Bridgwater College has had its sports curriculum nominated for a national Association of Colleges Beacon Award that recognises outstanding and innovative provision that the Further Education sector can learn from.

Head of Department for Sport, Outdoor Education and Public Services, Jason Gunningham said,

“We are delighted all of the fantastic experiences and success our students gain by working with our highly skilled and innovative teaching staff has been recognised by this national nomination for a Beacon Award.”

Assessors visited the College to view all of the sports curriculum and meet with employers that are engaged in supporting students on their sports courses and also to speak with students about their aspirations and career pathways.

Jason added,

“The Beacon Award assessors praised us on our various initiative’s we undertake within our sports curriculum. The aims and objectives of our courses are part of a strategy that encapsulates a holistic approach to personal development and provides our learners with skills that allow them to flourish in the sports industry. Therefore, our aims and objectives are inclusive, dynamic, challenging and unique, equipping our learners with excellent industry skills that will stand them in excellent stead in the future.

“We actively promote the College values of teamwork, leadership, integrity and a sense of responsibility in everything that we do. Our aims and objectives allow young adults to develop these skills through structured coaching, leading and volunteering opportunities. What is pivotal to our initiative is that it is inclusive and gives every learners studying a sport, exercise or coaching related programme an opportunity to enhance their employability and we are thankful that we have developed and expanded our engagement with local and national employers who really add value to all of our students progress in college.

“Additionally, our courses not only focus on inspiring our own students studying sport it also encapsulates the cross college student community as they benefit from our student ‘Team BC Sport Activator’ volunteers, who deliver a variety of sport and active leisure to the student body, and to the wider community as part of their study programmes.

“The department has an implicit focus that all engagement positively affects our students’ educational experience and, in turn, develops staff so that they can use new knowledge and understanding to heighten and strengthen the college experience for all student groups.”

The Association of Colleges will announce national winners in November at their annual conference.

If you are interested in studying an award winning Sports, Outdoor Education or Public Services course at Bridgwater College then please call 01278 441234.