Welwyn MP Grant Shapps acclaims new community learning partnership between local college and Adult learning centre

HATFIELD — Oaklands College and Progression 2 have announced a partnership that will offer adult learners an opportunity to access a range of study programmes in the heart of the Hatfield community with a local path through from Entry Level studies to Higher Education.

Progression 2, the flexible community based learning centre, offers adults the opportunity to complete qualifications in literacy, numeracy and IT locally using the centre’s facilities in Hatfield. The centre offers tutor support and students can study for exams from Entry Level 3 through to Level 2.

Oaklands College will work in partnership with Progression 2 to offer students pathways to continue with their studies, potentially right through to degree level. The partnership is focused on providing the community with a local facility offering a complementary, integrated and flexible approach to studying.

Grant Shapps, local MP, Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, fully supports the partnership and attended the official announcement event.

Zoe Hancock, Principal of Oaklands College, comments: “We are pleased to be able to further extend the range of learning opportunities available to serve the needs of the local community in Hatfield through a partnership with Progression 2 and support learners who wish to take their studies further. Progression 2 provides people with the valuable option of studying locally and obtaining support on a one-to-one basis in the centre. Oaklands College will fully support those learners who wish to continue with their studies.”

Lee Rogers Director of Progression 2 said “We are delighted with the new partnership opportunity with Oaklands College. Progression 2 have been working in Hatfield Town Centre for over 4 years and this year faced the prospect of removing the funded learning opportunities from the area. The new partnership has meant that we are still able to offer help to the people that need it most and with our new employability course, launched in September, the demand has been greater than ever. We now have a defined progression route for our students and their time with us prepares them to return to a more structured environment to take their learning to the next level.”