London College of Creative Media in Southwark comes top of student satisfaction survey

A college for musicians, writers and creative entrepreneurs has come top in a survey of student satisfaction.

London College of Creative Media (LCCM), in Union Street, Southwark, ranked top among contemporary music institutions in the UK in the National Student Survey 2020 with an overall student satisfaction score of 86.5 per cent.

LCCM’s ratings show a marked improvement in student satisfaction compared to 2019, with improved scores in nearly all categories.

LCCM achieved ratings ahead of the national benchmark by giving students the chance to:

• Explore ideas or concepts in depth
• Apply what they have learnt
• Hear helpful comments on their work
• Get the right course guidance

Students showed appreciation for the teaching on their courses, and the learning opportunities provided.

Every year, the National Student Survey (NSS) provides colleges, universities and other institutions with the opportunity to receive feedback from their students on key aspects of the learning experience.

The overall figure for student satisfaction at LCCM surpasses the national average of 83 per cent registered this year.

These results place LCCM ahead of the institutions specialising in contemporary music education in the country.

Dr Simon Jones, Principal at LCCM, said: “This is an encouraging result for our institution, for the present as well as the future.

“The higher score on key aspects shows that we’ve been able to learn from last year, listen to our students and focus our work on the areas they indicated as needing improvement.”

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students (OfS) and is carried out by the OfS on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies.

NSS 2020 collected responses from more than 311,000 students from 369 higher education institutions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Dr Jones added: “In the following days we will look closely at the results and the feedback we received from students.

“Their response to the NSS shows their involvement with the institution, and we are committed to ensuring their opinions and suggestions will meet equal dedication to improve the learning experience.”

LCCM– formerly London Centre of Contemporary Music – was founded in 2002 as a music college.

Its aim is to establish a new approach to teaching music that mixes an art school environment with the best of music conservatoires and universities.

LCCM has pioneered an educational model where music students have to master both performance and production – a combination that remains vital for most professionals today.

With its degrees developed and delivered by leading industry professionals, LCCM’s innovative approach to specialist education prepares students for industry and employment from the moment they start at LCCM.

LCCM’s cube-shaped building, designed by Trevor Moriss and known as ‘The Music Box,’ houses the college on its first six floors.

Its exterior is decorated with glazed bricks laid in a pattern replicating the piano arrangement of Cream’s song White Room. The building can host 550 students and includes recording studios.

Former students include chart singer Tom Walker, whose song Leave a Light On charted two years ago.

Merlin Rhys-Jones, guitarist and former member of The Blockheads, is a tutor.