Commendation for our innovation in ESOL

We are delighted to have been officially recognised for our innovative teaching of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

The college made it onto the Commended Colleges shortlist for the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards 2024/25, in The Bell Foundation Award for Excellence in ESOL.

Staff and students in our ESOL department have been using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini since October 2023, to improve teaching and language development.

By integrating AI tools in areas like skills analysis we have also been able to provide more personalised, flexible learning experiences for each student.

Esther Derbyshire – Head of Adult, Community and ESOL said: “We created this initiative to address the unique challenges faced by ESOL learners, many of whom struggle with language barriers and lack access to personalised learning resources.

“We also wanted to empower teachers with innovative tools to create engaging and effective lesson plans, fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. 

“These changes have benefited both learners and teachers, and helped students not just with their language proficiency but in their digital literacy, which will enable them to thrive in an increasingly technology-dependent world.”

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