice and guidance by the Steering Group for the delivery and development of the programme. The Steering Group is made up of representatives from Colleges, funding bodies and sponsoring organisations. The Steering Group makes all final decisions about Award winners in the light of recommendations from the team of Assessors and the Chief Assessor.