Colchester Institute Reviews 

I looked up the Trustpilot reviews when I reflected, as I do every autumn, on my dreadful experience as a mature student at this Colchester college. I was in the linked University Centre block, but it was in no way a University. Material was old, tutors were not teacher trained and simply presented power point "lessons". There were zero university level lectures. It couldn't be more different from the University of Essex.
When I wrote a thoughtful essay, one tutor marked it down because it didn't match his own beliefs, and yet the subject was a reflection and comparison between styles. When I used a sophisticated phrase I got slated because students, they said, wouldn't understand it ... (couldn't it have been part of their learning?) One young female tutor made some of the silliest, most uninformed statements I've ever heard.
I had so much prior learning, I had to fight to conceal it or I would have argued my way through every lesson; but in the end I had to leave. When you are being systematically run down it doesn't stay behind your back, things escape and I realised I was being placed at a disadvantage.
I just think, in the end, it was poor. I wonder if they have upped their game since 2018. I wonder what kind of counsellors they are producing via that poor little course.
Below my review here is a well constructed post. One hopes the college leaders will look at it and consider such comments as: "The teaching staff we encountered too often appeared to lack the proactive involvement needed to motivate and support students ..."
My experience was not linked with SEND but my comments would certainly match those within the below review.
Sometimes, since this all happened to me, I have taken a certain satisfaction in the fact that tutors who were supposed to have learned aspects of psychology and counselling indulged in a spot of bullying without ever understanding psychodynamic theory: they needed to look at themselves before turning on others. They couldn't understand that, because they were not comprehensively educated.

A serious lack of care, support and accountability for students with SEN.

Our experience with Colchester Institute has been extremely disappointing and frankly deeply concerning.

Despite being fully aware of a student’s additional needs, including autism and anxiety, the support, understanding and flexibility we encountered fell significantly short of what any student should reasonably expect.

The Institute failed, in our experience, to follow its own absence procedures and reasonable adjustment policies, leaving a vulnerable student feeling unsupported at a time when understanding and appropriate intervention were needed most.

The Institute’s approach to student-led learning also raises serious questions. While encouraging independence is important, it should never become an excuse for insufficient teaching engagement, encouragement, enthusiasm or guidance. The teaching staff we encountered too often appeared to lack the proactive involvement needed to motivate and support students to achieve their potential.

Perhaps most disappointing was the attitude of senior leadership. There seems to be considerable enthusiasm for contacting prospective students when encouraging them to join the college, but once enrolled, that engagement appears to disappear. Meaningful leadership involvement, accountability and genuine concern for a student’s experience were notably absent.

Students with Special Educational Needs should not have to fight their college to receive the understanding, reasonable adjustments and support they are entitled to expect.

Education should be about developing potential, building confidence and helping every student succeed. Sadly, our experience of Colchester Institute was that policies and promises counted for considerably more than the care, commitment and practical support delivered.

I hope the Institute takes feedback like this seriously and reflects on the impact its approach can have on students who need additional support to succeed.

Couldn't recomend enough brilliant college

I did a Plumbing course at this college. Staff were very friendly and the facilities were very good. Was surprised at the size of the place.

I was bullied by both staff and students. They failed to give me the correct support and made my life a living hell for 2 years.
Never going there again and wouldn't recommend anyone else does.