Swindon and Wiltshire

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We have been working in Swindon and Wiltshire since 2010.


Last year we supported over 160 Future Leaders to realise their potential and plan pathways to their ambitions.

Our partner schools in Swindon and Wiltshire

  • Lydiard Park Academy
  • Abbey Park School
  • Lawn Manor Academy
  • Cirencester College 
  • New College 
  • Crowdys Hill School 
  • The Deanery CE Academy 

I think one-to-one coaching is a really good approach because it's personal, but it also doesn't tell you what to do because there isn't one way of helping each student

Prasanna, Swindon and Wiltshire Alum

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When I started the programme, I knew very little about university, where I wanted to go and how I wanted to go. I had a goal and the team at Villiers Park helped me.

Mahnoor, Swindon and Wiltshire Future Leader

I think one-to-one coaching is a really good approach because it's personal, but it also doesn't tell you what to do because there isn't one way of helping each student

Prasanna, Swindon and Wiltshire Alum

When I started the programme, I knew very little about university, where I wanted to go and how I wanted to go. I had a goal and the team at Villiers Park helped me.

Mahnoor, Swindon and Wiltshire Future Leader

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Our Activity in Swindon and Wiltshire

Why Swindon and Wiltshire?

Only 34.4% of residents in Swindon hold Level 4 qualifications or higher, compared to a national average of 40.3%. In some wards, participation in higher education remains below 20%. Swindon’s relative deprivation is most severe in the education, skills and training domain, some areas fall within the most deprived 10% nationally This reflects barriers in accessing quality education and training opportunities.

Our Local Team

By Bronagh Sumner April 25, 2025
In September 2024, we were thrilled to have Emma Cross join our team as a Progression Coach in Hastings and Bexhill. Before working at Villiers Park, Emma worked as a teacher across multiple schools in East Sussex and internationally. What does your role entail? As a Progression Coach, my role involves supporting young people across Hastings and Bexhill ?" especially those from underrepresented backgrounds ?" in achieving their academic and career aspirations. I provide one-to-one sessions to help students develop confidence, resilience and goal setting skills as well as supporting students in identifying their strengths, interests and potential career pathways. This support could either be through university and apprenticeship applications, personal statements, interview preparation, internships or other alternative career pathways. I have also been involved in organising and delivering workshops around applying for university and managing exam anxiety. What did you do before coming to Villiers Park? I spent some time in Hong Kong studying and teaching English at a local primary school. Throughout my time teaching, I discovered a passion for learning about education in international contexts, so I decided to study a MA in International Education and Development at the University of Sussex. From this, I gained valuable insights on the impact of globalisation on education policy and practice. I also volunteered with the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link, where I had the opportunity to travel to Hastings, Sierra Leone, and work with some amazing individuals, focusing on developing education and healthcare around the surrounding areas of Freetown. What is your biggest project at the moment? My biggest project now is supporting our Future Leaders with their Leadership Challenge projects. I spend a lot of time working with groups, supporting them with their project proposals and implementation. We have some great projects this year, such as a community beach clean, a research presentation around A-Level Law, teaching a Year 7 PE lesson and a whole school football tournament. What is the biggest challenge you are currently facing in your role? The biggest challenge I am currently facing is finding local and contextual apprenticeship and work experience opportunities for our Future Leaders. Hastings and Bexhill have a limited offering for these opportunities, so it makes it difficult for our Future Leaders to feel motivated and involved in apprenticeships. What is your favourite part about your job? My favourite part of the job is seeing the direct impact you have on students’ confidence and aspirations. Watching students grow and see them go from uncertain about their future to feeling empowered and motivated and building strong relationships with young people and being their trusted mentor who helps them navigate challenges. Also, knowing that your work is making a real difference in creating social mobility and giving students access to opportunities, like university insight days, they might not have had otherwise. What is a book you will always recommend? This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone ?" high science fiction meets with poetic love literary! If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? It has always been my dream to go to Japan! I’m fascinated by the culture and landscape ?" and Japanese food is my favourite!? Or New Zealand to see all the different locations where they filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Who are your two dream dinner party guests? Wow! So many people I would choose... but I would have to go with Chino Moreno from the band Deftones ?" just so I can talk about all the things I love about his music! And Hakuri Murakami to talk all things literature. What would your perfect weekend look like? A perfect weekend would be brunch in my favourite cafe (must have good coffee!), a sunny walk around the South Downs with the dogs, ending up in a pub with good friends, food and a band!
By Bronagh Sumner April 25, 2025
Villiers Park and Roku, a pioneer in TV streaming, are proud to be working together to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEM, technology and entertainment.
September 23, 2024
In July, we were thrilled to hold our 2nd Year 10 residential at the University of Bath. This year 81 Future Leaders from our hubs across the country travelled to Bath, some by coach and some by ...
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