Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028

Purpose

Trent Education Centre (TEC) has been providing functional skills and vocational training courses to adults in Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham since 2012. Many of the people we support believe that they have missed their chance for an education. They may have left school recently or many years ago, and lack the academic skills or confidence to study at a university. TEC exists to support such people. We help them build their self-esteem and competencies, so they can succeed in education at university level and go on to career success.

Aim

Empowering futures and nurturing talent by providing the complete education journey. In its recent Higher Education Statement and Reform consultation response (2023), the UK Government recognises that the skills and education of all its citizens need to be improved in order to meet the challenges of the future, by providing “good quality qualifications, which equip students with the skills they need to achieve their potential.” (Department for Education, 2023, p. 3). TEC aims to assist the UK Government in achieving its goal by providing high quality qualifications, up to and including higher education, which supports students into gainful employment and contributes to the growth of the local and national economy. This strategy is fully aligned with the following UK Government statement of belief: “all students should expect their higher education studies to advance them on the ladder of opportunity and lead them into gainful employment. Higher education qualifications should be of a high quality, give students the skills they need to improve their outcomes in life, and support the growth of our economy by embedding careers-based learning throughout the course of their studies.” (Department for Education, 2023, p. 5).

Mission

To provide students within local communities with the holistic education they need to improve their life chances.

Vision

To become a foremost provider of the complete education journey, supporting adults from basic skills courses up to university degrees and career success.

Values

Trent Education Centre prioritises the well-being and growth of the people we exist to serve , underpinned by our core values:

• Respect: commending courage and commitment for those returning to education
• Integrity: authenticity and credibility in academic and working practices
• Inclusion: widening participation so that no-one gets left behind
• Creativity: experimenting with new approaches to learning, teaching and assessment
• Aspiration: striving to reach beyond expectations
• Sustainability: securing a future for individuals, their families and communities
• Professionalism: working to high academic and service standards and sharing expertise

Our Holistic Approach to Education

We believe that the well-being and personal growth of our students is essential to their academic achievement and career success. We focus, therefore, on integrating personal, social and emotional development, with the knowledge and skills required for university level qualifications, and the modern workplace.

Future Plans (2024)

We have many students graduating from functional skills and vocational training courses who are looking for progression into university level higher education. We aspire, therefore, to run our own higher education courses in the near future, so that our students can complete their education with us. We plan to start with ATHE Level 4 in Business and Management, and to register with the Pearson awarding organisation to deliver the BTEC HND in Business. We are also applying to register with the Office for Students. Alignment with the regulatory body for higher education in the UK, will enhance the quality of our provision. It will also allow our higher education students to apply for student loan funding.

Strategic Priorities (2024-2028)

Our priorities meet the needs of the communities we serve:
1. Deliver high quality learning, teaching and assessment from basic skills up to and including university level education
2. Widen university level access to people from under-represented and disadvantaged communities
3. Give people the opportunity to develop the employability skills they need for gainful employment and career success
4. Enhance learning through the ongoing development and improvement of the TEC holistic approach to education