Greater Manchester Colleges set standard in education for care leavers

With November marking National Care Leavers Month, Greater Manchester Colleges are celebrating another wave of successful NNECL Quality Mark Accreditations.

Awarded by the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), the Quality Mark highlights education providers that go above and beyond to create inclusive, nurturing, and empowering learning environments with strong frameworks, compassionate cultures, and practical support systems that help care experienced young people not only access education but thrive and fulfill their potential in post-16 learning.

Bury College, Hopwood Hall College and Wigan and Leigh College have been awarded the NNECL Quality Mark, joining other GMColleges members Bolton College, Oldham College, The Manchester College and the Trafford & Stockport College Group who also hold the accreditation.

Accreditations comes in the second year of a three-year project being run by GMCA’s Care Leavers Trust Board and NNECL to support post-16 education providers to reach the Quality Mark standard in the city-region.

Young people who are care experienced often face additional barriers in education – from disrupted schooling and financial pressures to a lack of consistent family support. These challenges can impact progression, retention, and success rates in further and higher education. The NNECL Quality Mark provides a robust, evidence-based framework to support institutions to:

• Develop and embed effective support systems for care experienced and estranged students 
• Improve access, retention, and attainment outcomes 
• Create a culture of belonging where students feel supported and valued
• Demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion across the education system

Speaking at the National NNECL Conference at the start of Care Leaver Month, Alan Benvie, Vice Principal at Oldham College and Greater Manchester Care Leaver Trust Board member said:

“For care experienced young people Further Education is often their first true opportunity to belong, to achieve and to be seen as capable. We have a collective responsibility to make sure that opportunity is real, sustainable and equitable. Achieving the NNECL Quality Mark ensures we are going in the right direction.”      

Anna Dawe, Chair of GM Colleges said:

“We’re incredibly proud of what our colleges have achieved together through the NNECL Quality Mark. This recognition reflects the deep commitment of our staff to ensuring that care experienced students are not just supported, but truly seen, heard and valued. Across Greater Manchester, our colleges share a belief that every young person deserves the chance to succeed, whatever their starting point. This award celebrates the compassion, dedication and collaboration that makes that possible.”