Event report - Linking London Access to HE Diploma Practitioner Group Meeting

After a warm welcome from Andrew Jones, Linking London, we first heard from Lauren Raynor, E-Learning Compliance Officer, East Sussex College, Hastings who presented insights from East Sussex College on developing an online Access to HE offer, highlighting motivations to widen participation, practical implementation challenges, and lessons learned in delivering flexible education for adult learners balancing multiple commitments.

We then had a roundtable partner update providing an opportunity for partners to share the latest news and reflections on the term so far. FE and HE partners provided updates on curriculum developments, recruitment trends, planned expansion, outreach activity, and future provision, including new courses, partnerships, and learner engagement initiatives.

Following this, we heard from Paul Browning, Director of Access and Higher Education, OCN London who presented on the latest OCN London updates, including the Access to HE strategic aims and objectives, relicensing progress, curriculum developments, online delivery expansion, new and revalidated diplomas.

Lastly, Tony Hudson, Tutor - Pre-entry Programmes, Department of Education, School of Childhood and Social Care, University of East London introduced a research project exploring the lived experience of Access to HE teachers, highlighting a gap in research and calling for sector participation to better understand teaching conditions and their impact on student outcomes.

The next meeting will take place in the Autumn term