×

About

Our Statement of Purpose

We seek to provide young people and adults with the education and skills needed to achieve qualifications, progress into employment and enhance their wellbeing.

Our Values

We value relationships by taking the time to understand each other and providing personalised support.

We believe everyone should have the chance to belong to a small, welcoming and inclusive community.

We aim to make life changing differences, learning from evidence based practice.

Our Educational Principles

We value developing positive relationships.

We value establishing a student centred approach.

We value building resilience in our students and staff.

We value responding to the needs and aspirations of our students.

We value contributing to an increasingly complex and diverse community.

Our Aims

To educate young people and adults in English, Maths and a range of subjects so they can thrive in life and work.

To facilitate, support and nurture young people and adults through a learning journey to help them progress and achieve.

To prepare young people and adults for a positive future through nurturing their wellbeing and development, providing advice and guidance, developing new skills and qualifications and presenting new opportunities and experiences.

To work with individuals and groups who are socially excluded including BAME (Black, Asian Minority Ethnic), sufferers of mental health issues and those who are economically disadvantaged.

To enhance the development of businesses through advice and guidance, training and development and support them to contribute to the wellbeing of the area.

Our History

We were founded in 1988 as an initiative of the Oxfordshire Ethnic Minorities Enterprise Developments. It aimed to improve the economic situation of the BAME communities in Oxford by offering skills enhancement and by providing advice, guidance and services to assist with the development of locally owned businesses within the community.

We want to pay tribute to the late Dr Shaila Srinivasan who joined the organisation in 1993 as an outreach worker and later become the CEO. Her vision, commitment and strength of character, was recognised and rewarded when EMBS was recognised as Ofsted Oustanding and awarded Beacon Status in 2010.

Testimonials

«...I not only consider EMBS a college - I also see it as my family.... »

«I arrived in this country four months ago, without any confidence in my English and really scared to be an independent person at sixteen. I didn't know what my next steps were since the education in my country is really different. One day, my aunt bought me to EMBS. At the beginning I was really insecure as I didn't even know how to use the bus and get there, it made me feel like a child surrounded by grown up people that didn’t understand me at all. Ever since I started to study here, everything negative that I used to feel has changed completely. I’ve got to meet amazing people like Jo and Jane, who took care of me and were concerned about my future. I’ve also got to make amazing friends like Aisha and Abner that always make me laugh and feel positive about life. Of course, this is not the only thing that the EMBS has given me: they also are deeply involved in my education and they help me in any way possible to achieve my purpose, which is go to university and study human rights. If I am being honest, I not only consider EMBS a college - I also see it as my family. »

~Daniella

«...I really enjoyed my time at EMBS, meeting so many different people and making lots of fun and happy memories.... »

«Before I came to EMBS I was very shy and often felt very awkward to start conversations with people around me, I never spoke unless I was spoken to but after a few months of being here I gained confidence and was able to communicate with other people comfortably, made good friends and feel like I knew myself. I really enjoyed my time at EMBS, meeting so many different people and making lots of fun and happy memories.»

~Aakifah

«...The staff are really nice and friendly.... »

«Before I came to EMBS I was very shy and not confident, I used to be very afraid to speak English outside of college. But after several months, EMBS helped me to gain more confidence and especially improve my spoken and written English. The staff are really nice and friendly.»

~Daniel