During November (National Care Leavers Month), Greater Manchester Colleges are celebrating another wave of successful NNECL Quality Mark Accreditations.
Recognised for their exceptional commitment to supporting care experienced students Bury College, Hopwood Hall College and Wigan and Leigh College have been awarded the prestigious NNECL Quality Mark, a national accreditation celebrating excellence in education and support for young people with experience of care.
Awarded by the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), the Quality Mark highlights education providers that go above and beyond to create inclusive, nurturing, and empowering learning environments with strong frameworks, compassionate cultures, and practical support systems that help care experienced young people not only access education but thrive and fulfil their potential in post-16 learning.
These Colleges are the latest post 16 education and training organisations to achieve this award and join the Universities across Greater Manchester and other GMC members including Bolton College, Oldham College, The Manchester College and the Trafford & Stockport College Group who also hold the Quality Mark.
We are now entering the second year of a three-year project being run by GMCA’s Care Leavers Trust Board and NNECL to support post 16 education providers to reach the Quality Mark standard, with the aim of making Greater Manchester the best place to learn and thrive for Care Experienced young people with the bold ambition to become the first UK region where all colleges and universities hold the NNECL Quality Mark. Additional organisations to have achieved the accreditation across the region include St John Rigby College, Xaverian College and Oldham Sixth Form College
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.
Speaking at the National NNECL Conference at the start of Care Leaver Month, Alan Benvie, Vice Principal at Oldham College and Greater Manchester Care Leaver Trust Board member said: “For care experienced young people Further Education is often their first true opportunity to belong, to achieve and to be seen as capable. We have a collective responsibility to make sure that opportunity is real, sustainable and equitable. Achieving the NNECL Quality Mark ensures we are going in the right direction.”
Anna Dawe, Chair of GM Colleges said: “We’re incredibly proud of what our colleges have achieved together through the NNECL Quality Mark. This recognition reflects the deep commitment of our staff to ensuring that care experienced students are not just supported, but truly seen, heard and valued. Across Greater Manchester, our colleges share a belief that every young person deserves the chance to succeed, whatever their starting point. This award celebrates the compassion, dedication and collaboration that makes that possible.”
