There is a huge amount of excellent work going on in schools, colleges and universities around the country.
We believe that it is crucial that this is recognised and celebrated and we are proud to support award schemes that do this.
Edge is a long term supporter of the Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards
The AoC Beacon Awards, now in their 25th year, highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges throughout the UK, helping to increase the understanding of colleges’ contribution to their communities’ economic and social development.
Edge has for a number of years supported an award which recognises, celebrates and promotes examples of excellent practical teaching and learning which meet the following criteria:

By demonstrating the development of a curriculum has led to improvements in practical teaching and learning that have enabled learners to have experiences that:
- Are embedded in the real world, working with experts
- they find meaningful and challenging
- are life changing
And also demonstrate:
- The development of a responsive curriculum for professional and vocation education which has a direct and sustainable impact on employment and enterprise
- Excellent engagement with employers and local communities, leading to sustained and successful involvement of learners in the work place
- Innovative best practice that delivers identifiable results and benefits for both learners and teaching professions
- The development and implementation of flexible teaching, learning and assessment methods
Our finalist colleges for the 2020/21 Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning:
Our 2020/2021 Winner
Strode College
for their Historic Environment Advice Assistant Higher Apprenticeship
Highly Commended
Lancaster and Morecambe College
for their Morecambe Bay Curriculum
Finalist
The Manchester College
for their Architectural and Construction Engineering Scholarship