Today as part of Colleges Week, Elsbeth Tibbets, Group Director of Student Experience and Safeguarding explains how we’re breaking down the barriers to opportunity by empowering our learners to succeed.
Breaking down barriers to opportunity: Empowering learners to succeed (by Elsbeth Tibbets, Group Director of Student Experience and Safeguarding)
At Activate Learning, we believe that education is the most powerful tool to unlock opportunities and transform lives.
Our commitment to inclusivity, innovation and excellence ensures that every learner can access the right support to thrive. By investing in cutting-edge facilities, providing pastoral support and essential support services, and championing our award-winning Learning Philosophy, we’re breaking down barriers to opportunity and empowering our students to succeed.
Our student-centred approach
Learning about our students and their starting point in life is essential to the success of our role as educators.
It’s about knowing who we teach as much as what we teach, so we can offer students tailored pastoral support, encouraging them to learn and progress and to make appropriate choices for themselves.
Many of our students come to us from complex circumstances, having suffered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, socioeconomic factors and the cost-of-living crisis among others.
Activate Learning is committed to supporting students with trauma or mental health problems which act as a barrier to learning.
Studies have shown that when children who have suffered several painful life experiences and are not helped and supported have a very high risk of developing severe mental and physical ill-health.
Our trauma-informed approach and innovative Positive Behaviour Management Framework ensure that support is available for those students
Removing barriers to learning: Free breakfast club for students
Understanding that hunger can be a significant obstacle to learning, we offer a free breakfast to all students who need it. This ensures students start their day with the energy they need to focus and succeed.
By addressing this fundamental need, we create a level playing field where no learner is at a disadvantage due to socioeconomic factors. This initiative reflects our holistic approach to education, where wellbeing and academic success go hand in hand.
Each year, we allocate £10k in funding to cover these breakfasts, which cost approximately £1.50 per student.
Supporting students to succeed
Our support teams are here to help our students settle in, support their wellbeing and have a great experience during their time with Activate Learning.
Our skilled Student Support team understands that your mental and physical wellbeing is equally as important as your studies, so that you get access to any support needed to face life’s challenges.
Our teams include:
Group Student Support, offering pastoral and community support for students’ wellbeing, safeguarding, transition, counselling, faith rooms and student voice through a range of roles:
- Behaviour and welfare officers
- Progress coaches
- Counsellors
- Transition and retention advisors
- Wellbeing advisors
- Safeguarding advisors
- Enrichment officers
- Heads of Student Experience
- Careers, providing every student with inclusive, high-quality careers education integrated into their learning journey.
Group Learning Support, offering advice and information, in-class support and support sessions, modification of resources and exam access arrangements for students with learning difficulties and disabilities, among others.
We also pride ourselves in our support to our most vulnerable student cohorts, including students in the care of local authorities, care leavers, young carers and young parents. Our expertise in this area was recognised in 2023 with a Young Carers in School Bronze Award.
A Growth mindset and trauma-informed approach: The science of learning
At the heart of our approach is Carol Dweck’s concept of a growth mindset: the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort.
We cultivate this mindset by fostering resilience, perseverance and a love of learning in our students. Additionally, our trauma-informed approach recognises the impact of past experiences on learning and prioritises emotional wellbeing for all.
Our award-winning Learning Philosophy, which explores the interplay between the brain, emotions and motivation, ensures that we create an environment where every student can thrive.
We support the development of attributes through our Positive Behaviour Management Framework, which helps students to proactively develop learning habits and behaviours for success.
By removing barriers to learning, inspiring students to fulfil their potential and equipping them with the skills to progress, Activate Learning is reshaping the future of education, ensuring that opportunity is available to all.
Creating inspiring learning environments
Modern, well-equipped facilities provide students with an environment that fosters curiosity, creativity and hands-on learning.
Our investment in state-of-the-art learning environments ensures that learners have access to industry-standard equipment and immersive experiences, preparing them for real-world careers.
Whether through specialist laboratories, simulated workspaces or digital learning hubs, we are committed to equipping students with the tools they need to achieve their ambitions.
Our Digital Education team is using Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR) technology to make additional exciting learning opportunities available for our students.
For example, we’ve launched an innovative Early Years VR application, developed in alignment with the NCFE’s Early Years T Level curriculum, to equip students with the skills to recognise common childhood illnesses and signs of physical abuse in infants and toddlers.
Safeguarding is a critical aspect of working with children, and this VR asset provides students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a safe and controlled virtual environment. By immersing themselves in scenarios involving virtual children, students can develop their ability to identify and respond to potential risks effectively.
The power of online learning: Flexibility and accessibility
Our Online Faculty successfully removes geographical and logistical barriers, allowing students to engage in high-quality education from anywhere.
This initiative provides flexibility for those balancing education with work or personal responsibilities, ensuring that learning remains accessible and inclusive for all.
With innovative digital resources and interactive teaching methods, we create an engaging and supportive online learning experience. Their success has been recognised with a number of awards. This included two Edufuturist Uprising Awards, the 2024 Educator of the Year Award for Dr Fumiko Pescott, Curriculum Manager-Online and the 2023 Outstanding Online School Award.
