A college for young people with significant communication difficulties has been praised for making sure students have a say in their education.
Seashell Trust’s Royal College Manchester was highly commended in the independent specialist college of the year category at Leading the Learner Voice Awards.
The awards celebrate the contributions learners make to the further education and skills sector, and recognise the staff who support them.
Seashell Trust’s Tricia Ramjutun and Georgia Ireton attended the ceremony, hosted by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and the National Union of Students, in London.
Georgia, 20, is a member of the Cheadle Hulme college’s student council, which is run with support from Tricia as the learner voice co-ordinator.
Above: Georgia Ireton and Tricia Ramjutun receive the award from Rob Wye, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service
Tricia said:
“We are delighted with this massive accolade. We are a small college and our students have complex learning difficulties. We have a huge responsibility to ensure they are heard and their needs meet. Through sign language, picture communication systems, objects of reference as well as electronic aids in every learner will be heard.
“Students are actively involved in making decisions and shaping their college experience, they have make decisions about resources they want in college or residence and participate in staff recruitment, and learn to speak out so that their views are taken into account.”
In the last year the student council have led a protest around safe driving on campus, participated in learning walks and expressed views on the college curriculum and facilities.