The Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) Leicester held its latest Learner Voice session on 3rd August, providing learners with the opportunity to share honest feedback about their experience, celebrate what is working well and suggest areas for future improvement.
Learner Voice forms an important part of the Academy’s quality assurance process, ensuring every learner has the opportunity to influence the development of courses, teaching and the overall student experience. The informal session encouraged open discussion, allowing learners to reflect on their progress while providing valuable feedback to the education team.
The meeting also reviewed learners’ individual goals, progression opportunities and next steps, while offering Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to support future education and employment pathways.
Positive Learning Experience
Both learners attending the session spoke positively about their experience at FTA Leicester, describing the Academy as a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment where they have developed valuable practical skills.
One learner explained how much they enjoyed the course, highlighting the satisfaction of learning new techniques and seeing projects come together successfully.
Another learner praised the Academy’s Basic Pattern Cutting course, explaining that they had already been able to apply the skills learned in the classroom to making garments independently at home.
High-Quality Teaching
When discussing what the Academy does well, learners consistently highlighted the quality of teaching and the supportive nature of the staff.
Comments included praise for:
- Friendly, approachable tutors.
- A welcoming and inclusive learning environment.
- Well-structured lessons and organised course delivery.
- Opportunities to develop practical industry skills.
- Strong support throughout the learning journey.
Learners also felt that progressing from creating a toile through to constructing a finished garment and adapting patterns provided an excellent and logical learning experience.
Constructive Feedback
As part of the Learner Voice process, learners were encouraged to identify areas where improvements could further enhance the student experience.
Suggestions included:
- Setting clearer expectations around attendance and classroom behaviour to minimise disruption during lessons.
- Encouraging a more balanced distribution of learner support across tutors to ensure workloads are shared effectively.
- Introducing stronger measures to improve punctuality and attendance for learners who are regularly late or absent.
- Addressing ongoing issues with the building lift, which learners noted had been out of service.
The Academy welcomes this feedback and will use it to inform future action planning as part of its commitment to continuous improvement.
Looking Ahead
Looking beyond the course, both learners were enthusiastic about continuing their creative journeys.
One learner plans to develop their own independent projects and expressed an interest in returning to use the Academy’s facilities, while also noting that the course had made a positive contribution to their wellbeing.
The second learner intends to return to university while seeking employment and hopes to progress onto the Level 2 Pattern Cutting course to further develop their technical skills.
Both learners said they would definitely recommend the course to others considering a career in fashion and garment production.
Listening to Learners
The Learner Voice programme is a key element of the Fashion Technology Academy’s learner-centred approach to education. By regularly gathering feedback, the Academy ensures that learner experiences help shape future improvements, strengthen teaching and learning, and support positive outcomes for everyone studying at FTA Leicester.
The feedback received during the August session reflects the Academy’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality fashion education, while continually evolving to meet the needs of learners and the wider fashion industry.