Trafford and Stockport College Group is proud to have been named the regional winner in the post-16 category of the Alex Timpson Attachment Research Centre Award 2025.
The award celebrates best practice in attachment and trauma-aware education across the UK and recognises settings that are making a meaningful impact on the lives of young people.
The recognition is a reflection of our Belong journey – a strategic and compassionate approach to improving how we support students across the group.
As part of this work, we developed and evaluated a three-year implementation plan that has already brought significant changes. This has included rewriting our Behaviour Policy with a focus on relational practice, introducing new training and supervision structures for staff, and launching an online training hub to make ongoing development accessible and consistent across campuses. It has also reshaped the way we interact with our students on a daily basis, helping to create a culture of safety, understanding and support.
We are now collaborating with the University of Oxford to explore national research funding that could help shape how behaviour is understood and addressed across the wider education system.
James Scott, CEO of Trafford and Stockport College Group, said: “Winning this award is validation of our collective commitment to ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging, safety and support.
“Our Belong strategy has reshaped policies, empowered staff with training and tools, and enriched our interactions with students. We’re eager to extend our influence through collaboration with Oxford University and contribute to national change.”
The award is part of a wider programme led by the Attachment Research in collaboration with fellow education providers across Trafford Local Authority as well as other FE Colleges including Middlesbrough and Liverpool, promoting attachment and trauma-aware practice in education. Trafford and Stockport College Group will go forward to the national stage of the awards, with the overall winners announced at the ARC Conference later this year.