London Education Partnership Awards: 2012 Lighting the Flame
Stiff competition made judging the award difficult with a number of remarkable projects using the hook of 2012 to increase educational participation and progression. The winner of the award was the superb London Beijing Vocational Education Project, coordinated by Ian Ashman, Principal of Hackney Community College, with the Runner’s Up prize going to a project led by Richmond Upon Thames College.
On receiving the award Ian said "We are delighted to receive this award for the '2012 Lighting the Flame' category, sponsored by Podium. This is a unique partnership of 18 further and higher education colleges working in partnership across the capital and developing twinning relationships with Beijing Vocational Schools to learn lessons from the 2008 Games. Our aims are to help ensure the maximum benefit for Londoners from the 2012 Games, as well as give our current students international understanding and experience.”
The London Beijing Vocational Education Project is targeted at students aged 16-19 – most are from disadvantaged communities with no history or participation in higher education. Each English institution has a Beijing ‘twin’ and bi-annual visits are arranged for both staff and students. The institutions work on specific projects together, for example City of Islington College students have developed sports vision eyewear and South Thames College have composed ‘Olympic’ theme tunes. Over 300 students and 50 staff are involved and 20 students are going out to Beijing to be reception hosts for the 2008 Games this summer. Amazingly, more than 90% of students who took part in international visits have gone on to higher education from level 3 courses (compared to the Inner London average of 15% for 18 year olds).
The Podium team would like to congratulation all of the staff and students involved for delivering this exciting and award winning initiative which demonstrates the unique inspiration that the Games can provide.
