Dear learners 

We’re excited to launch our new programme for the academic year 2026/27 ahead of our Open Day on Saturday 20 June. 

As we prepare for the new academic year, we want to be transparent about changes to course fees. Funding for adult learning has remained static for many years and has declined over the last two years. To maintain the quality and range of our courses, the College has made the difficult decision to increase fees for next year. 

We know this may be challenging for some learners, especially during ongoing financial pressures. A small bursary fund is available to support those facing hardship, and we hope to grow this through future fundraising and donations.  

The activities in College continue even though we are winding down for the end of the academic year.  Refugee Week was marked from 15–21 June 2026. On 17 June, we were proud to hold our first Diversity Day in many years, celebrating the theme of simple acts by sharing food, performances, stories and culture. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success. 

Alongside the Open Day on 20^th June, the College also hosted a Makers Market and the Lowes Dickinson Awards, showcasing wonderful learner work from across 2025/26. Many of you will already have seen the inspiring work displayed around the College. These displays showcase the creativity, dedication and achievement of our learners across the 2025/26 academic year, and they are something we are immensely proud of. 

Of course, the College offers so much more than arts and crafts. Over the coming year, we will be working to ensure that the achievements of all curriculum areas are better represented and more visibly celebrated throughout our buildings. As we launch our new brand and visual displays, you can expect to see exciting changes around the College that better reflect the full richness of what we do. 

As the academic year draws to a close, I would like to wish all of our learners a very happy summer break. 

If you are returning to us next year, we are delighted to welcome you back and look forward to continuing to support you on your learning journey. And if you are just joining us, we can’t wait to welcome you into our College community. 

Thank you for being part of such a vibrant, creative and supportive college. 

Dear Learners 

On Thursday, 7 May, I had the pleasure of accompanying Louise Wright, Deputy Director for Post-16 Pathways at the Department for Education, and her assistant, Andrea, on a visit to several of our classes. During their time with us, they visited ESOL Entry 2, Maths, Mosaic, Ceramics, Computer AI, and Sewing. 

It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the breadth of learning that takes place across the College. As always, I felt incredibly proud hearing our learners speak so positively about their experience here — about their teachers, the support they receive, and the welcoming environment that makes our College such a special place to learn. 

A heartfelt thank you to all the teachers and learners who took time during their lessons to make us feel so welcome. 

7 May also brought the local elections. Here in Camden and Islington, both councils remain Labour-led, although with reduced majorities. Across London, the results have marked a significant political shift, with substantial changes in council leadership and representation. 

In times like these, it is natural to reflect on what change can bring. My hope is that, as communities respond to the outcome, we continue to value inclusion, understanding and unity, and resist any forces that may deepen division or polarisation.  

I have continued to advocate for both the College and the wider sector wherever I can. Recently, I attended the House of Lords as a witness before a select committee to speak about the impact of adult numeracy. I also took part in an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) at the House of Commons, where I gave evidence on the important role adult education plays in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. 

These opportunities matter, and I am proud to represent the work we do and the difference it makes. 

Finally, the summer term means that we are heading into exam season for many of you.  We know this can be both an exciting and challenging time for many of you. Remember to take care of yourselves, pace your revision, and reach out for support when you need it—your tutors and college staff are here to help every step of the way. Stay focused, believe in your abilities, and give it your very best. We are incredibly proud of the dedication you’ve shown throughout the year, and we wish each of you every success in your exams. 

Dear Learners, 

Welcome back to the summer term – the final term of the academic year. This is an exciting time as many of you work towards completing your courses and, for some, preparing for exams. We wish you the very best with your revision and assessments. 

Alongside the hard work, we also want you to take time to reflect on and celebrate how far you’ve come. Your achievements this year matter, and this term is a great opportunity to recognise your progress and successes. 

Finally, do take a moment to enjoy the exhibitions on display in the café and around the building – they showcase fantastic learner work and creativity. 

We wish you a positive, successful and enjoyable summer term. 

Dear Learners, 

As we approach the end of the spring term, we are reminded that returning after the Easter break marks the beginning of the final term of the academic year.  Although spring is often considered the quietest period in the college calendar, behind the scenes, it is one of our busiest times, as this is when we plan and shape the curriculum for the year ahead. 

Our funding for the next academic year has been reduced by another 1.65%.  This means that we will have to scale back on some of our courses.  As funding decreases, sustaining the same level of service requires us to grow our income, and therefore, we must implement another fee increase from next year. We are, however, actively reviewing the types and lengths of courses we offer to ensure we continue to provide a rich and meaningful learning experience. When the new course directory is published in the summer term, I encourage you to explore it carefully and see the new opportunities available. 

Over recent days and weeks, we have seen or heard the news about further conflict and tensions in the Middle East. While we cannot control world events, we can shape the atmosphere within our own community. My message, also shared on our website, is that WM College remains a place of kindness, respect, and understanding. Let us continue to look after ourselves and one another and uphold the values that make our college a supportive environment for all. 

I’m delighted to share blog in the Curated Conversation series, A Call to Courage: Belonging, Language and Leadership. I warmly invite you to take some time to read, reflect and engage with it in your own time, and to share it with others if it resonates with you. Read more

Thank you for continuing to support the college. As we head into the break, I wish every member of our diverse community a restful and restorative time. Whether you are marking Eid, celebrating Easter, observing seasonal traditions, or simply taking a moment to pause and enjoy the lighter days ahead, I hope this period brings you peace, joy, and connection. Here’s to returning refreshed for our final term of the year. 

Dipa Ganguli OBE, Principal

Dear Learners, 

February half-term marks the halfway point of our academic year. By now, the rhythm of college life is well established, induction feels long behind us, and we’re not yet in the busy summer term of exams, final projects, and exhibitions. The spring term is often thought of as the calm one, but behind the scenes, it’s actually when we plan what our courses, services, and opportunities will look like for the next academic year. 

As many of you may have seen in the news, there has been no new government investment for colleges like ours, which means we face some tough decisions. One of these is the need to increase course fees. I want to reassure you that we’re doing everything we can to balance this by offering more interesting courses, longer terms, and extended opening hours where possible, to better meet the needs of all our learners. 

At the same time, we’ve had to make some reductions—such as shorter opening hours for the Library and Learning Centre.  These changes are not ones we want to make, but they are necessary in the current funding climate. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges together. 

I also want to say a big thank you to everyone who participated in the Macmillan Coffee Morning and joined in with our enrichment activities earlier this month. Your involvement helps build a warm, supportive community here at WM College, and I hope you’ll continue taking part in the events and opportunities we offer. 

February is also LGBTQ+ History Month, an important time to celebrate diversity and reflect on the contributions of LGBTQ+ communities. In addition, we are entering the Lunar New Year, and this year we welcome the Year of the Horse—a symbol of energy, independence, and ambition. 

With that spirit in mind, I wish you all a happy and restful half‑term break. Look after yourselves, enjoy the pause, and come back refreshed for the second half of the year. 

Dipa Ganguli OBE, Principal