How to build a culture of respect, trust and support

Derby College Group provides personal development programmes for all students  including mandatory sessions on consent and healthy relationships. The college has run campaigns around toxic talking with the aim of raising awareness of, and addressing, inappropriate language and harmful attitudes. Specific interventions are delivered to respond to the needs of different groups, for example, in male dominated subject areas such as construction. Smaller learner groups and strategic use of college space help students to engage and build confidence, particularly those on programmes at Level 1 and 2.

Strategic staffing and representation are essential to the delivery of curriculum and pastoral support. The college aims to recruit pastoral and support staff who reflect the local communities the colleges serve, as well as working with local community and faith leaders, helping to build trust and open up critical discourse around different cultural attitudes. Mixed-gender staffing is used deliberately in male dominated curriculum areas where possible, with the aim of promoting different perspectives.

Partnerships with external organisations are critical to the support the college can provide its students, for example engagement with the organisation Tough to Talk has helped open up support for young men with mental health problems. Work with drug and alcohol services, police and knife crime initiatives, and sexual exploitation and safeguarding organisations have led to an increase in student disclosures and requests for support.