Last month the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and NNECL celebrated the achievement of six Greater Manchester colleges being awarded the NNECL Quality Mark. The accreditation recognises further and higher education institutions that evidence excellence in supporting care experienced students, ensuring their institutions have both the frameworks and opportunities so that care experinced young people can thrive in post-16 education.
The newly accredited colleges are:
- Bury College
- Hopewood Hall College
- Oldham Sixth Form College
- St John Rigby College
- Wigan and Leigh College
- Xaverian College
Speaking at the event, Cllr Mark Roberts, Greater Manchester’s portfolio lead for children and young people, said, “These awards are more than a badge of honour. They are a symbol of commitment, of care and of courage. Each represents the collective effort of education providers across Greater Manchester to ensure that care experienced learners are not just welcomed into education here, but are supported, empowered and given every opportunity to thrive.”
This milestone builds on Greater Manchester’s ambition to become the first UK region where all colleges and universities hold the NNECL Quality Mark, and helping to ensure that all children and young people across Greater Manchester will thrive.
Denise Rawls, our Executive Director added, “Having these six Greater Manchester colleges achieve the NNECL Quality Mark is inspiring. This bold step by GMCA signals their commitment to breaking down barriers to educational opportunity and building a culture where every young person, regardless of their background, can aspire and achieve. Through the Quality Mark process, we have seen incredible care in action – practical support tackling challenges around finance and accommodation, alongside nurturing, stimulating learning environments. What shines through most is the dedication of staff teams driven by kindness and ambition for their students. With this commitment, care experienced young people are empowered not only to succeed in education, but to flourish into adulthood.”
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
By working towards and achieving the Quality Mark, institutions show that they are not only meeting statutory duties but going beyond them, actively working to close attainment gaps and open up life chances for care experienced learners.
If you'd like to know more about the Quality Mark please get in touch - [email protected]
