Catherine Hill reflects on her experience of being awarded an OBE for services to FE and why she is proud to represent the sector on the New Year’s Honour’s list.
My 2016 got off to a fantastic start as I celebrated being awarded an OBE with family and friends.
I was ‘officially’ awarded an OBE for services to FE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, which was released on December 31.
I was, however, informed by an official letter from the Cabinet Office at the end of November.
The letter was posted to my home address and sat un-opened for a few days.
We were having a new bathroom fitted and the plumber had kindly piled our post up on the shelf.
It was my husband who spotted the envelope marked ‘Urgent and Personal’.
I shared the news with my immediate family when we were all together at Christmas — they were delighted for me and it was quite satisfying to see my adult children speechless.
For the past 30 years I have dedicated my career to the FE sector as I am passionate about helping students succeed, progress to employment and become productive members of the community.
My mantra throughout my career has been simple yet steadfast — raise aspiration and expectation in every student, without exception, to achieve and be successful and never compromise standards.
The core business of our FE work should be to ensure that life changing opportunities are available to our students. If what we are doing isn’t for the benefit of our students then we should be questioning why we are doing it.
I have been a resident of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire for 37 years, and had the pleasure of being part of some very knowledgeable and dedicated teams at colleges across the North West.
For the past 30 years I have dedicated my career to the FE sector as I am passionate about helping students succeed, progress to employment and become productive members of the community
I previously held positions at Burnley College, Accrington and Rossendale College in the Red Rose County and Bury College in Greater Manchester; all of which were graded as Outstanding by Ofsted during my tenure with them.
I came to Blackpool and The Fylde College in 2005 as head of quality and standards.
In 2009, I was appointed as vice principal and in 2013 I became deputy principal with the responsibility for all the college curriculum areas; working with the heads of schools to drive quality and standards.
During my time with Blackpool and the Fylde College, it has become one of the largest general FE colleges in England and gone from strength to strength.
Over the past 30 years the FE culture has changed considerably.
Contempory FE includes higher education, FE, and commercial work, and is about providing students with skills and attributes to take advantage of the career opportunities available, and for the fact that they may have several different careers over their working life.
Our sector also provides employers with highly skilled individuals to fill the skills needs of existing industries and the new and evolving jobs of the future.
I am humbled that the work that I am so fervently committed to has been recognised and the honour of the OBE gives me great pleasure.
I do feel extremely privileged to have held the roles that I have as there is nothing like witnessing first hand when a student has a light bulb moment. That instant when they find something that they are good at and enjoy and realise they can be successful.
Since the announcement, I have been astounded by the number of well-wishers who have congratulated me.
I would like to thank the teams of people I have worked with across the years, all of whom played a role in me receiving this honour.
The investiture will be at Buckingham Palace sometime over the next seven months.
Until then, its business as usual with our quality remit heavily focused on providing Blackpool and The Fylde College students with the best possible experience to help them secure their dream job.
With Dr David Collins receiving a knighthood and Association of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel gaining a CBE , there’s no doubt that FE was well represented when the awards were announced.
More than 20 sector-related figures were awarded, and one of the less widely known but equally deserving figures was Sally Cooke whose career in making technology accessible has seen her work with many FE providers, including Myerscough College, which granted her an Honorary Fellowship PhD in 2014. She is now able to add an OBE for services to FE, accessibility and inclusion to her achievements.
Most recently a director for TechDis, a Jiscfunded advisory service on technology and inclusion, Ms Cooke said she was “delighted” and “humbled” by the award.
“Many will know that FE & skills has been my passion for over 30 years … It seems fitting to me that other recipients on this year’s list include many people working (often voluntarily) for the benefits of those individuals who need to able to live and learn independently, which is a skill that I am proud to say FE providers work so hard to try and provide,” she added.
Helping FE learners master maths led to York College’s Margherita “Miggy” Biller earning her MBE. The many achievements of the head of maths at York, who has worked in FE for the last 44 years, include supporting student Daniel Lightwing throughout his selection process for the British International Maths Olympiad team. The team went on to win four silver medals and a bronze in 2006.
Principal Alison Birkinshaw said: “I join staff and students at York College in congratulating Miggy on her MBE. We all know she is thoroughly deserving of this honour.”
An MBE for services to FE and the community in Sutton and Croydon was a special surprise for Anita McGowan, lecturer and tutor at Croydon College, as she celebrated her birthday over the New Year. Previously working in law firms, she now lectures in human resources at the college, was elected academic staff governor in 2012 and works with community groups.
“Hearing about the nomination and the award just before Christmas and keeping it quiet from family and friends has taken tremendous effort,” she added.
For Kate O’Rourke, vice chair of the governing body at City and Islington College, receiving an MBE for services to FE was “just the cherry on top of the ice cream”.
A qualified solicitor, Ms O’Rourke has been a member of the college’s governing body since 1996 and became vice chair in 1998. Her work has included a special focus on championing adult learning. Ms O’Rourke said: “I feel very privileged to have been part of the City and Islington College for so long as it has given me wonderful opportunities to work with great people, and for such a great enterprise.”
Philip Round, ex-chief executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association, was awarded his MBE for services to apprenticeships and skills. Mr Round retired last year after 35 years with the association, which delivers work-based training and apprenticeships. He said: “I benefited from a superb start to my own career through an apprenticeship and have tried to promote this route and make it accessible.”
Receiving an MBE was a “shock” for Donald Graham, the vocational programme manager at Foxes Academy, a specialist college for 16 to 25-year-olds with learning disabilities in Minehead. “I could not believe that it was for me,” said Mr Graham. “I feel so proud to work for Foxes Academy and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to achieve such prestigious recognition on their behalf.”
His work involves helping young people with learning disabilities to gain work experience skills.
Clare Harrigan, chair of the board of governors at Leeds College of Building, also gained an MBE for her work.
Ian Billyard, principal at Leeds College of Building, said: “Clare’s experience and passion for the built environment has been invaluable to our college over 15 years in her role as governor and then as vice chair and chair. Her knowledge and support proved pivotal in our continued success.”
Eva Lambert received an MBE for services to sport, education and health in the local community.
Ms Lambert has spent over 30 years contributing to community life in Huddersfield and has worked closely with Greenhead College, where she was previously a governor from 2003, vice chair from 2008 and chair of governors from 2010 to 2015.
The college gave a statement praising her work, saying: “Eva has consistently made a difference to the people she belongs to and loves. The award of MBE is an honour which recognises the value of an individual’s service to the community and in the case of Eva Lambert it is a richly deserved distinction”.
Stewart Segal, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said: “It was very good to see the recognition that strong supporters of apprenticeships and offender learning have been given in the New Year’s Honours.
“With the priority that the government is giving to apprenticeships and traineeships, we hope to see more frontline deliverers of these programmes achieve recognition in the future as well as others making a difference with programmes under the new Adult Education Budget.”
David Hughes, chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute also commented on the honours: “Its fantastic to once again see key figures from across the education and skills sector getting the recognition they fully deserve.
“Martin Doel has been a powerful voice for the sector, during a period of significant change. I’m delighted he’s been recognised for the important role he’s played in championing colleges, tutors and learners themselves during his incredible tenure at the AoC.
“Richard Ward has been an incredible advocate for the sector, as well as a longstanding supporter of Niace [National Institute of Adult Continuing Education]. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with and support Richard for the years ahead as the Learning and Work Institute.”
Carole Stott, chair of the AoC board, said: “We are pleased to see that the hard work and dedication of so many college principals, teaching staff and governors have been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list. They work tirelessly to ensure that their students receive top-quality education and training and this is reflected in their awards.”
Click here to see the full New Year’s Honours List and here for an expert piece by Catherine Hill, deputy principal at Blackpool and the Fylde College, who was awarded an OBE for services to FE this year.
The third round of invitations to tender for delayed European Social Fund (ESF) contracts have been published.
The six local enterprise partnership (Lep) areas involved are Cumbria, New Anglia, Cheshire and Warrington, Worcestershire, Lancashire, and London.
While one contract has been tendered for each of the first five Leps, a total of 28 have been issued for London, worth around £30.2m.
The other five LEP area contracts are collectively worth £7.9m, making the third round of invitations worth more than £38m in total.
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) unveiled the new invitations to tender on through the government’s ‘Contract Finder’ web portal with the following details:
The timeline for the ITTs (below) means that applicants have 22 working days to respond, slightly fewer that the 27 day period available for the previous round of ESF contracts. After tenders have been awarded on May 6, winning bidders will have 11 working days before delivery commences from May 24, which is the same time frame allowed in the previous round.
Task
Deadline
Publication of ITT
6 January 6, 2016
ITT closes
February 5, 2016
Notification of tender results
May 6, 2016
Day 1 mandatory standstill period
May 7, 2016
Day 10 mandatory standstill period
May 16, 2016
Contracts issued from
May 23, 2016
Delivery commences from
May 24, 2016
It comes after the second round of invitations to tender for ESF cash totalling £16.2m was published on December 14 for four Lep areas — Swindon and Wiltshire, Greater Manchester, West of England, and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
It followed a report by FE Week on December 11 on concerns held by director of employment and skills at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) Paul Warner that drawing-out this ESF tendering process — through a series of rounds instead of in one go — could lead to sub-standards bids being submitted.
Providers who were unaware of future tenders, he warned, could win a contract only to find delivering it might hamper their ability to deliver ESF provision put to market at a later date.
Such a situation might, he suggested, put ESF contract-winning providers off going for further contracts despite having the necessary expertise.
It had previously been exclusively revealed by FE Week on December 4 that the Lep areas the invitations to tender would go to included Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and Solent (covering the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton).
The other Leps involved were Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
The combined value of these contracts is £15m.
Furthermore, FE Week exclusively reported on November 10 that the SFA was planning to run a “sequence of procurement” for handing out £650m of delayed ESF cash, which must be finished by the end of September next year at the very latest to allow a minimum delivery period of 18 months.
It is thought this was caused by disagreements between the British government and the European bureaucrats over what role local enterprise partnerships should play in the process.
Stroud MP Neil Carmichael knew a thing or two about the world of FE and skills before he was elected as chair of the Education Select Committee in June.
Neil with his 1st year politics students classmates
He did not study in the sector himself, attending St Peter’s independent school in York and then taking a politics degree at the University of Nottingham.
But his initial involvement with FE came in 1989, when at the age of 28 he was appointed a governor of Kirkley Hall College of Agriculture, in Northumberland. He held the role until 1993.
Carmichael was a county councillor at the time and colleges were under the control of local authorities. “Local authorities had a direct interest in what happened and often chose councillors as governors, and that was the reason I became a governor,” he says.
He adds that among his responsibilities was “dealing with issues that were cropping up at the college — there were one or two irregularities in terms of finance which had to be overcome”.
He says he felt that the governors didn’t have enough collective power to deal with the issues they faced at the time. “I think that it’s very important governors ask the right questions and do not fear to get themselves involved if they see something wrong.
“Organisations do well if they are properly accountable, if they are well-led, and a combination of a strong leader plus a decent governing body is the way forward. I learnt that in those days and I’ve never forgotten it.”
Engaging with local colleges will be even more important for Carmichael’s work in the coming year, as his constituency falls into the ‘West England’ region that will be assessed as part of the second wave of area reviews – the first meeting of the local steering group is this month.
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, where Carmichael was previously a governor for ten years from 2001, is one provider that will be under scrutiny.
Reflecting on his work at the college, he is proud of the changes that were made with the team there.
“The college was in dire straits — lots needed to be done, and the governing team rallied around,” he says.
“We did three things — one was we built a new college, secondly we really addressed the issue of leadership of the college, and we also merged with the Filton College, so it was a strategic objective as well.”
Neil with Nicky Morgan and Kevin Hamblin, principal of Stroud College, visiting the site of the new Berkeley green campus
Things are now much improved, he says, and the college was rated ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ features by Ofsted in 2014.
“We have a college with a big footprint, with the ability to deliver a wide range of very capably taught courses; a college which is engaging in the community, and investing in the future through developing the old Berkeley Power Station site.
“We’ve got a training centre coming along for renewable energy, nuclear power and so on, and also on the back of that, a UTC [University Technical College – the SGS Berkley Green UTC will open in September 2017].”
Carmichael is raring to go for 2016 after a busy festive holiday period.
The Conservative MP has been out and about in his constituency, checking in with a local school, doing charity trips and visiting the Post Office to thank workers for tackling the seasonal mountain of cards and presents. Outside of professional duties, home life has also been eventful during the festive season, though he did manage to fit in a trip to see Star Wars at the Science Museum’s IMAX cinema.
Carmichael drove up to Northumberland, his home county, with his mother to help her negotiate flooding in the area, and managed to spent time some quality time with his three children — James, 19, and twin girls Alicia and Rebecca, 17.
I think that it’s very important governors ask the right questions and do not fear to get themselves involved if they see something wrong
Now that the holidays are over, top of Carmichael’s list for the New Year, alongside losing a few extra Christmas pounds, is seeing the Education Select Committee come up with new ideas to challenge assumptions about education.
The committee should be “at the cutting edge of making sure that we have an education system which puts Britain into a very strong position, both within the EU and globally,” he says.
He also wants to see people lifted out of “dead-end jobs” and into more rewarding career paths, reflecting an interest in vocational education and skills that he is keen to share. “I think apprenticeships are one big part of the story,” he says.
In Stroud, Carmichael established the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering, which he says aims to ensure young people can find out more about manufacturing and engineering. It has been running for three years and was opened by the Prince of Wales in 2014.
Prince Charles visits the Stroud Festival of Manufacturing, founded by Neil
“One of the things we’re going to do next is promote apprenticeships because we think it’s really critical.
“I’ve presented awards to successful apprentices, I’ve talked to them all and I really value first of all the opportunities that firms give, and the way in which the students seize them and develop them.”
He says it is time to consider “a proper National Apprenticeship Award”, to raise the profile of the qualification and address “the issue of parity between vocational, technical and academic”.
Commenting on the government’s target for 3m new apprenticeships by 2020, he adds: “I think that having 3m more is absolutely excellent — but they’ve got to be quality apprenticeships; they’ve got to be apprenticeships which people recognise as worthy. They’ve got to be ones which do lead to sustainable, rewarding careers.”
That focus on apprenticeships reflects the fact that Carmichael’s work has recently taken an important turn towards FE and skills.
He is now co-chair of the sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy, newly formed through the coming together of a selection of members the Education Committee and the Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee.
The new committee held its first meeting in December and so far, Carmichael says, the collaboration with BIS Select Committee chair Ian Wright is “going really well”.
“He and I, although we come from different political parties, agree absolutely on the importance of dealing with productivity,” he says. “If we are not a productive economy, then we can’t actually start increasing wages and salaries — and that’s what we want to do.
“Productivity is not just an economic challenge, it’s a social challenge as well, and we have to address it – and one of the key tools is obviously making sure people have the skills, the training, to get the jobs,” he adds.
Careers education is another focus for the joint committee, which launched an inquiry looking at careers advice, information and guidance in early December. It will look at issues such as the quality of current careers advice and its effectiveness in supporting people into apprenticeships.
Neil demonstrates his sheep shearing skills to Stroud farmers
“It’s really important that young people have work experience and get the right sort of knowledge about the opportunities that are before them,” Carmichael says.
“One of the reasons why the FE sector has to be more innovative and more responsive is because people do have different careers and want to retrain.”
He says that that he “welcomes the attention that the FE sector is currently attracting”, but adds that more is still needed.
“We’ve got to look very closely at the post-16 area in terms of funding, in terms of provision,” he says.
In his constituency, Carmichael says he thinks that South Gloucestershire and Stroud College is “well-placed”for the upcoming area review and he wants to see similar practice replicated “all over”.
He feels optimistic about the progress of the FE and skills sector overall and the opportunities that the coming year could hold.
“I went to the AoC conference in Birmingham this last year, and I was impressed with the principals that I met — they clearly had thought about where they needed to be, and they had an appetite for making the kind of decisions which would put their colleges into good positions. That was encouraging,” he says.
He adds that the spending review was also “surprisingly good for the sector”.
“I think there are some good reasons for that. One is obviously the post-16 sector is the one you need to work hardest at to have the most rapid response to the skills crises that we’ve actually got in terms of recruitment.
“And the second one is, of course, we’re looking at the changing area of post-16 anyway with the area reviews, and also with the very wise decision to have sixth form colleges, for example, become academies — I think that’s a really good step in the right direction.”
Neil with pupils at the Microsoft schools event for computer programming
Carmichael would like to see this change in particular open the door for multi-academy trusts (MATs) to offer a full range of academic choices to pupils.
“You could have a secondary school and a UTC and a sixth form college, all within the same MAT, which will really be pretty good … that would be a really good structure for a strong, capable FE college to interface with.”
It’s a personal thing
What is your favourite book and why?
It’s going to have to be A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. It was one of the first books I ever read at school, and it’s a great read because it combines romance with economics.
What do you do to switch off from work?
I find the easiest way is to go to a decent pub and have a few pints of beer with some friends. I think that’s a good way of switching off, and that’s probably what I’d do. I do like watching films. I was busy watching A Streetcar Named Desire at Christmas, the Marlon Brando version.
What’s your pet hate?
I cannot stand it when people don’t treat other people properly, I just don’t like that.
Neil setting off with his father to feed sheep in
winter conditions
If you could invite anyone to a dinner party, living or dead, who would it be?
Charlemagne, the great creator of the European Union.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always wanted to go into politics. My father didn’t want me to but I was always very interested. He discovered that Ted Heath was coming to Morpeth – in Northumberland, where we lived – and he said did I want to go, and I said, “I certainly do!” So off we went. And I met Ted when I was just 16.
Seventeen general FE colleges and six sixth form colleges (SFCs) will be included in the first two “sub-regional” area reviews of post-16 education and training in London, it was announced today.
The two reviews, in London (Central) and London (West), are the first of four London reviews to be announced and are expected to get underway in March as part of the second wave of area reviews.
The government has also confirmed that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson (pictured below), will be leading the capital’s area reviews, as previously revealed by FE Week.
“An overarching London Area Review Steering Group, chaired by the Mayor of London, will oversee the sub-regional reviews and ensure that the recommendations and outcomes of the reviews are co-ordinated,” a government spokesperson said.
Steering groups for both the reviews announced today, which will include representatives from the London Enterprise Panel, Greater London Authority and London councils, will be chaired by a leader from one of the boroughs in the scope of the review.
Ten general FE colleges and four SFCs, covering 12 London boroughs, will come under scrutiny in the London (Central) review.
The London (West) review will see seven general FE colleges and two SFCs examined, across seven London boroughs.
The two remaining London reviews, in east and south west London, will be part of a third wave of area reviews, due to begin in April.
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor believes it is vitally important that businesses can access workers with the right knowledge and skills if the capital is to maintain its current position as a global hub for business, talent and creativity. He is therefore working with borough leaders, government and the skills sector to see how the sector could be strengthened.”
Six reviews were detailed in the Midlands, London and the North West.
And just like the seven reviews of the first wave first announced from September, in which 83 colleges are being reviewed, no school sixth forms were listed.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) said that the colleges and boroughs involved would be confirmed “in due course”.
The government had previously given an indication of the timings and areas to be included in the third, fourth and fifth waves.
London (Central)
General FE colleges
City and Islington College
City and Westminster College
College of Haringey, Enfield and North-East London
Hackney Community College
Kensington and Chelsea College
Lambeth College
Lewisham Southwark College
South Thames College
Tower Hamlets College
Westminster Kingsway College
Sixth form colleges
Brooke House Sixth Form College
Christ the King Sixth Form College
St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College
St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College
London (West)
General FE colleges
Barnet and Southgate College
The College of North West London
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College
Harrow College
Stanmore College of Further Education Corporation
Uxbridge College
West Thames College
Sixth form colleges
St Dominic’s Sixth Form College
Woodhouse Sixth Form College
They were the first two inadequate ratings dished out by the education watchdog to local authority FE providers since the launch of the new Common Inspection Framework (Cif) in September.
The previous ‘good’ inspection results for their adult and community learning services, under old inspection frameworks, were published in November 2011 for WMDC and August 2010 for WSCC.
John Wilson
John Wilson, corporate director for children and young people at WMDC, which was allocated £3.1m by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for 2015/16 as of August, said: “Our adult education service provides training and learning opportunities for people across our district, supporting them to gain qualifications, to access jobs, and have confidence to participate fully in our community and go onto further training or education.
“The Ofsted report has highlighted areas of strength, most notably in safeguarding and diversity within the curriculum.
“However, we know we need to improve in a number of areas and we are taking swift action to address the issues that have been identified.”
A spokesperson for WSCC and subcontractor Aspire Sussex, which runs the council’s adult learning programmes, said: “We are pleased that Ofsted inspectors recognised three key areas as being ‘good’ including the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare and outcomes for learners.
But it added: “The council and Aspire have already addressed the areas identified as needing improvement, and actions have already been taken to ensure that the arrangements for safeguarding learners and how we manage and monitor the service are improved.”
Aspire Sussex was launched in 2012 as an independent charity delivering adult education.
It was formerly known as the West Sussex Adult and Community Learning Service and was run by West Sussex County Council, which is still a shareholder for Aspire Sussex.
The grade four Ofsted report on WMDC rated its effectiveness of leadership and management as inadequate.
It also returned ‘requires improvement’ ratings over apprenticeships, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes for learners, and adult learning programmes.
The report stated that the council, which led provision for around 9,300 learners in 2014/15 and was allocated £3.2m by the SFA for 2015/16 as of August, should “urgently review the appropriateness of the curriculum and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment provided in English, mathematics, employability and ESOL [English for Speakers of Other Languages] provision”.
It added that “tutors have had much professional development in the past year, but even when managers had developed sound processes, such as those for recognising and recording progress and achievement, and tutors had received training, they did not implement these processes consistently or effectively”.
However, the report said that “procedures to safeguard learners were good”, adding that leaders were well informed about the Prevent agenda and “aware of their duties to protect learners from extremism and radicalisation”.
The grade four result for WSCC, which led provision for around 6,800 adult education learners in 2014/15, rated it ‘inadequate’ for effectiveness of leadership and management and adult learning programmes, but ‘good’ for quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for learners.
It said that WSCC managers “do not adequately manage and monitor the provision, which is wholly subcontracted to Aspire Sussex”.
It added: “The arrangements for safeguarding learners are not effective. Leaders and managers have not suitably checked all tutors or venues to ensure learners have a safe learning experience.”
It added: “Tutors have received training in the Prevent duty, but few introduce these topics within classes.”
However, the report also said that “Aspire’s new leadership and management team has taken decisive action which has improved many aspects of teaching and support. It manages the curriculum and tutors well.”
“Tutors use a wide variety of learning activities that inspire learners and make learning fun,” it added.
Main Image: West Sussex County Council’s head offices in Chichester
Former principal of Leeds City College and Stockport College Peter Roberts CBE has died.
Mr Roberts, who retired at the end of September after six years in charge at Leeds City College, died on New Year’s Eve. He was 60 years old.
He had been principal at Stockport College for seven years before joining Leeds in 2009, and was chair of the 157 Group from 2012 to 2014.
Dr Shaid Mahmood
The father-of-two collected a CBE for services to FE in October having been given the award in last year’s Queen’s Birthday honours, and Dr Shaid Mahmood, chair of the board of governors at Leeds City College, paid warm tribute.
Dr Mahmood said: “A much loved, admired and respected friend, colleague, and mentor for many, his love for Leeds City College and the City of Leeds and his championing of all things FE was surpassed only by his love for his family and his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
“Funny, lightening quick, intellectually adept and astute and with an incredible touch with people, his passing has left an immeasurable emptiness among those of us that knew him that will be difficult to fill.
“Sleep peacefully Peter. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Simon Andrews
Stockport College principal Simon Andrews said: “The college was deeply saddened to hear the news of Peter Roberts’ sudden death.
“Peter led the college to its ‘outstanding’ inspection of 2008 and made a significant contribution to the development of the estate and the construction of a number of new buildings.
“Peter has been praised for his knowledge and commitment to the colleges, young people and the towns and cities in which he worked.
“He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
Mr Roberts told FE Week in a profile interview published in January 2013 how his career in education started in the late 1970s, teaching PE and economics at West Derby comprehensive in Liverpool.
He decided to go into FE when he was at West Derby and was asked to run a business course with a local college.
Sarah Robinson
He left the school in 1983 to become a lecturer in leisure and recreation at Stannington College, in Sheffield, and eventually went on to be elected chair of 157 Group in December 2012.
Sarah Robinson OBE, chair of the 157 Group, said: “Peter chaired the 157 Group from 2012 to 2014 and was never afraid to challenge, provoke thought and influence change.
“He worked tirelessly for the good of FE with genuine concern for students.
“I, like so many colleagues have been inspired by his leadership, his sound guidance and sense of humour. The thoughts of the 157 Group go out to his family and friends.”
A number of tributes were also made to Mr Roberts on Twitter.
Sudden death of Leeds Principal Peter Roberts desperately sad & unfair. The most accomplished, funny & least egotistical man you could meet
Gemma Knott, director of marketing, engagement & enterprise at Stratford-upon-Avon College, also tweeted: “I am shocked beyond words to hear that Peter Roberts, ex-Principal of @leedscitycoll has sadly passed away. His unwavering passion or the sector alongside his humbling character made him a rare gem.” Leeds City College’s student union president Emily Chapman also posted on Twitter.
Sad start to the year hearing of the sudden death of Peter Roberts. Lovely Man and very supportive to all learners! Will be missed. — Emily Chapman (@Emy_Chapman_6) January 1, 2016
Meanwhile, Leeds Central Labour MP Hilary Benn, tweeted: “Peter was a lovely man and passionate about FE’s power to change people’s lives. Such a loss. Thinking of his family.”
And Association of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel said: “Peter’s untimely death comes as a great shock to everyone in the college sector, his passion and hard work on behalf of colleges was well-known to us all.”
He added: “It was exemplified only a few months ago, when he galvanised principals and chairs into writing an open letter to the Prime Minister in advance of the spending review and which made a real difference to the final result.”
John Widdowson, AoC president and principal of New College Durham, said: “I knew Peter for many years and was honoured to call him a friend.
“He was someone whom fellow principals held in high regard for his achievements in various colleges and in his more recent leadership roles for the sector.”
The death of former Leeds City College principal and ex-157 Group chair Peter Roberts sent shockwaves through the sector on New Year’s Day.
Warm tributes to the 60-year-old, who suffered a heart attack on New Year’s Eve, were paid and widely reported.
Former 157 Group executive director Dr Lynne Sedgmore (pictured right) sent the poem she wrote for his retirement, just last year, in for publication in his memory.
Farewell Retirement Ode to Peter Roberts
Farewell dearest colleague, leader and friend, Your leaving brings beginnings – not just an end. You have given so much to the world of FE, Hence this celebratory ode to thee.
Your wit and your humour are legendary, Your turnarounds have affected so many. Stockport you turned into OFSTED grade one, With a lot of hard work, but also some fun.
Leeds, a big challenge, you brought to grade two through the excellence that you always pursue. It’s always “the team” you loudly proclaim, And you really mean it, again and again.
An outstanding Leader, and fabulous man, Beloved member of our strong FE clan. You always give praise, and credit where due, The reason why many respect and love you.
As Chair of 157 – both supportive and kind, You challenged us too, with a laser beam mind. Your video treats gave us all food for thought, Your passion for learners was constantly brought.
You will be deeply missed – please do not go away Stay close to FE so your talents don’t stray. There is much you can do, we still need your skills To fight for the future and stop policy ills.
Thank you dear Peter for all you have done. We want your new life to be free and huge fun. May you enter retirement, happy and blessed Living life to its fullest with well deserved rest.
Trouble-hit City College Coventry has been hit with its second ‘inadequate’ Ofsted report in less than three years, FE Week can reveal.
The latest report out today rated the college as ‘inadequate’ for effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes for learners, 16 to 19 study programmes, and apprenticeships.
It comes after the college improved to grade three (‘requires improvement’) following an inspection in June 2014, from its previous grade four rating in April 2013.
The latest report said that “much teaching is inadequate, too few learners complete their qualification successfully and too few current learners make good progress in their learning”, although it recognised that the leadership team had “secured successfully college finances”.
It raised widespread quality concerns, stating: “Performance management of managers and staff is weak and has not raised the quality of provision to good across much of the college’s work.
“Managers continue to overgrade the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and do not use a wide enough range of measures to judge fully and reliably the quality of learning,” the report added.
It comes after FE Week reported on December 11 that a new interim principal would take the reins at the college early next month.
Dr Elaine McMahon (pictured above) will start in the role at the 5,944-learner college on January 4, taking over from Steve Logan, who has spent just 18 months in the top post.
A further unfavourable Ofsted report was widely expected, after chair of the board of governors Maggie Galliers told FE Week two weeks ago: “We were disappointed by some of our success rates this year and the [Ofsted] inspection highlighted a number of important areas where significant changes and improvements are needed.
Maggie Galliers
“We have therefore moved swiftly to appoint the right person to take the college forward.
“Elaine is an extremely experienced, well-respected and successful former principal, who is enthusiastic about joining us.
“Her priorities will be accelerating the pace of quality improvement, ensuring the continued financial health of the college and preparing for a local area review of FE provision announced for November 2016.”
The college has an unhappy long-term history with Ofsted, which also gave it grade three ratings in April 2010 and May 2007.
No-one from the college was available to comment ahead of publication.
The deadline for the annual FE Week and Me student photography competition, in partnership with NCFE has been extended to February 1, 2016 at 17:00.
FE Week has once again teamed up with NCFE to find stunning pictures that depict learning environments in the FE and skills sector, through the eyes of students.
In 2015, after over 500 submissions, FE Week and competition sponsors NCFE and supporters Royal Photographic Society, whittled down the photography students’ entries to the competition down to 10 finalists.
Mikaela Mae Cobby, an 18-year-old photography level three extended diploma learner at Stoke-on-Trent College, was one of 10 entrants shortlisted in the photography student category, and after 2,562 votes were cast online, was crowned the winner.
In her entry, (pictured left) one of more than 980 across the photography student and non-photography student categories, Mikaela used a joiner image to show the different stages of a girl’s educational life, against the backdrop of a zebra crossing.
This year there are two categories of entry: photography student and non-photography student.
This year’s prizes will consist of:
Category – Photography student – Nikon D5200 Camera Kit and work shadowing placement with a professional photographer.
You can view last year’s finalists by downloading our finalists PDF – click here
How to enter…
Brief: entrant’s photos need to depict learning environments in the FE and skills sector. Photos can be taken on any type of digital photography kit. It is as simple as that!
To enter the competition students need to email their entry along with no more than a 100 word description of their photo and why they’ve chosen this shot to mailto:feweekandme@feweek.co.uk no later than February 1, 2016. Entries received later than this date will not be reviewed or considered for short listing.
Entrants need to provide the following information when submitting their photo:
Name
Category entering: photography student or non-photography student
Course studying
College or Learning provider
Email address
Mobile telephone number
Photo description (100 words max.)
Any entries with missing details will not be considered.
Shortlisted entries will be announced on February 5 2016.
Aspire Sussex was launched in 2012 as an independent charity delivering adult education.
It added: “Tutors have received training in the Prevent duty, but few introduce these topics within classes.”
