Association of Colleges

15 June 2009

A publication launched today by the AoC reveals the role Colleges are playing in helping to improve people’s work and life prospects in communities up and down the country.

“It Can Be You”, which precedes the publication of a Government White Paper on the issue of social mobility, contains a series of personal College stories that illustrate how people from deprived backgrounds are realising their potential and doing better than their parents.

With almost twice as many young people from poorer families than schools, Colleges are skilled at helping support students that need it most. College career guidance ensures that courses match young people’s aspirations, leading to appropriate qualifications that also build their confidence and self-esteem.

When Sophial Goneil arrived at Luton College with 2 D and an E grades at GCSE he wasn’t expected to pass his first year. After four years hard work and one-to-one support he is about to start university. Sophial  said, “I never thought I would get this far, but with lots of effort and help from my teachers and career staff, I can now say I have a career ahead of me.”

Irene Kent, who is from a traveller family, had missed a lot of her education before starting at St Helen’s College, Merseyside. Regular attendance proved difficult for the 16 year old at first, but with support from tutors she discovered an appetite for study. Now in her second year, she is studying for a Level 2 award in beauty therapy and has received a Millennium Prize for her overcoming adversity.

Folasade Adu who left Woodhouse College in London to study medicine said, “I am very grateful for the for the help I got from my College because I am sure that getting into university would have been a lot harder without it. It made life easier knowing that you had people who cared about where you end up after your A Levels”.

Martin Doel, Chief Executive, AoC said, “Colleges are playing a huge role in giving those from poorer or minority ethnic backgrounds a step up or a second chance. A national network of Colleges is not only delivering a first class education to three million adult and 750,000 young people, it is also providing them with the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in life”.

“It Can Be You” is launched today at the House of Commons.

ends

Contacts:
Michael Williams, AoC Press Officer, 020 7034 9900/07500079210

FE Facts and Figures

• More than half of all Foundation Degree students are taught in Colleges
• 181,000 students study higher education in a College
• 269 Colleges provide higher education
• Colleges educate over 60,000 students from outside the UK

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