Further Education
Welcome to the pages for Further Education (FE) Colleges. We have range of resources, support materials and information dedicated to supporting FE tutors, lecturers and advice and guidance staff. If you would like to add the resources you have created for your college please contact linda.bishopp@canterbury.ac.uk.
How Aimhigher Kent and Medway works with further education colleges
Within each of the seven further education (FE) colleges in Kent and Medway there is an Aimhigher Coordinator (also known as the Aimhigher Project Officer). Each of the Coordinators is dedicated to widening participation in a variety of ways which best suit the needs of the college and its learners.
Our FE colleagues work with a select number of target subject groups (approx. 6 - 10 groups). Strategic targeting is used and the subject groups are selected on the basis that they have low progression into higher education (HE). The subject groups are predominantly vocational, studying BTEC National Diplomas (Level 3). The learners frequently wish to progress straight into employment and are often unaware of the range of routes into HE.
The Aimhigher Coordinator coordinates and/or delivers a package of activity with their groups to aise awareness and aspirations. Some examples of activities that a package may include are:
- Tutorial Session (Why go to HE?, Student Life, How to Choose, UCAS, Make the Most of the HE Convention, Writing an Effective Personal Statement, Interview Techniques, Student Finance)
- General HE Campus Visit
- Bespoke subject specific Taster Day
- Master Classes (in HE or FE)
- Student Ambassador Visits
- Aimhigher Road Show
- Student Finance Day
- HE Parents' Evening
- Curriculum Enhancement (subject specfic speakers or visits to employers)
- Peer Mentoring
- Drop-in Sessions
It is also recognised that some Level 2 learners have the potential to progress to higher education and in some colleges there are activities tailored to the needs of these groups.
One essential part of Aimhigher delivery in the FE Sector is staff development. Alongside internal departments, Aimhigher are organising a range of staff development events including:
- UCAS Training
- Training delivered by Aimhigher partner higher education institutions
- Specialist training about how to motivate and inspire learners
- Finance training
Quote from a headteacher in an Aimhigher Kent and Medway Partnership Survey 2008-2009:
"The AH initiative and framework has enabled the College to employ a full-time Co-ordinator and HE Advisor. The success of all initiatives is dependent on the framework, but most importantly. the personnel. She has been a highly successful "change agent" un changing the attitudes and aspirations of our students, their parents and members of staff. The activities and opportunities provided by her have engaged our students in wanting to experience university visits and links which in itself, has convinced so many young people to aspire to and progress on to university. This change has also changed attitudes of our students to the value of academic endeavour. The Aimhigher Initiative has been one of the most important ands influential over the 15 year history of the college."
