This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More
A Brazilian student in ESOL (English for Speakers in other Languages) has been inspiring her peers with her drive and commitment to learning at the age of 88.
Claudete Dall’Acqua lived in Curitiba, Brazil, for most of her life before moving to Europe with family in 2018, firstly to Italy and then to England, where she has lived for the past five years. With a lifelong interest in different dialects and languages, Claudete saw learning English as a way to keep her mind sharp and to meet new people from around the world. Although she is the oldest in her class, Claudete is an enthusiastic class participant and has developed her English skills significantly since starting an ESOL course at Southampton College in 2023.
Beth Drouet-Lewis, Claudete’s ESOL Lecturer, commented: “Claudete’s reading and writing is one of the strongest in the class and she’s been a fantastic role model to her fellow students, such as her desk mate, who coincidentally is the youngest student in the class. Stories like these really make you appreciate that it’s never too late to learn – Claudete is a true inspiration.”
Three generations of the Dall’Acqua family are currently studying in education, with Claudete enjoying support from her son and daughter-in-law at Southampton College as well as grandson John, who is studying Computer Science at university. John is full of admiration for his grandmother: “She is so active and loves to walk around college. It inspires me greatly to see what she is achieving at her age and I hope to be able to do the same at that age.”
Claudete has ambitions beyond her ESOL course, aiming to develop her English skills to the point where she can work in a charity shop.
When asked what advice she would give to older people who are interested in education, Claudete said: “Go and don’t be afraid to be happy. Age doesn’t have to be an excuse to be stuck and I’ve really enjoyed my time learning English at college.”
English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) courses are designed to help international students gain the crucial reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to prosper in everyday life in the UK. For more information on our ESOL courses, please click here.
A Supported Internship Student at Southampton College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has been announced as Volunteer of the Month at British Heart Foundation.
Freddie Allen, 20, was recognised for his commitment to going above and beyond his work duties at British Heart Foundation, during which he typically assists drivers with courier work, as well as building furniture, clearing household items and tidying facilities. March 2025 saw the Foundation become temporarily short-staffed, and Freddie volunteered to double his work hours to help operations continue as normal. Freddie’s contribution during this time left such an impression that he has since been offered a permanent paid position with the couriers after he completes his Supported Internship.
Freddie commented: “I have learnt a lot during my time in College and enjoy my work experience with British Heart Foundation even if it can be stressful sometimes. I have become more personable with others since starting my Supporting Internship course and have felt myself grow in confidence too.”
Freddie has been a student at Southampton College for four years, having completed Maths, English and functional skills qualifications before starting a Supported Internship program in September 2024.
Supported Internship programs are specialised work-focused courses designed to help students with learning disabilities access employment, emphasising spending time in a voluntary work placement to build experience. Students can expect to learn a wide range of transferable work skills, with the aid of a College job coach, while strengthening their interview, CV and cover letter abilities.
Tiffany Chan is Freddie’s allocated job coach during his studies. She commented: “I am so proud of Freddie – this type of success story is exactly what this course is set up and designed to achieve. It proves to themselves as students just what they can achieve, no matter what obstacles may be in their path.”
Southampton College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has hosted its inaugural ‘Be Safe, Stay Safe’ event; a special collaboration of local agencies and organisations who are dedicated to safety and wellbeing.
Key highlights of this unique event included an insightful discussion held by British Red Cross, an awareness session by YGAM and an informative talk by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. Students also had the opportunity to interact with many supportive organisations in the local community such as ROSPA, St Mary’s Church, No Limits and Hampshire Police among others. All attendees received a complimentary meal, while the learning experience was made more memorable through a series of educational games which transformed the College’s Hub area.
Greg Evans, Chief Tutors for Riders in Hampshire at ROSPA, highlighted the long-term impact of these events: “We’re planting the seeds for road safety in these young students, and we also offer opportunities for post-test training. Ultimately, it’s about staying safe and being aware to keep everyone free from harm.”
Thomas Gilbert, a Marine Engineering student, shared his positive experience: “The experience today was different – it just kept getting better as I discovered so many new things. The safety-focused activities at the agency stands were fun to participate in, and the workshop talks were really informative. It was a very good event, offering a level of safety education we don’t typically have, even back in school.”
Lorraine Wheeler, Campus Designated Safeguarding Lead at Southampton College, emphasized the event’s importance, stating, “Equipping our students with crucial knowledge, skills, and tools for their safety was the core purpose of this event. By engaging directly with a diverse range of organisations, our students gained safety-related information in a truly realistic setting. Through workshops, they developed a deeper understanding of how to stay safe, leaving them empowered to confidently seek further information from relevant agencies on safety practices.”
The event proved to be a resounding success among students, with attendees from a diverse range of subject areas such as engineering, creative arts and foundation courses. This enriching experience has helped students feel more informed, empowered and equipped to deal with potential challenges they may face during their studies and beyond.
Students across South Hampshire College Group have hosted a special coffee and cake fundraiser in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, raising a total of £896.50.
In a unique event organised across two of our college sites, Eastleigh College and Southampton College, students from Event Management and Early Years courses organised, prepared and ran a fundraiser selling homemade cake and coffee. A rich assortment of sweets, bakes and chocolates were on display with dairy and gluten-free options available to cater for those with allergies and dietary requirements. A raffle was also staged, with winners enjoying a special selection of premium sweet treats.
100% of the £896.50 raised has gone to Macmillan Cancer Support – a national organisation committed to caring for and supporting the 3 million people across the UK living with cancer. In addition to providing support for this important cause, the coffee and cake fundraiser offered many educational benefits to students. It gave them valuable experience in staging an event, fostering teamwork, collaboration and project management skills, while also giving them the opportunity to learn transferable skills in a customer service environment.
Gemma Braybrook, Lecturer in Media, Marketing and Event Management at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “This event was a great example of how quickly students have settled and adapted into college life, showing great teamwork and leadership skills in just three weeks. It was lovely to see them so motivated and excited to plan this event, for a charity that has helped so many of them. The creativity and communication skills they demonstrated has given them a solid foundation which they can utilise as they join forces with the second year students to plan one of the biggest events of the year – The Christmas Fair – which is happening on Thursday 28th November!”
Southampton College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has unveiled two state-of-the-art new facilities for Early Years and Automotive students, designed to bridge the gap between the traditional classroom environment and the industry workplace. These impressive new facilities are tailored to enhance the learning experience across various career-focused courses, including T Levels, apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications.
South Hampshire College Group have launched four other Centres of Excellence this month at Eastleigh College including Bricklaying, Health and Social Care, Business and Electrical. A further Digital Centre of Excellence at Southampton College is set to be launched before the end of the year. All these comprise a total £12 million investment by South Hampshire College Group, reflecting the college’s steadfast commitment to practical learning that incorporates the latest industry equipment.
Christian Allen-Kotze, Vice Principal of Southampton College, said: “We are delighted to introduce the new Centre of Excellence facilities at Southampton College, with a particular focus on Early Years and Automotive. These high-spec, industry-aligned spaces are designed to provide our learners with the technical expertise, practical skills, and knowledge essential for success, whether they choose to advance into higher education or transition directly into their chosen industries.”
The Early Years Centre of Excellence is the product of meticulous attention to detail in order to best simulate a real nursery environment, featuring a kitchenette, nappy changing facilities and a sensory room, alongside an assortment of toys and games. Studying in an environment that mirrors the industry has been proven to give students the confidence and capabilities to better transition into the workplace – especially with many students undergoing work experience as they study.
The Automotive Centre of Excellence has been designed with industry trends in mind, as the motor industry continues to embrace electric vehicle alternatives. The inclusion of electric batteries from major brands such as Toyota and Nissan alongside a variety of engines, the latest diagnostic and testing equipment, and increased garage space for technicians to work in, all serves to create a more fulfilling educational experience for students and apprentices.
Kevin Sumner, Director of Faculty for Automotive at Southampton College, said: “Focusing on major investment and professional talent at our Centre of Excellence for Motor Vehicle at Southampton College means that we are able to provide outstanding automotive engineering facilities for our learners to equip and inspire them to be our current and future industry experts.”
The upcoming new Digital Centre of Excellence is poised to transform learning with a trailblazing digital suite and cutting-edge technology. Its launch will be announced shortly.
To find out more about the technical and professional courses at Southampton College, and to explore these outstanding new facilities, visit their Open Event on Thursday 10 October, 17:00 – 19:00.
This summer, our students have once again achieved a very successful set of results in their Level 3 courses (equivalent to A-levels). Many of these students are confidently progressing to university as their next step with others going on to high-quality apprenticeships and direct employment in their chosen careers.
Congratulations to all of our Level 3 students and we wish them all the best for their future careers.
Rin, who achieved a triple distinction* in their Level 3 Media course, is now progressing to study BA (Hons) Film Production at Arts University Bournemouth.
Sharing how City College really helped them to prepare for university and their career goals, Rin said: “It has been great to be able to focus on one subject and really put all my effort into something I was passionate about. I enjoyed the live assignments as they helped to put what I had learnt into practice and the work experience was really valuable as well. I feel very prepared for university and my future career.”
Isaac is celebrating achieving distinctions in his Level 3 Production Arts course and is now achieving his career goal of working as a Technician at The Point and The Berry Theatre.
He explained that “The facilities here were superb and second to none, I have been lucky enough to work on a wide range of events and shows. My teacher also taught me the key employability skills needed for this industry and was genuinely an expert which has meant I have not only achieved in my course but I have also gone directly into a full-time position.”
Regina came from St Anne’s Catholic School and is now progressing to Solent University, Southampton to study BA (Hons) Education after completing her Level 3 Childcare & Education (Early Years Educator) course.
About her experience, she shared “I always knew I wanted to work with children and help them develop so this course was perfect for me. The teachers really knew what they were talking about and were passionate about sharing their skills and experience which has really helped me to succeed, I feel very confident going on to university.”
We are delighted to announce the successful merger of City College Southampton, Eastleigh College and Fareham College which, as of Tuesday 1 August 2023, has become South Hampshire College Group (SHCG).
This merger received a positive endorsement from students, parents, staff and local employers in the public consultation and a recommendation for the go-ahead from the Department for Education (DfE).
Students, apprentices and businesses from across South Hampshire will benefit from a financially strong, responsive and ambitious Further Education organisation; with the vision, resources and expertise to best support the evolving and growing skills demands in the region.
Whilst our group name has changed to South Hampshire College Group, the individual campus names remain unchanged and will retain their important links to local communities.
The newly-appointed CEO of South Hampshire College Group, Andrew Kaye, said: “It’s an exciting new start and will bring many benefits to our students and staff, businesses and local communities.
“We will pool all our resources and expertise to enhance the range and quality of courses in this region. We also look forward to delivering enhanced pathways into higher levels of study and work; increasing the supply of skills; meeting employers’ needs and supporting our region’s economy to grow.
“Our ambition is to create a new and vibrant college, better able to meet the economic and social mobility challenges that the region faces.”
Chair of the new Board of Governors at South Hampshire College Group, Sandra Prail, said: “We are tremendously excited to be at the helm of the new SHCG and our Board members look forward to contributing their expertise and skills from many industry sectors into the new venture.
“I’m positive the students attending courses at our new college will flourish, grow in confidence and ultimately make a real tangible contribution to the local workforce and economy with their skill sets.”
Our new group website is currently under development: www.shcg.ac.uk (new window)
Skip to content