Please find below details on all the workshops running at the conference.
You will need to pick which workshops you wish to attend as part of your booking so please make a note of your choices from this selection.
You will need to pick which workshops you wish to attend as part of your booking so please make a note of your choices from this selection.
This engaging workshop explores the impact of youth social action on learner development, wellbeing, and community connection. Drawing on experiences from the 2024/25 AoC and Pears Foundation Youth Social Action Programme at Stoke on Trent College, it highlights how social action empowers students to lead change, build empathy, and develop key life skills. Participants will gain practical strategies to embed social action into education, connect learners with local issues, and inspire meaningful, student-led projects. This session offers valuable tools, ideas, and real-world examples.
Amy Marsh, Students Union & Enrichment Officer and Calvin Austin, Student Engagement & Enrichment Lead at Stoke on Trent College will host this session at 10.15am.
This interactive session explores how colleges can move beyond traditional learner voice models to embed meaningful student leadership at the heart of governance and strategic decision-making. Using the “My College Advantage” framework, we’ll share how students are now actively shaping college direction through roles on boards of governors, local college boards, and key committees. Delegates will leave with practical tools to develop leadership pathways, co-create impactful learner voice structures, and ensure student representation drives real change.
Bethan Foweraker, Group Vice Principal Student Experience & DSL and Keira Scott, Assistant Principal Student Experience and Safeguarding at UCS College Group will host this session at 10.15am
This interactive workshop supports staff working in student engagement to develop effective approaches to establishing and sustaining Student Unions. Drawing on good practice and real-world examples, participants will explore how to provide structured support, empower student governors, and guide projects that amplify and capture the learner voice. The session combines discussion and practical activities to ensure staff leave with actionable strategies they can apply in their own contexts.
Kerry Amos, Student Engagement Manager and Hannah Johnson, Assistant Principal Student Experience at USP College will host this session at 10.15am
This session, delivered by the SGSPlus+ team, explores the importance of student voice and how engaging learners in their college experience can positively shape their journey. It highlights the value of ensuring students feel heard and the powerful impact this can have on their sense of belonging and wellbeing. The session also considers the emotional consequences when voices go unheard. Attendees will gain insight into how learner voice is embedded at SGS College through initiatives such as the Voice of the Learner framework, the Learner Leadership Team, and dedicated Working Groups.
Connor Sidley-Adams, Curriculum Director Personal and Social Development, Luke Read, Learning Area Manager PSD and students from SGS College will host this session at 10.15am
This workshop, delivered in partnership with Unloc, explores the development of a Student Executive to strengthen student voice and leadership. It will examine strategies to empower students, embed representation in decision-making, and equip young people with the skills and confidence to act as effective leaders and changemakers.
Susan Churches, Head of Student Experience at the Isle of Wight College and members of the Unloc Team will host this session at 11.30am
Find out more about the Isle of Wight College and Unloc.
This workshop will explore how Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has developed student engagement in an OFSTED Outstanding College since 2019 but particularly focusing on the last 4 years, culminating in becoming the first college to achieve an OFSTED Outstanding rating under the new framework in 2024. We will share how a small, dedicated team of two, manages student voice and engagement across multiple campuses, working in close partnership with student leaders, teaching and support staff. Examples will include our Students’ Union, events, voice and enrichment activities. Participants will leave with transferable strategies to embed authentic student engagement, empower learners, and strengthen whole college culture.
David Bourne, Group Student Engagement and Well-being Manager and Georgia Carnall, Group Student Engagement and Well-being Coordinator at NSCG will host this session at 11.30am
In 2024 Luminate Education Group introduced a new Student Voice model to increase its impact and empower students using a community organising approach, coupled with increasing knowledge of UK democracy. One year in and the programme has been a huge success with numerous impactful projects being led by students with staff support.
Our workshop will review the principles of community organising and show how we brought this into our model. We will also discuss why we changed the model, how this has impacted on the student experience and how we are continuing to develop this to make a positive difference in college, the local community and nationally. We will also discuss the barriers we overcame as well as top tips on how you can implement some or all of these ideas at your college.
Steven Richard, Student Engagement Manager and Lindsey Whitton, Student Voice and Social Action Lead at Leeds City College will host this session at 11.30am
Find out more about Leeds City College (Luminate Education Group).
This interactive workshop will explore the evolving regional model for youth social action and enrichment across Yorkshire and Humber. The session will highlight key learnings to date, showcase best practice examples from across the region, and provide space for collaborative reflection. Participants will gain insights into how youth-led initiatives are being embedded within colleges, how partnerships are driving impact, and what’s working well in different local contexts.
Shcara Strudley Smith, Project Manager at the AoC and Florence Smith-Dayson, Youth Social Action Lead/Regional Enrichment Coordinator will host this session at 11.30am
This workshop explores the introduction and impact of Coleg y Cymoedd’s Engagement Hubs, launched in September 2024 across all four campuses. The Hubs provide all full-time learners with dedicated sessions each week, blending directed private study, tutorials, and personalised coaching to foster personal development, study skills, employability, and life skills – while also sparking curiosity, enjoyment, and encouraging learner-led exploration.
Attendees will discover how the initiative united departments and resources—such as Learning Resource Centres, Universal Learning Provision, Academic Teams, and Technology—delivering a joined-up approach to learner support and enrichment.
Delegates will acquire actionable insights spanning initial planning through to implementation and discover effective strategies for comprehensive learner engagement. They will also hear about the influence of learner voice on shaping educational provision, leveraging current resources efficiently, incorporating technology within the support environment, harnessing the benefits of educational games and mindfulness within sessions.
Julia Thomas and Maryse Mates, both Engagement Team Leads at Coleg y Cymoedd will host this session at 1.30pm.
This workshop will explore how to support learners from their first steps as Student Reps/Course Reps, through to engaging in student parliament with key college leadership team, all the way to becoming Student Governors. We’ll look at how a whole-college approach—linking senior reps, curriculum teams, and leadership—can build a strong pipeline of confident, informed student leaders.
Pippa Allner, Student Experience Manager and Careers Lead and Holly Tyack, Student Engagement and Enrichment Lead from Bournemouth & Poole College will host this session at 1.30pm
Join Think Pacific for an inspiring introduction to the Turing Scheme, the UK government’s global mobility initiative that empowers colleges to take learning beyond borders.
Discover how to access funding that makes life-changing overseas experiences possible, building learners’ confidence, cultural intelligence and real-world employability.
Nigel Scott, Director, and Hannah Danks, FE Manager at Think Pacific will host this session at 1.30pm
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is keen to reach more marginalised young people, including young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and those at risk of becoming NEET. We have already engaged young people who are NEET in DofE through work with Colleges, Alternate Provision and Community settings and we would to share with you the impact and outcomes of this work, and how we plan to expand our delivery to more young people who are NEET.
Claire Shea-Simonds, Programme Manager and Jo Ireland, FE Project Manager at DofE will host this session at 1.30pm.
The KCEP, which was set up at Gower College Swansea in 2003 and is largely run by students, aims to support the Madungu community in developing their education resources and capacity, leading to improvements in their access to education, skills, income and employability. This workshop will introduce how colleges can setup and run projects, governance arrangements, fund raising and most importantly engaging learners engaged in supporting.
James Donaldson, Vice Principal – Learner Experience & Inclusion and Constance Henry, Tutor at Gower College Swansea will host this session at 2.30pm
This workshop will present a unique ESOL project produced in partnership with City College Plymouth and Routes Puppets. Focussing on the wider issue of student engagement, Sam and Steve will illustrate approaches, techniques and the latest developments in how student engagement can help to build and support a positive environment in the college community and beyond.
Steve Wright, Creative Director at Routes Puppets and Samanatha Harvey, Tutorial and Pastoral Support Manager at City College Plymouth will host this session at 2.30pm
Find out more about Routes Puppets and City College Plymouth.
An overview of how we have developed our Enrichment Programme, particularly for our Study Programme students, to support their personal growth and development. The session covers what we offer, how we’ve developed the offer, our relationship with the Union of Students, where we’re going next and the issues we’ve had along the way.
Angela Bradley, Operations Manager Learner Journey and Janis Wild, Enrichment Officer at University of Derby Buxton will host this session at 2.30pm
Programmes currently exist for students who are taking on leadership roles in and through sport. We recognise that these programmes cater for a minority of the student population, there are hundreds who are volunteering/leading who can and should be recognised and rewarded.
The Youth Sport Trust are developing a reward and recognition framework, which in partnership with AoC Sport would like to ensure FE can access and use based on how the sector differs to schools.
This session will be a sharing of the framework developments to date, and the opportunity for college practitioners to input and influence.
Sarah Nickless, Programmes Development Officer at the AoC and Steph Matthews, National Manager – Leadership, at Youth Sport Trust will host this session at 2.30pm
Find out more about AoC Student Leadership Prorgramme and the Youth Sport Trust.
