2020: Highlights From an Unexpected Year

A message from Fareham College Principal and Chief Executive, Andrew Kaye:

With the end of 2020 now in sight, I’m sure that it was not at all the year you were expecting!

 

As I reflect on 2020, I am immensely proud of how Fareham College students and staff responded to the challenges, the way everyone worked through the lockdown and upon our return to college in the autumn term.

 

The last nine months, in particular, have brought with them much uncertainty. Throughout that time, we stayed connected with our students, our community and each other and because of this, we were able to share some rewarding moments.

 

A few Fareham College highlights from the past year include:

 

We launched Fareham College’s The Academy Barbering, a specialist technical and professional training facility for barber training. We also gave our onsite hair and beauty salon, The Academy Hair and Beauty, a fresh makeover. We will continue to expand within the sector with The Academy Aesthetics, specialising in advanced beauty therapy, arriving in the new year.

 

The ongoing situation prevented us from hosting our more conventional events. We were keen to continue providing opportunities to experience Fareham College for our potential applicants; incorporating video and virtual tours of all three of our college campuses, Bishopsfield Road, CEMAST and CETC.

 

When lockdown lifted, we also began offering Personal Tours, providing a focused introduction, to the course area of interest whilst maintaining government guidance and social distancing.

 

Whilst we couldn’t gather together in the conventional sense, to celebrate our Annual Awards we announced winners on our Facebook page. We felt it was more important than ever to recognise and celebrate our students’ triumphs. The occasion is also our way of rewarding our students for their hard work, dedication and professionalism.

 

Lockdown itself, despite the obvious implications, offered its rewards. We are so proud, of the quality and professionalism, of students and staff when asked to move all teaching and learning online and how they embraced a new way of working.

 

It was clear from the outset that the experience created a virtual team spirit. We worked out on Wednesdays, we shared our workspaces, made masks, donated PPE, dyed hair blue for charity, had virtual makeovers for wellbeing, designed scrubs for the NHS and competed in Game Jams. Whatever the future holds, we will continue to be #InThisTogether.

 

Engaging remotely via group chat platforms and live-streaming performances have extended our learning environment even further beyond the classroom, which I’m sure will continue to benefit all in the year ahead.

 

Despite the challenges we have continued to excel with a fantastic advanced level pass rate of 99.4%, with almost half of our students achieving high grades, and over a quarter achieving the highest grading possible.

 

Winning the Association of Colleges’ City and Guilds Beacon Award for College Engagement with Employers illustrates our investment in industry-focused courses. These employer relationships and the work experiences they allow us to offer, help our students to develop the knowledge, attitude and practical skills they need to thrive in the workplace.

 

We were delighted to welcome the Right Honourable Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, to officially launch the brand new T Level qualifications in Digital Design, Production and Development and Education and Childcare at Fareham College. We are delighted to be able to offer further pathways in health, science and construction from September 2021. He also officially opened our new Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC).

 

Fareham College’s Business Plus Team, which oversees Apprenticeship delivery at the college has increased the number of employers it works with and continues to grow – when many industries have ground to a halt.

 

Business Plus has added a further fifteen businesses to its portfolio and initiated a new Engineering Employer Board in the autumn. Working in collaboration with Jobcentre Plus, the team introduced our Sector-Based Work Academies in Construction, Engineering and Digital industries. Also, the launch of Traineeships helped those who want to boost their career prospects with an Apprenticeship or other employment in the future.

 

2020 marked 50 years since the official opening of “Fareham Technical College”. In celebration, cupcakes were prepared by Avenue 141, our AA College Rosette accredited silver-service restaurant and delivered to staff in their offices. Fifty years on, we have outstanding facilities, excellent reputation and a commitment to ensuring our students get the very best education and support they need for their future careers.

 

As our learning environment continues to evolve Fareham College will equip you with the resources you need to pursue your desired career – Excellence Is Closer Than You Think.

 

I wonder what the rest of the ’20s have in store for us? Whatever it is, you should know if you could deal with 2020, then you can deal with anything!

 

I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year from us all at Fareham College.