South Thames Colleges Group’s annual Student Conference took place on Wednesday, 7 May bringing together over 40 enthusiastic students from across the Group to engage in a dynamic afternoon of discussion, celebration and collaboration.
Designed to add value to the student experience, the event offered students a unique platform to voice their opinions, share ideas, and explore ways to shape and improve life at college. Supported by dedicated Student Services teams, the conference reflected the strong partnership between students and staff in working towards continuous enhancement across the Group’s Colleges.
Highlights of the event included a celebration of student achievements throughout the academic year. Students were recognised for their impactful social action activities, successful fundraising efforts, and their crucial roles on Student Councils—where they represent their peers and raise important suggestions with college management throughout the year.
The afternoon concluded with a lively panel Q&A session, where students posed questions to a panel featuring senior managers and representatives from the Governing Body. The formal closing remarks were delivered by Group Principal and CEO, Peter Mayhew-Smith, who commended students on their energy, commitment and thoughtful contributions.
The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was described as "electric", with spirited conversations and insightful ideas flowing freely. All feedback and suggestions shared by students will feed directly into the post-conference action plan, which will be reported back to the wider student body through the Group’s ‘You Said, We Did’ initiative.
The Student Conference continues to be a vital part of the STCG calendar, ensuring students’ voices remain at the heart of college development and decision-making.
