GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes
the opportunities that that can bring. Helping social mobility by working with
the low skilled and again a lot of students that we get are really low skilled and
low employment. That includes trade unionists as well. They have those raw
skills and talents, but are not necessarily recognised by their managers, by
their employers and we are able to give those qualifications through
accreditation that improves their confidence and chances. Life changing
educational opportunities as well. I will not go into it now, but much like Ruskin
we run a level 3 qualification where students get access to university at the
end.
We are very fortunate that we are surrounded by 800 acres of land that
belongs to us. Does every college have a castle at the end of the driveway? They probably do, but again that is open to students, as is the 18 th century orangery. I am going to be passing the begging bowl round later! I am not doing myself any favours here, am I? There is an 18 th century orangery which
again is fabulous for students on the Friday if you are going to do some
reflection with trade unionists, “have you enjoyed this week?” and it is just a
nice little half hour to spend and reflect and think about the time that they have
spent with us. There is a little picture there. We have got a deer farm and on
Thursday night we use the grounds again from a mental health point of view. It
is great just to get out and get in touch with nature. The farmer was out with
the deer and asked the students if they wanted to spend some time feeding
them, so we all just grabbed a big chunk of food and they all came over and,
again, when students are reflecting about the week that they have had, that
crops up, specifically on a Thursday when you can be at the end of a course
and it can be difficult leaving. That leaves people with really positive thoughts.
We have an award winning library. The AoC awards to libraries every other
year and we have won in 2014 and 2016 and, again, if you have never been
there, it is Europe’s largest freestanding roof, a fabulous library. The staff there
literally are the best in the country. They have won awards twice, the only
college to do that. Ofsted. Paul, I am really sorry about this. Ofsted do judge
us as being outstanding, which was very nice of them to say, and again grade
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