Reading College

Fantastic experience: very good building for its build in 2016 and the courses are very interesting even though its my first year as a student

Negative experience: Worst college of all time. The 2nd time people in my course are always rude. This guy in my course stinks have some hygiene please. I didn’t get into 1st year college because they said everything is full which is put me a year back I’m deciding to drop out because I’m not happy with college this year as most people my age left. Would not recommend this college to anyone. With 1st year I actually got into a course after a month they said they had space and then 2 days they said accidentally enrolled me in and took away my landyard a whole year I missed.

Fantastic experience: Amer

Fantastic experience: I dont like going to back to visit my old teacher and old friend

Negative experience: not a great college tbf. Should’ve noticed that when I seen the reviews and the stars. told I was getting into 2nd year of my course but was wrong as I had too make multiple emails and phone calls after they replied to make 2 weeks late saying that there were clearing sessions available but when I went there, I was told they had been finished and that the college shouldn’t have sent me that emails. Emailed them multiple times and was ignored.

Positive experience: Reading college isn’t the best place for mental health and anxiety at all with all the bully and harassment you get from other students is horrible the only good thing about reading college is the ASD Centre and three of the staff really helpful in there will help you through a lot of things if you need it The pathway is was not is any good it put you help to have mental breakdown in college and more problem for your mental health when I have to do deal with I was a student for 4 year after you get put on creative art course get really have a hard time with start they all day longer because it a joke what hours they ask for student with mental health problem and they don’t allowed to leave the creative art course they make sit with it for a year

Negative experience: Up there with the most inconsistent colleges in the UK. These guys don't give you your exam results or enrolment details. You email them and it takes two weeks for them to get back to you missing important days in college. They tell you one thing after another about what to do but its completely lies. Don't go here.

Fantastic experience: I am not going to old college on Thursday because I will be so tried after my new for three day

Negative experience: It is the 4th time of trying to claim my college id/lanyard in the span of 2 weeks they keep telling me to come back in a few days and when I come in to collect it I am told once again to wait a few days. I should have received it normally like everyone else as I was enrolled to my course. However they keep telling me that it is because of their system. They should fix it or update it as I do not have any access to the college and have spent countless hours in the line waiting to collect it. This years design on the lanyard is not to many people’s liking as so see most of them coming into college with their previous lanyard that does not have any lgbt designs on it.

Negative experience: Was guaranteed a place to my daughter, i bought materials on £300 value for the course as directed, plus paid £185 for her bus pass school term and waited to receive timetable by email. So she did. On Friday evening she received a email stating the class was full and she wasn't accepted, when supposedly would start following Monday. Reading college clearly doesn't care about the students or future. Shame on them.

Negative experience: My daughter attended Reading College to complete an art course following her passion for this. At the start everything was great she enjoyed going into college doing her work. However as the months past she then became a victim of bullying and harassment. Despite going into the college on a weekly basis no one took this matter seriously. In the end I had no option but to notify the police. Further more this then calmed down but once again it flared up and restarted resulting in affecting my daughters mental health to the point she became scared to even go out. The college stated that they were dealing with the situation and having chats with the pupils involved but this was not solving the problem. Despite my many attempts of contact with the college via emails phone calls even going into see someone was difficult the lack of response I had just showed they was not interested.Now my daughter has taken the decision not to go back for her second year because of this. I find it disgusting that the college done absolutely nothing to make sure my daughter was safeguarded I would not recommend this college to anyone thinking of attending. An absolute disgrace.

Negative experience: My first time at Reading College was between 2017 and 2019 doing a Btec Science course. As I was really impressed with the college back the, I though I'd return for the 23/24 academic year for a Btec Engineering course following a bad experience I had with another course I did at university. Although the first few weeks of the course went smoothly, things started to go downhill quite quickly from November. Here's a summary of some issues I had: - As a mature student, I paid a good amount of money for the 1 year I was back at Reading College. However, because I missed so many lessons that had amounted to missing several weeks, I arranged a meeting with my faculty manager about getting a partial refund for them. As he had to email the directors, I had to wait quite a few weeks to hear back, but to both of our disappointments, they DIDN'T refund me, and even my faculty manager said that if it was up to him, he would've given me all of the money I requested. As many other people have said, Activate Learning are clearly more worried about making a profit than giving their students the best experience possible. - My next point is about one of my recent lessons, where I had an important meeting about my apprenticeship one morning, which I heard about back in March and would’ve been impossible to change. My timetable had been changed a few days before to an important lesson, so I emailed my lecturer regarding this, and he said that it would be fine for me to miss it, with me under the presumption that I’d be able to catch up. When I emailed him the following day about this, not only did he say that I wouldn’t be able to catch up as it was a teamwork based assignment, but he was also implying that I was at fault for prioritising my apprenticeship meeting that I had in the diary for over 3 months over this important lesson that was rescheduled only a few days prior. On top of this, he copied my tutor, faculty manager and other workshop lecturer into the email in an attempt to find an alternative solution to this problem. Again, this really annoyed me, as this rescheduling was out of my hands, and I felt I was tricked into thinking I'd be able to catch up. - In my last 2 weeks at college, my timetable for my Btec class, including the week commencing the date I write this review, our timetable was rammed with early starts and late finishes (8-6 instead of 9-5) to catch up with missing lessons. This is an attempt to catch up with 6 assignments that we should've been doing for the few months prior, but those lessons were cancelled due to the T-Level coursework taking priority over ours. Overall, I feel like we were treated like 2nd-class students who had a mad rush to finish assignments through no fault of our own, whilst the T-Level students are now finished and now on summer holiday. - On top of this, the T-Level students got a LOT more support than the Btec students. One important part of both courses is gaining work experience, of which it's compulsory for the T-Level students and optional for the Btec students. Whilst the T-Level students got help finding it, the Btec students just got a list of company websites to look at and were told to find it ourselves with minimum guidance and help. I know this is part of both of the courses specifications, but I feel like the T-Level lot get preferential treatment just because they're a more academic route. Overall, I feel that my year at Reading College was an absolute disaster for students who were on the Btec route, and it's the reason I quit. I'm only giving a 2-star review as my first time at Reading College was good, but even that's being generous for what I've had this year. Since quitting, I come in every Wednesday for my apprenticeship release day, but the issues of not letting us know about last minute timetable changes are still continuing. This college honestly can't be trusted when it comes looking after the students, and I wish I was at another college that's better than this mess. Please do yourself a massive favour and avoid this college like the plague!

Negative experience: I would not recommend this college at all! I studied here in 2020-2021 at the age of 31 with my Level 3 Protective Services Course. In 2024 I applied again to gain more qualifications and knowledge and wanted to study a level 3 course. This time they have said “due to my age, Level 3 is not suitable for myself” it’s funny that how they allow me to previously, but not this time! This college is ageist and discriminating against my age! Do not go to this college! Do not give them your money! They are disgusting and ageist! I only gave 2 stars as my Level 3 course was amazing! I have now unliked you on Facebook and will always tell people do not go this college!

Fantastic experience: Reading College is amazing! The staff there are so supportive and I am thriving.

Fantastic experience: i got stoned before class and they didn't really care so yeah this a good college

Fantastic experience: Great college with high quality learning experiences. Teachers are helpful, attentive and comforting. If you want a high quality education, come to this college.

Negative experience: ABSOLUTELY SHAMBOLIC, DO NOT EVEN SET FOOT NEAR THIS BUILDING. If you're looking to have a stable and sane college experience do not come to Reading College. Similarly to various other student reviews, there was a lack of cover teachers, teachers leaving halfway through the term, absolute lack of communication and feedback on work. Lack of consequence from teachers when it comes to bullying and/or student disputes, including harrassment. Do not come here if you value your peace of mind or actually want to be taught by teachers.

Positive experience: nice campus

Fantastic experience: Abdul Saleh Going to Reading College

Positive experience: Great

Negative experience: Worst college I've ever been to. Teachers leaving half way through the term with no cover teachers. - Teachers getting fired for not turning up and pupils reporting the teachers absence Also teachers who lie for there own gain. To top it off... once I completed my course, they forgot to submit all my work to be approved before deadlines meaning I had to wait another 3-4 months for any certificates. Absolute joke of a college. Students shouldn't be advising and chasing teachers.

Negative experience: Really disappointed of this college

Positive experience: The catering and hospitality course is the best for me the teachers where great math and English not so much

Positive experience: لم اكتشفها بشكل جيد بعد

Fantastic experience: Alison (Aly) in the garment making class was a fantastic teacher, many many years experience, incredibly personable and so knowledgeable, not just in the subject but also on how to teach and keep the class motivated.

Positive experience: Absolutely disgusting how receptionists treat students, especially with mental health conditions. Multiple times when I’ve tried to speak for those having difficulties with social interactions they brush me off and pressure the student in question to speak instead. As for classes the Travel and tourism department isn’t that bad.

Negative experience: You paying 1 year in advance for course and then you loose opportunity to get a few jobs because they dont bother to send certificate. You have to waste your time just to find out what is going now . College its a joke and they don't care about students

Negative experience: I had a few business related meetings at the college and as i was waiting at reception i could see and hear how one of the receptionists was behaving. Rude and abrupt with everyone, particularly students asking questions. I hope someone will read this and monitor their attitude and sack people if needed. I'd never recommend anyone this place of they are to be talked to like that.

Positive experience: [significantly edited review]: Mostly good. Great art teacher. Good airy, pleasant building on the whole. Appears to be great for disabled and mentally-impaired students (there are a lot at this college), so a lot of very caring and patient teachers and support staff.) Poor tables and seating in some classrooms (think 1980s Secondary School standard.) Great seating, computers and equipment in others. Why the inconsistency in quality? Art seems an afterthought for the college in terms of the quality and comfort of the main art room. Lack of funding and modern and cutting-edge equipment lets the college down quite badly in some respects. There's not even so much as an A1 or A2 colour or mono printer on site for students to use (I had this 16 years ago at another college.) Reception is also rather disappointing at times. Nowhere is perfect, but this appears to be a low to mid-budget 20th Century college trying to fulfil the needs of 21st Century students. If you wish to use Apple Macs, though, it is very good.

Fantastic experience:

Negative experience: Cerys Rosie young *

Negative experience: My friend went here and this is honestly such a joke, every time I heard from him it was only complaints and how his teachers don't do anything proper, for example he would attend classes, never being late and they still put his attendance down, when he told them, they said they would fix it and they didn't do anything for months, useless staff, there are some good teachers but they get far outshined by the majority of teachers that are horrible.

Fantastic experience: Joined in September 2020 and the start didn't go as well as it should. Obviously due to the pandemic and getting used to it. But I have enjoyed it with the teachers I have currently and do feel a future at being at Reading college. The only downside is that my class is on the top floor and we have to climb alot of stairs and at the end our legs literally get tired. We pretty much burn more calories climbing those stairs 3 times than running laps around the park in the morning.

Negative experience: If your looking to get the most out of your learning experience, don't come to Reading college. The year has started late due to covid but they still expect you to do the same amount of work as if you hadn't lost month. That means big assignments given first day and just told to do it with no prep beforehand. They "teachers" just sort of spout a bunch of information at you but don't actually teach. And if you think I'll just go to the library and study with the books there, get ready to wait 3 days for books you have to reserve due to "covid" ( if they have them at all). Don't even get me started on "online learning", what a joke!

Negative experience: Not as I expected، the options are very limited, I hope you give more attention to beginners students in learning English as you have good teachers.

Positive experience: Helpful staff and easy to get to

Negative experience: Just visiting there is a waste of time. Went there to apply for a specific course, met so many staffs and everyone said totally different things compared to the other. And are not welcoming people properly. They themselves didn't know anything about the courses. They said just to go here and there without knowing any knowledge about the course. One of the staff told me that I have a very high qualification to study the course and the other told me that I don't have enough qualification to study that.

Fantastic experience: Cijeli jedan kvart je koledz

Negative experience: AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE FIRE - THEY WILL ROB YOU! I've had the worst experience at reading college - I've started AAT course back in September, but unfortunately our teacher wasn't actually a teacher, rather somebody whom went to AAT course themselves and wanted to become a teacher... maybe this wouldn't be a problem if not the fact that the teacher spoken very broken english and could not explain stuff very well. Having raised the issue numerous times (with other class members) with a senior member of stuff and having seen nothing being done, I decided to drop out due to the stress the teacher was causing me; back in beginning of February I have raised the issue with the management of the college and made official complaint, to which I was told there will be an investigation which will hear the outcome of after 12 days... Mr. P. Emberlin did not come back to me until after nearly 4 months of my initial complaint, despite my many attempts to try and contact him (in fact, even my employer had reach out to Mr. Emberlin). Mr. Emberlin claimed he tried to call me but the number he said he was using, was my old number despite me giving him a new number for me when I initially made complaint. The moment he responded to my emails was when I said I would make a complaint on gov.uk website. Honestly, this was the worst experience with an education system in my life. Wouldn't recommend this college to anyone (not for a professional course anyway)!

Fantastic experience: This places is beautiful and there are very wonderful teachers.

Negative experience: good study is not always good i.e students should be also good in manner i found many guys tolerating and abusing the girls in your college inside.... please keep some boys good in discipline..

Positive experience: I went here for a few years. 1st year in Plumbing. NVQ 1,2,3,4 in Carpentry & Joinery 1-2nd fix. Very helpful staff. Lectures are easy approached if ask something. Reading Tech College Kings Road Reading. Busy College.

Negative experience: In 2018, all the construction & building services course for adult leisure are cancelled due to low intake. I am not sure whether this is entirely true as I enrolled the plumbing course in 2016 and it was full. The carpentry course, decorating courses were running fine. I just can't see how it suddenly no one wants to learn these valuable skills.

Negative experience: My tutors took my final piece down and put their own work up instead. I was fuming. Level 1 art and media

Negative experience: Horrible nutcase stuff member from the foundation english who took things personal and gave me false information. She was trying to force us on a course that was not in the best interest of the student when clearly it was possible and legal. Told us its illegal bluh bluh you cannot do this! Thanks to her we ended up going to EBC and getting our needs met (legally of course). I was dissapointed with her attitude clearly false information which was based on her own personal perception and what she wanted us to do. Get your facts straight before you open your mouth.

Negative experience: I just wanted stay at home I don't like to go back if I do go back to college I break the rules

Positive experience: HONEST

Negative experience: I came to this college with high hopes for my future. I left the college feeling mentally and emotionally damaged.

Positive experience: Some staff are great, others not so much.

Fantastic experience: I am an international student, studying the Business Course at L3. I have really enjoyed my course and Aki's (aka Akbar Karim) lessons were always fun. Aki has very good communication skills. He is very patient and is always willing to spend his own time helping everyone, even those he does not even teach anymore. Aki is very approachable/helpful and wants everyone to succeed. He explains in such a way that makes things easier and simpler to understand. I have enjoyed studying at Reading College and have made some great friends. I have been accepted by all 5 of my university choices and I would like to thank Aki for all is help. I recommend Reading College to everyone and Aki is my favourite teacher!!!

Fantastic experience: I am a level 3 business student and Akbar Karim and Rahima Khatoon are the two best teachers I have ever had. Always willing to help you even in their own time.

Fantastic experience: Very brilliant staff with a lovely building. Judy enrolled today so excited to start :) I have heard the staff will do everything possible to help every student achieve their full potential

Fantastic experience: Very good college. Nice and caring teachers. I've spent a lot of time studying here and it feels like home.

Positive experience: Good teacher bad students.

Fantastic experience: Good

Fantastic experience: A College specialized for its Arts. Great courses for the Arts and great opportunities for other things. The staff can be unorganized. But the tutors are brilliant!

Positive experience: The staff half the time don't know what they are doing but the lessons are good the building looks nice and the food is expensive to buy