Local MP Charlie Maynard visits Abingdon & Witney College’s Witney campus

Abingdon & Witney College welcomed local MP Charlie Maynard to its Witney campus on 27th March, where he met with Principal and Chief Executive Jacqui Canton and Deputy Principal Jo Milsom, and toured a number of teaching areas. The visit formed part of ongoing discussions about skills, education, and the needs of young people and employers across West Oxfordshire.

During his time on campus, Mr Maynard was shown a range of curriculum areas, giving him the opportunity to see students engaged in both creative and technical learning. His tour included Music Technology, Construction, Art & Design, and Hair & Beauty, offering an insight into the breadth of hands-on training and industry-focused facilities available to learners.

A key focus of the visit was how the College actively supports students to succeed. Discussions around our English and maths provision highlighted the support available to those learners who have not yet achieved GCSEs in these subjects, with these essential skills embedded into their wider study programmes. This approach enables learners to build confidence and progress into further education or employment. It was also highlighted how courses are carefully designed to prepare students for industry, often guiding them towards a specialism as they advance, and are strengthened by strong employer partnerships to ensure training reflects real-world expectations.

The visit also highlighted the College’s active role within the local community. In Art & Design, students have taken part in initiatives such as Trunks Across the Thames, a Wild in Art project raising money for Thames Hospice, demonstrating how creative learning can have a meaningful social impact. In Hair & Beauty, the College’s on-site salons are open to the public, offering discounted professional services while giving students valuable, real-world training opportunities with paying clients.

Reflecting on the visit, Principal Jacqui said:

“We were delighted to welcome MP Charlie Maynard to Witney. We are proud of the diverse opportunities we offer, and it was great to be able to showcase the talent of our students and the dedication of our staff. We are particularly proud of the way we support our students to achieve essential qualifications and progress into their chosen careers, while also playing an active role in our

local community. Visits like this highlight the vital role further education plays in supporting both learners and employers.”

Charlie Maynard said:

“It was a really enjoyable and informative visit to Abingdon & Witney College finding out more about the fantastic job that they do in providing a local education to give young people the best possible start in life.”

The College values the opportunity to engage with local representatives and remains committed to providing high-quality education that supports growth, opportunity, and community engagement across Oxfordshire.