The Learner Voice
The Learner Voice at Middlesbrough College is our means of empowering learners to inform and contribute to the decision making processes that affect their own learning experiences. This is implemented across the college through learner representative groups, including a Student Council, Student Ambassador scheme, and the introduction of a Student Union.
The Student Council is at the heart of learner involvement. At the beginning of the year, each tutor group appoints a class representative who takes the views, suggestions and issues of their classmates to a directorate meeting held each term. Each directorate also has two student council representatives, who convene in a cross-college meeting five times a year, feeding back the views and ideas of learners from each area of the college directly to the Principal and Senior Management Team. This process allows learners a direct line of communication with senior members of staff, and gives them the opportunity to influence and have a real say in how their college operates. To date, learners have been actively involved in important college decision making processes, including the recruitment of Mike Hopkins, Principal, and more recently, Sandra Morton, Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality.
If you attend a Middlesbrough College open evening, you will be met by somebody in a bright blue T-shirt, welcoming you to the college, showing you around the building and talking to you about their course. These learners are our Student Ambassadors, who volunteer their time at events including open evenings, master-classes and summer schools, to share their knowledge and experience of FE, engaging younger learners in considering the many post-16 and further education options available to them. This year we recruited 45 Ambassadors from a range of courses, levels and ages.
The scheme seeks to encourage progression, raise aspirations, and support transition to post-16 education by providing other learners and their parents with information on FE from a learner’s perspective. Along with the Student Council, Ambassadors also play an active role in open forums and supporting with directorate activities.
Involvement in both the Student Council and the Ambassador’s scheme gives our learners the chance to improve and develop their interpersonal and communication skills, build on their self confidence and gain some experience of representation. With increased competition for both employment and university places, participation in learner voice projects such as these add another, very valuable, string to their bow.
At present, Middlesbrough College is forming its own Student Union, to further embed the presence of learner voice and provide a strong platform for its development. This process is now underway, starting with the soon to be announced election for a Student Sabbatical Officer…look out for posters around the College!
Ambassador quotes:
“Being an ambassador means I can help other people find out what life at college is like.”
“It gives me a chance to speak to different people and improve my confidence.”
“I can explain to other students and their families about things like courses, funding and transport to college.”
“As a student ambassador, I can help younger people overcome their worries about starting college, and tell them about my own experiences.”
“Being an ambassador reminds me of why I chose my course, and all the things I really enjoy about college.”
“Everyone’s in the same boat when they start college; it’s good to be able to tell other students not to worry about things like making new friends, and finding your way around.”
“I’ve never done something like this before, so it gives me the chance to try out something new and challenge myself.”