Winstanley College shortlisted for national award for skills and employability

We are delighted to have been nominated for the Sixth Form Colleges Association Award for Skills and Employability, recognising the impact of our Enrichment, Careers and Work Experience Programme. At the heart of this nomination is our commitment to preparing students for their next destinations after College, through a rich blend of enrichment and employability opportunities. Every student engages with a broad programme designed to develop their cultural capital, support their aspirations and meet the demands of the national Skills Agenda.

Through our ESI programme, students gain vital experience in areas such as financial literacy, digital skills and employability. High-profile employer events run throughout the year, including our flagship Careers and Apprenticeship Fair, which welcomes over 50 local and regional organisations to College. Bespoke employability fairs, themed months and on-site tasters bring industries such as health, digital, finance and the creative sector directly to our students

Our curriculum teams work hand-in-hand with employers and Higher Education institutions to create live projects and bespoke resources, from redesigning railway stations in Art to music workshops from record producers at Tileyard Studios. The impact is clear: the College exceeded the sector by 6% for the number of students progressing to university. For those students securing places at the most competitive universities, the College was also 6% above the national average.

A further 2.7% of students progressed to degree apprenticeships with prestigious organisations including Deloitte, BT and the BBC.