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INDUSTRY: Education
EMPLOYEE NUMBERS: 1160
ACCREDITATION(S): Investors in Diversity Silver Award
The training has strengthened our commitment to inclusive practice by ensuring every department reflects on how policies support all members of our community.
City College Norwich is the largest provider of further and higher education in Norfolk. The college has constantly evolved over the past 134 years as it has adapted to the changing education and training needs of the Norwich and Norfolk community.
Over the past few years, that evolution has been significant following mergers with Paston Sixth Form College (now Paston College) and the Easton campus of Easton and Otley College (now Easton College).
The College has a diverse student and apprentice community and has developed specialist courses that exemplify our long-term commitment to being an inclusive college, seeking to serve all parts of the community.
The staff members of our college FREDIE group were really impressed by the knowledge and experience of the NCfD practitioner who came to work with us. Asari brought real credibility to the process, having made a practical difference to EDI in so many other organisations, as well as being a great facilitator. It was a brilliant start to our FREDIE journey. We are working with the group to explore how we can continue to focus on embedding inclusive practices throughout our work. – Jennifer Eves, Chief Operating Officer, City College Norwich
We promote an inclusive culture and ethos across all strands of EDI. For example, in relation to disability, the college has an outstanding reputation for welcoming and engaging learners with SEND, parents, carers and families of learners with SEND, and other relevant stakeholders, ensuring that the learner’s voice remains central.
In relation to race, religion and belief, we have been designated as a College of Sanctuary, recognising the support and culture of welcome we provide to asylum seekers and refugees, including a growing number of unaccompanied asylum seeker children. Our recently refurbished Library and Wellbeing Hub included two new multi-faith rooms which are available to students of any faith, or none, for prayer and quiet reflection.
We recognise the importance of having a diverse and representative workforce and actively encourage employment of staff from a range of backgrounds and differences.
Inclusion has a high profile in staff Continuing Professional Development and the college continually invests in a broad, highly skilled team with expert SEND knowledge, who act as a resource for all staff. Through our designation as a National Centre of Excellence for SEND, the college has played an active role in sharing this expertise with the wider college sector.
The training has helped develop our focus on inclusive practice – making sure that at every level, and in every department, we have considered our practice and how the implementation of college policies accommodates and supports everyone.
In tandem with the development of our People Strategy, the training has provided an additional opportunity to think about our organisational culture. We have broadened our approach to inclusion and focused on the importance of developing a sense of belonging.
Our new People Strategy has a strong focus on belonging, which is changing the narrative around EDI. A key focus for the organisation is now around staff recruitment and selection and how alternative approaches can help make this more effective and inclusive.