Activate Learning
About
Activate Learning is a forward-thinking education group that aims for far-reaching, progressive change and impact through learning. We work with learners as individuals, helping them make the choice of course and career pathway that’s right for them.
Our mission is to provide work-ready talent for business, and to transform lives through our Learning Philosophy.
At Activate Learning, we work closely with employers to identify the characteristics and skills they are looking for in potential employees. These desirable attributes help to form our learning programmes, ensuring your future employability is a focus throughout your studies.
- We have been rated “good with exceptional areas” by Ofsted
- 95% of students progress directly into employment or higher-level learning
- We have a 4 year trend of increased student achievement, currently at 84.4% for 2016/17
Content
City of Oxford College becomes an England Rugby Partner College
Activate Learning is proud to announce its rugby programme delivered out of City of Oxford College has become one of only eight colleges in the country to be given England Rugby Partner College status.
Activate Learning’s Oxfordshire Colleges Awarded Good Rating at Latest Ofsted Inspection
Activate Learning is proud to announce its City of Oxford and Banbury and Bicester Colleges have been given an overall assessment of Good with an Outstanding feature by Ofsted in its latest inspection.
Free Microsoft Accredited Courses with Activate Learning
I am pleased to share with you all the free Microsoft Accredited courses that we are offering to our employer partners with Activate Learning.
New Strategic Development Fund will see greater FE collaboration to deliver key...
Activate Learning is delighted to announce it has been selected as the lead college to deliver a range of education programmes to improve and upskill people in key areas across Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
The Learning Philosophy in Action
Cheri Ashby, Deputy Chief Executive, at Activate Learning, focuses on our Learning Philosophy in Action.
Attributes for Success
There are lots of things that we can all do to make our days more productive and get the most out of our learning.
Activate Business School launches new education programme for aspiring health leaders
Activate Business School is delighted to announce it is launching a new award to help develop and train health and care staff across Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire (BOB).
Merrist Wood plays host to a well attended civic evening event
Merrist Wood College welcomed HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, Lady Elizabeth Toulson CBE DL and Mr Giles Verity DL as part of a specially designed civic event aimed at highlighting the important role Merrist Wood College plays within the local community on Thursday evening (29 September).
Merrist Wood College benefits from huge timber donation by local business
When local building supplies company, Chandlers Building Supplies, reached out to Merrist Wood College to offer them a substantial amount of timber that they could no longer use, the college’s estates team were absolutely delighted to oblige!
City of Oxford College Wasps ACE Rugby graduates set for premiership...
City of Oxford College Wasps ACE programme are delighted to announce that three graduates from the 2021/22 season have signed with the Gallagher Premiership Rugby.
Igniting student motivation: The importance of employers
So many of us who work in further education talk about the importance of employers in supporting students’ learning. Sometimes we talk about this as if we all agree and employers really are in the ‘driving seat’ of the skills agenda.
Activate Learning celebrates World Mental Health Day 2022
On 10 October each year, World Mental Health Day is acknowledged and celebrated worldwide.
Activate Learning celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month is a month of events that run throughout October and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Black communities worldwide.
At the Sharp End – CEO FOCUS: Gary Headland, Activate Learning
In the first of a series of regular interviews with CEO’s both in and outside of the B4 community, we meet new Activate Learning CEO, Gary Headland. B4 Chairman Frank Nigriello is your host.
T Levels – the next level qualification
Hear from members of B4’s Skills Ecosystem about T Levels and how they can support your business.
City of Oxford College plants commemorative tree to honour the Queen’s...
Students and staff at City of Oxford College planted a commemorative tree today in honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Enhanced education and job opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers
Activate Learning has created a suite of courses to support refugees and asylum seekers, due to a higher demand for English language programmes in the wake of the Ukranian crisis.
City of Oxford College Hosts Local Employers for Retail Careers Event
Local Oxfordshire employers came together on Friday 20 May to take part in a Retail Careers Employment event, organised by City of Oxford College, to promote recent openings for jobs in the retail sector.
Introducing Nancy Buckley, Group Director, Business Development at Activate Learning
In this episode of the B4 Podcast, Nancy Buckley tells us more about her role as Group Director, Business Development at Activate Learning and why it’s important for colleges to engage with local businesses.
City of Oxford College hosts a cooking masterclass by Parsonage Grill’s...
Earlier this week, City of Oxford College hosted a poultry masterclass for the Professional Culinary Arts Level 2 students at the city-centre campus, led by Allan McLaughlin, Head Chef at five-star restaurant, Parsonage Grill.
Save the Date: An Evening with South Central Institute of Technology...
Join us on Thursday 7th April 2022 to hear from our Anchor Partners at the South Central Institute of Technology about working in the tech sector and how employers across the Thames Valley region can support young people into digital careers and secure future talent.
Activate Learning excited to offer new T Level qualifications
City of Oxford College, part of the Activate Learning group, is pleased to announce that it will be offering a new T Level qualifications in
Business: Management and Admin at their city-centre campus from September 2022.
The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades gives inspiring talk to furniture students...
Activate Learning was excited to welcome Jay Blades MBE, furniture restorer and star of The Repair Shop, to its Rycotewood Furniture Centre at City of Oxford College this week to speak to students.
Work commences on new South Central Institute of Technology hub in...
Work officially started this week on the £3.2 million development of the new South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) hub in Oxford.
City of Oxford College Wasps A.C.E through to National Final
We are excited to announce that the City of Oxford College Wasps A.C.E side have secured their place in the prestigious RFU A.C.E Final with an impressive home win against Truro College (Exeter Chiefs). Prior to moving to the City of Oxford College, Wasps A.C.E had not reached the National Final for approximately 10 years. A fresh start for the programme has meant […]
South Central Institute of Technology’s Preeti Vohra scoops prestigious national tech...
South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) is incredibly proud to announce that Reading-based Digital Technologies Trainer Preeti Vohra has been announced as one of the TechWomen100 winners.
Discover your future at a Banbury and Bicester College Autumn Open...
If you are considering your options for next year, now is the time to explore the opportunities available at your local college!
Discover your future at City of Oxford College’s Autumn Open Event
If you are considering your options for next year, now is the time to explore the opportunities available at your local college!
Activate Learning appoints new chief executive
Sally Dicketts CBE will be succeeded by Gary Headland DL as the new CEO of Activate Learning on 1 April 2022.
Reading College students cook up a storm at Reading Town Meal
Professional culinary arts students from Reading College put their skills to good use on Saturday 25 September when they took part in the Reading Town Meal.
Activate Learning with Holly Perrett
Activate Learning is excited to announce our collaborative partnership with Milton Keynes College to deliver the new South Central Institute of Technology, working with leading brands such as Microsoft, KPMG, McAfee, Cranfield University, and Evidence Talks.
Activate Learning teams up with Screen and Film School in Brighton
Activate Learning is pleased to announce that it now has an official partnership with the Brighton Screen and Film School.
Activate Learning and Thames Valley Police join forces on cybercrime awareness
Between April 2018 and March 2019, Thames Valley residents lost £1.7m to Cybercrime. SMEs are particularly vulnerable.
7.6m working age people in the UK have a disability
If you’re not actively recruiting talent your competitors probably are.
Oxfordshire conference invites local employers to dispel disability myths and become...
Oxfordshire businesses are invited to dispel myths and reduce the stigma around employing disabled people at a local conference in East Oxford.
New business and education partnership will help to close the Oxfordshire...
Over 3,000 creative and digital sector businesses are based in Oxfordshire, generating a total of £1.4billion to the UK economy each year. With such an important and rapidly evolving sector, it is vital for business and education to work together to drive progress and innovation.
Are you ready for T Levels? How the new technical...
Businesses recruit and develop the talent they need for sustained growth when they engage with education