Abbeygate Sixth Form College, part of the Eastern Education Group, recently hosted its first student-led collaborative session, empowering young people to play an active role in shaping and strengthening their college community.
This inspiring initiative was created by young people, delivered by young people, for young people, and the students rose to the challenge with confidence, creativity, and professionalism. Throughout the session, students worked collaboratively to identify key areas for development, share their lived experiences, and propose meaningful solutions that could enhance college life for current and future learners.
Their ideas were both insightful and thoughtful, demonstrating a deep understanding of their community and a strong commitment to positive change. Students then had the opportunity to present their findings directly to the Senior Leadership Team, showcasing not only their ideas but also their leadership, communication skills, and confidence.
During the session, students collaborated on several priority areas for improvement, including:
- Improving college communication to ensure students feel informed, connected, and heard
- Encouraging active participation in lessons
- Enhancing student induction to better support learners as they transition into college
- Strengthening independent learning to help students build confidence, resilience, and self-motivation
Turning Ideas into Action
The next phase of this work will focus on bringing these ideas together and working collaboratively with students and staff to turn them into meaningful, practical actions that have a lasting impact across the college.
This initiative reflects the Eastern Education Group and Abbeygate Sixth Form College’s strong commitment to student voice, youth leadership, and social action, ensuring that students are not just heard, but actively involved in shaping the environment in which they learn and grow.
We are incredibly proud of our students’ voices, their ambition, and their willingness to lead positive change. Their passion and insight continue to inspire, and we look forward to seeing how their ideas shape the future of our college community.
