Information for parents and carers about Activate Learning

Everyone wants the best for their child. We do too!

It’s our mission to transform lives through learning. We want to inspire, support and encourage your child to achieve their best and to enjoy their time as students on campus. 

We recognise there are many different options and the learning landscape is continuing to grow and become more confusing for career fledglings - it can be just as confusing for those trying to help them along the way!

We’ve tried to put everything you would want to know on this page so you don’t have to search around to find the information you need.

Success rates

We are proud of the progress and achievements our students make in their time they spend learning with us. We take great pride in the fact that the vast majority of our learners successfully progress further with their education, training or employment.

More 16 to 19 year olds who study with Activate Learning have higher achievements than those studying with  similar providers, with an increasing number of our students gaining places at prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and University College London.

We are keen to encourage our students to progress internally at our colleges and better develop their knowledge, skills and make them more employable. A high number of our learners on entry level, level 1 and level 2 programmes, progress internally to higher-level programmes, and the large majority of our apprentices who complete and achieve their qualification move into full-time employment or onto a higher-level apprenticeship.

In 2016/17, a higher proportion of our learners achieved grades A* to C in GCSE English than comparable grades in the previous year and almost all of our Access to HE students successfully progressed onto university study in subjects such as adult nursing, furniture design, air transport with commercial pilot training, biochemistry and animation.

For performance table information, visit the GOV.UK website here

Career pathways

We appreciate that not many young people have their whole career planned out ahead of them. Our career pathway pages are the best place to go if you or your child want to see the best routes through college, higher education and employment and into the most popular industries.

Our aim is to offer every students a direct line of sight to employment, equipping them with the skills, attributes and knowledge employers want, giving them a greater chance to succeed in their chosen carers. 

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are between one and four year training programmes, which anyone living in England over the age of 16 who isn’t in full-time education can apply for. They usually spend four days a week in employment and one day a week at college working-towards full qualifications. 

There are many benefits to being an apprentice including:

• Earning a salary (currently at least £3.70 an hour)
• No student loans or debt
• Paid holidays
• Training 
• Qualifications
• Learning job and industry-specific skills

Entry requirements

Each of our courses has different entry requirements that can be viewed on their respective course pages. 

There are also full pathways mapped out on our career pathways pages, which go into more detail based on levels in each career.

Qualification levels

With all the different options available to our students it can be difficult to know what each qualification means and how it can help. We offer further and higher education programmes at a range of levels, helping progress towards chosen career goals. These include GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs. We go into more detail on our qualifications explained page, which breaks down each type of qualification and who they are for.

Support

We work hard to create a supportive learning experience for all our students. 

Student support: The team works with students who might find starting a new course at college a challenge. Whether it's helping make new friends or adjusting to college life and emotional support services, we can help.

Learning support: We offer personalised support to every student, including dyslexia support, assistance with exam arrangements or 1:1 support, if required.

Careers: Unsure what to do next? Our Activate Careers team can help students to understand the options available. Support includes CV writing workshops, help with filling UCAS application forms and 1:1 guidance on seeking employment.

Finance: Many Activate Learning students access financial support every year. If you need support, we may be able to help fund travel expenses to and from college, educational course costs and meals while on campus, for example.

Logistics

Our campuses offer you dedicated learning spaces, industry standard facilities and the support of industry experienced teachers. Each of our campuses are centrally located in their respective towns and have undergone recent renovations to provide the best learning environment. 

See here for more information and where to find our Oxford campuses

See here for more information and where to find our Reading campus

See here for more information and where to find our Banbury and Bicester campuses

See here for more information and where to find our Bracknell & Wokingham campuses

How to apply

If interested in joining one of our full-time programmes or apprenticeships, visit our how to apply page for all the details on what to do.

If you still have questions take a look at our FAQ page, you can filter results to show info based on your type of query. 

'My experience dealing with college has been most positive. Your reminders via email and text messages, timely information and clear instructions as to what happens next, have been brilliant. Also, the support you offer to potential students during the summer holidays far surpasses what other local colleges have offered.' (Parent of applicant)