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IFS: £300m boost only delivers real-terms FE funding freeze

The £300 million cash boost for colleges announced at budget will deliver a real-terms freeze in per-student funding due to rising learner numbers and inflation, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Economists at the think tank also suggest the government would need to increase annual college funding by £200 million in 2027 in today’s prices to maintain spending per student in real terms, given the growth in the student population.

The institute said a freeze in total funding in real terms would “imply a 4 per cent real-terms fall in funding per student”.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the IFS report “confirms that current planned investment in colleges will not go anywhere near far enough to reverse the decades of underinvestment colleges have suffered”.

He added that the upcoming spending review must include sustainable long-term funding for colleges to train more adults as well as young people if the government wants to “deliver 1.5 million new homes, boost economic growth and improve the NHS”.

16-18 population soaring 18% between 2018 and 2028

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in October that further education would receive a £300 million revenue funding injection in the 2025-26 financial year. The Department for Education (DfE) is, however, yet to say how this funding will be distributed.

Today’s IFS report said that even with this increase, college funding per student aged 16 to 18 in 2025 will still be about 11 per cent below 2010 levels and about 23 per cent lower for school sixth forms.

Alongside rising costs, colleges must also accommodate a student population which has been growing since 2017.

The number of 16- to 18-year-olds in England grew by 230,000 between 2018 and 2024 – a 13 per cent increase. Projections suggest a further rise of 110,000 (5 per cent) by 2028, when the population of 16- to 18-year-olds is anticipated to peak.

If participation rates remain unchanged, this would equate to an extra 60,000 students in colleges and sixth forms.

To maintain spending per student at 2025–26 levels in real terms, the IFS said government would need to increase total funding by almost £200 million in today’s prices by the end of the spending review period in 2027–28.

Fixing the budget in real or cash terms would result in spending per student falling by around 4 per cent in real terms between 2025–26 and 2027–28. Overall, spending per student would be around 14 per cent lower in real terms than in 2009–10.

IFS economists said the expected growth in student numbers means that providing no additional funding would “lead to sharp cuts in per-student spending over the spending review period, and even maintaining existing per-student spending levels would require significant additional funding”.

‘Expecting colleges to do more with the same money’

Meanwhile, average college teacher pay is expected to be about 18 per cent lower than for school teachers in 2025, which is “likely connected to the high exit rates amongst college teachers (16 per cent leaving their jobs each year)”, the IFS said.

And while underlying college financial positions have improved since 2018, the think tank’s analysis found that there remained about 37 per cent of colleges operating deficits in 2022–23.

IFS’ deficits figure differs from other research because it focuses on income and spending that reflect the actual cash position of colleges in a given year – meaning it excludes elements like capital grants, depreciation, and adjustments for pension costs.

Hughes said: “The demographic increase of 16 to 18-year-olds between 2024 and 2028, the increasing gap between school teacher and FE pay, the demands of the labour market, the needs of employers wanting to grow, and rising FE staff turnover create the perfect storm in a sector which the government has recognised as vital to the success of all five of its missions.

“Expecting the colleges to do more with the same money is simply unsustainable and limits the support they can give.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Further education is a critical part of mission to kickstart economic growth and increase opportunity across the UK. This is why the budget provided an additional £300 million in funding for further education, and why we are establishing Skills England to ensure that young people can be part of the high-trained workforce needed to power economic growth.”

Do you want to be part of The Bedford College Group’s next chapter?

Our purpose is clear: To help individuals, communities, and society flourish through education by raising aspirations and reducing inequality to create a sustainable future.

With approximately 2,000 staff members supporting more than 19,000 students and apprentices, The Bedford College Group is committed to fostering success and building prosperous futures. To achieve the ambitious goals outlined in our 2025 strategic plan, we are restructuring our Executive and Leadership Teams to better align with our vision and purpose. These new structures place the student at the heart of everything we do. They focus on enhancing curriculum planning and design to meet the needs of our communities whilst continuing to drive improvements in teaching, learning, and personal development.

We are embarking on a bold new chapter, one that we want you to be part of. We are seeking dynamic, forward-thinking leaders with a passion for innovation and excellence in education to fill three brand new roles on our Executive Team: Executive Director of Education, Executive Director of Student Experience and Inclusion and Chief Operating Officer, and a new role of Group Director of People on our Senior Leadership Team. These roles offer a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in and around the South East Midlands and are designed to empower students to achieve the best they can and stand out as they progress to the next stages of their lives.

“I am extremely proud to lead The Bedford College Group, an anchor institution dedicated to serving our local people, or communities and businesses. These new roles are central to achieving our purpose and represent an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of education by enhancing our students’ experiences and enabling us to continue to deliver exceptional learning opportunities as well as strengthening our impact across the region. If you share our vision and commitment to excellence, I invite you to be part of our journey,” says Yiannis Koursis OBE, CEO of The Bedford College Group.

Rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent 2024 inspection, The Bedford College Group is made up of a diverse group of seven colleges. These include three leading further education colleges; Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College. Our family of colleges also includes Shuttleworth College, a specialist provider of land-based education, and the National College for Motorsport, situated next to the iconic Silverstone Circuit. Additionally, we offer dedicated A Level provision through our two sixth forms, one in Bedford and one in Corby, and operate four community learning centres, ensuring relevant and accessible education for all local communities and their needs.

The ideal candidates will have a proven track record of driving organisational improvement and inspiring high-performing teams. They will be collaborative and skilled at navigating challenges while delivering impactful results. Most importantly, they will share our deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of students, staff, and the local communities we serve.

If you are ready to be part of something special, lead with purpose and share our commitment to creating transformative educational opportunities, we want to hear from you. This is your chance to join a thriving, forward-thinking organisation dedicated to excellence and innovation in education. Apply now to be part of The Bedford College Group’s ambitious and exciting journey.

We have appointed FE Associates to support us with these important appointments. For more information visit https://www.fea.co.uk/jobs

AoC: Immigration charge on businesses should fund ESOL

The government should spend some of its £2.1 billion revenue from the immigration skills charge to boost declining levels of ESOL funding over the last seven years, a new report has recommended.

Research from the Association of Colleges and the Bell Foundation published today shows funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) more than halved (56 per cent) from 2009-10 to 2016-17 and is estimated to have seen even further cuts in the years since.

The report’s authors have called for a national strategy for ESOL after finding “a recipe for muddle and confusion” in duplicated funding streams, a postcode lottery for learners and workforce challenges.

Both organisations said the national framework for ESOL should be co-developed with mayoral combined authorities (MCAs). The MCAs have devolved adult education budgets and, therefore, the majority of ESOL funding.

They advised that income from the immigration skills charge, which taxes employers for hiring migrants, should be used to fund ESOL courses to support British citizens and people with settled status in the UK.

“Harnessing the significant qualifications, skills and experience of these communities supports the government’s initiatives to focus on the domestic workforce and move towards a high-skilled economy,” the report said.

The government has reaped increasing revenue from the immigration skills charge every year. In 2023/24, it received £667 million, 14 per cent more than the previous year, and has cashed in £2.1 billion in total over the last seven years.

‘Stark underinvestment’ in ESOL

There is no recent official data showing the amount of funding for adult ESOL, but a House of Commons library briefing from 2018 showed ESOL funding was at its highest in 2009/10, at at £203 million, and had more than halved to £99 million in 2016-17, even before inflation was accounted for.

Additionally, the Lifelong Education Commission estimated three years ago that ESOL expenditure in adult education in England was around 4 per cent (in 2020/21), around £56 million of the £1.4 billion from the adult skills fund. The Bell Foundation estimated in a recent research paper that with 134,000 learners, the funding equates to around £418 per learner.

“Ultimately, the stark underinvestment in adult education must be addressed to enable increased investment in ESOL and unlock the economic rewards it can bring,” today’s report said.

Meanwhile, the demand for ESOL courses has been gradually increasing every year. According to Department for Education data, participation in entry-level, level 1, and level 2 courses has risen by one-quarter since 2019/20. The latest census data from 2021 indicate that 20 percent adults in England and Wales cannot speak English well, totalling over one million adults.

The report also recommended the framework should deploy an additional marker on the individualised learner record to monitor demand and provision and inform policy.

The report added that while devolving ESOL provision “brings opportunities to be both responsive and innovative”, it is still hampered by the complexity of funding.

The report said: “At a regional level, a strategic approach is hampered by the complexity of funding. Each initiative has separate eligibility criteria related to factors such as nationality and status and different outcomes linked to integration and employment.”

“The fact that there are funding streams and small-scale initiatives from multiple government departments, and other sources, the absence of a framework is a recipe for muddle and confusion. This also means that for people who need to learn English, this is a postcode lottery,” it added.

David Hughes, chief executive at the Association of Colleges, said that ESOL must be “seriously considered” as part of the government’s five missions, Get Britain Working and devolution plans.

“People who do not speak English as a main language are more likely to be out of work, but they have good skills, experience and a high motivation to have successful careers,” he said. “They want to work, and should be supported too, because they can help meet the local labour market needs for skilled people and support economic growth. With the right opportunities to learn better English they can utilise their skills, benefiting the community, their families and themselves.”

Diana Sutton, director of The Bell Foundation, added: “The creation of Skills England also provides an opportunity to ensure that second language speakers are able to access ESOL and help fill the skills shortages and labour needs of the future.”

Sue Pember, policy director at HOLEX, said: “We agree with both these recommendations and would like to see a national ESOL strategy that covers all Government departments. The present situation is untenable; there are too many schemes coming from different departments with different entry criteria, funding methodology and required outcomes – making it very difficult for learners and colleges and services to delivery.”

Immigration skills charge revenue:

Year	Income paid to the Home Office (£ million)
2017/18	91,372,000
2018/19	128,083,000
2019/20	171,867,000
2020/21	139,325,000
2021/22	349,062,000
2022/23	586,029,000
2023/24	667,798,000
Total	2,133,536,000

Source: Home Office

SFCA drops judicial review after reaching pay ‘agreement’ with DfE

Sixth form college leaders have dropped legal action against the government after ministers “agreed to provide funding” to support a wage increase in 2024/25.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) launched a judicial review claim last year over Labour’s decision to hand £1.2 billion to fund a 5.5 per cent pay rise for school and academy teachers, with nothing for standalone sixth form colleges or general FE colleges.

But a settlement was reached between the two parties in December that ended the proceedings. Specific details cannot yet be released, but the SFCA said there will be an announcement by the government “soon”.

The agreement has led to the SFCA, which negotiates pay in sixth form colleges with teaching unions, upping its pay recommendation from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent for September 2024 to March 2025, increasing to 5.5 per cent from April 2025 onwards.

But the National Education Union today rejected this offer as it is still “inferior” to the school teacher pay award of 5.5 per cent for the full 2024/25 academic year. Three more days of strikes – taking the total to seven days so far – for 32 sixth form colleges will go ahead from tomorrow.

‘A significant step in the right direction’

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, said: “Sixth form and FE colleges were seriously disadvantaged by the government’s decision in the summer to fund a pay award for staff in schools and academies but not colleges.

“Following protracted discussions between SFCA and the DfE, we are pleased that ministers have agreed to provide funding for the 2024/25 academic year to support a pay increase for our members.

“We are not free to comment on specific details as this is an ongoing legal matter, but we look forward to an announcement by the government soon.

“Although the funding made available in 2024/25 will not enable colleges to match the pay award in schools and academies, it amounts to a significant step in the right direction. As a result, we have agreed to withdraw our claim for a judicial review and will now focus our efforts on ending the ongoing strike action in sixth form colleges.”

Watkin added that the association was “disappointed” that the NEU is proceeding with three further days of strike action this week, and they are “committed to working with union leaders to avoid any further disruption to young people’s education”.

It is unclear whether the new agreement to support pay is part of the £300 million revenue funding for FE that was announced in October’s budget and is set to be dished out in April 2025.

The DfE said it could not comment as the SFCA legal proceedings are still technically live, but the department did confirm that it will set out how the £300 million will be distributed in due course.

The government also made clear that it does not set or recommend pay in further education, and sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce.

The Association of Colleges said its members can only afford a 2.5 per cent pay award following last summer’s pay snub. It also previously said the £300 million announced at the budget is likely to only fund projected demographic increases in 16-to-19 students.

‘Inferior’ pay offer leads to more strikes

The NEU declined the SFCA’s new pay deal that would hit 5.5 per cent in April because it would mean teachers will lag behind their peers who work in academised sixth forms by 2 per cent for seven months, creating “two tiers of pay for the same job”.

An NEU spokesperson said: “Teachers in non-academised sixth-form colleges have been presented with an inferior pay offer than their counterparts in academised sixth-form colleges, despite all sixth-form colleges being covered by the same collective bargaining arrangements.

“Teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges are striking in order to win a fully funded above-inflation pay increase consistent with the rest of England’s teachers and teachers in academised sixth form colleges.”

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, added: “Teachers take strike action with great reluctance, but our members in non-academised sixth forms have been left with little choice. It was a clear error by government not to provide funding for pay equivalent to that granted to academised peers. It is not too late for them to correct this mistake.”

ESFA chief David Withey to become college principal

Education and Skills Funding Agency boss David Withey is set to become the chief executive and principal of a college.

The senior civil servant will take on the top role at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) in March 2025 when the agency closes and staff integrate with the Department for Education.

He will replace Kevin Hamblin who has served as SGS CEO since 2001.

Withey became the ESFA’s chief in August 2022, joining from the New South Wales Department of Education in Australia where he was chief operating officer and deputy secretary.

Before that he worked on public spending in Treasury departments in the UK and Australia and led the New South Wales COVID economic taskforce.

The government announced in September that the ESFA would shut as an arm’s-length body of the DfE and “integrate” into the core department from March 2025.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said at the time the decision to merge the ESFA with DfE was to “enable a single, joined-up approach to funding and regulation to improve accountability”.

SGS was formed from the merger of Filton and Stroud colleges in 2012. The college has six main campuses where it teaches more than 8,000 students. It was judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted last year.

Withey said: “I’m looking forward to joining the team at SGS and leading the college on behalf of the communities it serves. I‘ve been fortunate to meet some of the brilliant learners, staff and external stakeholders over the past few weeks and I cannot wait to meet more of them once in post.”

SGS chair Matt Atkinson added: “We are thrilled to welcome David to SGS. His impressive leadership career and his strong alignment with the values of SGS make him a perfect fit for the college, as we continue to strive for excellence. David’s experience and strategic leadership abilities will be invaluable as we work towards doing even more for the learners, communities and businesses that we serve.”

The appointment comes after SGS principal Sara-Jane Watkins left to lead the Warwickshire College Group last year.

The SGS board went out to recruitment for a joint principal and CEO in September. The college hired FE Associates, which is run by chair Atkinson, to run the recruitment process.

A spokesperson for the college said FE Associates provided its services at no cost to the college and the issue of a perceived conflict was discussed by the corporation and disclosed to the FE Commissioner.

It was determined that the college “could not receive better value for money through any other route” and chair Atkinson “did not have any operational input into the recruitment process itself”.

‘The college is in a really good place’

Hamblin said that after almost 25 years as principal and CEO of SGS, “I wanted to choose when I stepped away from the college and pass the reins over to the next CEO”.

He told FE Week: “I feel that the college is in a really good place, with a recent successful Ofsted and we are in very sound financial health.

“The SGS college group has recently made the decision to focus back on the college as a single entity, having divested of our interests in our Berkeley Campus to the Chiltern Vital Group.

“SGS has, literally, been my life’s work – to date – and I am delighted that David Withey has been appointed as it couldn’t be in better hands.”

Hamblin added: “I have to say that our staff are brilliant and have been the reason for the successes of the college, frankly.

“I will miss the staff and students of course, but as far as my future is concerned, I will work within the sector on projects which are of interest to me and so will no doubt get my ‘FE fix’ in other ways …. but after a long holiday.”

Lifetime lines up high street deals for ‘Big Apprenticeship Thank You’

Apprentices will have access to cheap cinema tickets, free coffees and discounted gyms and restaurants during this year’s national apprenticeship week.

Retailers Pret a Manger, Prezzo and Cineworld have been mobilised by training provider Lifetime to provide deals and discounts this February for their ‘Big Apprenticeship Thank You’ campaign.

Lifetime said the campaign “aims to go beyond traditional recognition and show thanks to over 700,000 learners who participate annually in over 700 apprenticeship standards, improving the productivity of their businesses and developing their own skills”.

Apprentices can register for free membership of the Association of Apprentices to verify their status as apprentices in order to access the deals for this year’s national apprenticeship week, taking place February 10 to 16.

More than 1,000 apprentices have signed up since the campaign was launched on Monday.

Movie-loving apprentices can get tickets for £4 at Cineworld through the scheme between February 7 and 12.

Marie Bhardwaj, head of people development, UK and Ireland at Cineworld, said: “Apprentices are essential to the success of our business, and we are pleased to be able to reward their hard work and dedication by offering a unique experience at one of our cinemas.

“Through The Big Apprenticeship Thank You, we can congratulate not only our own apprentices but also recognise anyone who has chosen to invest in their learning and development through an apprenticeship nationwide.”

Meanwhile, Prezzo is offering apprentices £5 pizzas between February 9 and 12 and Pret free coffee on February 14. Greene King and the gym chain Everyone Active will also offer deals and discounts.

Organiser Dan Howard, partnership development director at Lifetime said: “This campaign is all about not just celebrating apprentices, but really giving back. Across the UK in every sector, apprentices are juggling the demands of work and study, while developing their own skills for the long term and supporting national economic growth.

“We’re delighted that so many of our partners recognise this invaluable contribution and have joined us in launching this initiative.”

Discount details and registration can be found on The Big Apprenticeship Thank You website.

Ofsted chief faces new year committee grilling

MPs will question Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver next week on the watchdog’s progress in addressing concerns raised by a coroner following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Oliver, who has just marked one year in the role, will appear in front of the Parliamentary education committee on Tuesday, alongside national education director Lee Owston and national regulation and social care director Yvette Stanley.

Just weeks before Oliver took the helm, a coroner ruled that an inspection at Caversham Primary School, Reading, had contributed to the death of Perry in 2022.

At the time, coroner Heidi Connor warned there was a “risk of future deaths if there is only lip service paid to learning from tragedies like this”.

The committee said it would “scrutinise Sir Martyn’s progress in addressing the coroner’s concerns, implementing the previous committee’s recommendations, and responding to the inspectorate’s own Big Listen public consultation”.

MPs will ask about new report cards

In September 2024, the new government axed single-phrase headline judgments for schools with immediate effect. It plans to remove them for FE and skills providers in September 2025. Ofsted is currently developing plans to replace current inspection reports with a system of report cards.

Last month, the watchdog announced it will soon trial “a new approach to inspections” ahead of a consultation on its new inspection framework, which is likely to include longer notice periods for providers and “proportionate” inspection teams.

MPs will ask Oliver about “forthcoming changes such as the use of report cards instead of Ofsted’s single-word judgements from September 2025, and improving scrutiny of how schools manage to be inclusive to pupils with SEND”.

A spokesperson for the committee added: “He will also be asked about new government proposals for schools to receive shorter annual reviews of their safeguarding practices, and for Ofsted to gain new powers to inspect multi-academy trusts – both policies recommended by the previous committee.

“There may be questions on changes that appear to be outstanding, such as setting a new time frame for publishing reports following the inspection of a school, and how Ofsted will ensure its inspectors have specialist knowledge of the subjects and lessons they observe.”

New year honours 2025: Who got what in FE and skills?

College principals, governors, a former education union leader and a well-known vocational education professor are among the recipients of the 2025 new year honours for services to education.

This year’s list includes one damehood, five CBEs, two OBEs, ten MBEs and two British Empire Medals for people linked to further education and skills.

Professor Alison Fuller has been made a Dame. For over two decades Fuller has been a leading academic researching and advising governments on apprenticeships, vocational training and work. Her recent work on apprenticeships includes a paper on the future of quality in apprenticeships, advising the Department for Education on T Levels and was a member of Labour’s commission on lifelong learning.

Fuller said: “I was hugely surprised and humbled to be recognised for my services to higher education. I am delighted to accept this honour, and on behalf of all the inspirational and committed people I have worked with in vocational, further and higher education and that have helped and supported me throughout my career.”

Joining Fuller at the top of the list were the former schools minister Nick Gibb, former West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who have been knighted.

Former Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Geoff Barton has been made a CBE for services to education. Former English teacher Barton stood down from the leaders’ union earlier this year after seven years at the helm.

He said: “I feel a genuine sense of pride at receiving this honour, especially because when a formal-looking letter arrived in November marked ‘for addressee only’ my wife assumed I’d got a speeding fine.”

He added that receiving his award for “services to education” felt “to me particularly special as I wouldn’t have gone into education if it hadn’t been for an extraordinary English teacher back in my teenage years”.

“This honour demonstrates that education isn’t on the periphery, that it matters, and I see it as a recognition of the extraordinary, humane leadership of all of those people I have worked with, learnt from, and represented over the years.”

Doing the honours

Three college principals and one former chair of governors have also been named CBEs.

Fazal Dad, principal and CEO of Blackburn College, Gerard McDonald, group principal and CEO of New City College and Satwant Deol, The Henley College’s former principal and CEO, have each been honoured for services to further education.

Dad told FE Week he was “deeply honoured” and the gong was “testament to the dedication and passion of all those I have had the privilege of working with in advancing opportunities and outcomes for learners”.

Dr Fazal Dad at Blackburn College

McDonald told FE Week he was “deeply humbled to have received this honour and grateful for the recognition it brings for the further education sector”.

Joining them as a CBE this year is Alastair Da Costa, who recently stood down as chair of Capital City College Group’s board. Da Costa oversaw several college mergers to form one of the largest college groups in the country, having previously chaired one of its former colleges, City and Islington College.

Over the last decade, Da Costa has also served as a commissioner on the government’s Social Mobility Commission, the council of the University of Sussex and the board of the London School of Economics.

Da Costa said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to receive this award, but it is also a great recognition for further education and the many people in FE I have worked with over the past 13 years.”

Hullraiser made OBE

Hull College vice principal and Bradford College governor Lynette Leith has been made an OBE for services to further education. Leith began her career in FE in 2008 as a hairdressing lecturer, but she quickly rose through the ranks of curriculum management to senior leader at various colleges, including Uxbridge College, Hertford Regional College, and Loughborough College.

Leith said: “Receiving this recognition is incredibly humbling. For me, this reflects the wonderful FE sector and the many teams and individuals that have coached, counselled, and guided me along the way.

“Most importantly, this is recognition of the entire Hull College team – The Hullraisers. It is a genuine privilege to work with the team every day, and I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together. I am honoured, humbled and proud.”

South Bank Colleges executive principal Fiona Morey has also been made an OBE, while principals Abigail Appleton (Hereford College of Arts), Andrew Cropley (West Nottinghamshire College), Peter Kennedy (Franklin College) and Michael Kilbride (Birkenhead Sixth Form College) have been named MBEs.

Morey said: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of the further education sector and to work with so many amazing staff who give so much to support the thousands of young people and adults that benefit from the life-changing opportunities colleges provide in their local communities.”

Cropley, who has led West Nottinghamshire College since 2019, said he was “extremely humbled” by the award, which he accepts “as part of the incredible team at West Nottinghamshire College.”

He added: “Whilst this honour marks an incredible milestone, we are absolutely committed to being even more responsive to our community’s needs. There is still much to do, and I can’t wait for the next chapter.”

Also among new MBEs was Kate Barclay for services to education and skills. Barclay is on the board of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and used to chair the life sciences and industrial sciences trailblazer group.

The 2025 new year honours roll: FE and skills

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Alison Fuller, professor of vocational education and work at University College London, for services to higher education

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Geoff Barton, former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, for services to education

Alastair da Costa, former chair of Capital City College Group, for services to further education

Fazal Dad, principal and CEO, Blackburn College, for services to further education

Satwant Deol, former principal and CEO, The Henley College, for services to further education

Gerard McDonald, group principal and CEO, New City College, for services to further education

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Lynette Leith, vice principal for curriculum and skills, Hull College, for services to further education

Fiona Morey, executive principal, South Bank Colleges, for services to further education

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Abigail Appleton, principal, Hereford College of Arts, for services to further education

Katherine Barclay, board member, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, for services to education and skills

Andrew Cropley, principal of West Nottinghamshire College and chair of Mansfield Place Board, for services to the community of Ashfield and Mansfield

Gareth Hopkins, apprenticeship programme manager at the Forestry Commission, for services to forestry

Catherine Hitchen, professional adviser on SEND at the Department for Education, for services to education and SEND

Gary Horne, deputy chief executive of Colchester Institute, for services to education

Peter Kennedy, former executive principal of Franklin College, for services to further education

Michael Kilbride, principal of Birkenhead Sixth Form College, for services to education

Christine Lyness, governor at Ashton Sixth Form College, for services to education

Wendy Mackie, managing director and deputy designated safeguarding lead at Works4U, for services to education

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire

Marlene Burt, governor at Christ the King Sixth Form College, Bexley, London, for services to further education

Maggie Waring, independent living manager at Portland College, for services to people with disabilities or social care needs

If you think a name has been missed, please email news@feweek.co.uk

Former union chief Bousted made a Baroness

The former joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) has been made a life peer by prime minister Keir Starmer.

Mary Bousted, who led the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and then the NEU between 2003 and 2023, was one of 30 new peers nominated by Starmer.

Others included Anne Longfield, the former children’s commissioner, and former Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan who served as minister for further education in the last Labour government.

Bousted, a former teacher and president of the TUC, is now an honorary professor at the Institute of Education, UCL, and leads an NEU-funded teaching commission.

Bousted told sister paper Schools Week she was “delighted to be appointed a Labour life peer”.

She added: “My life’s work has been education. I want to work for the profession and for pupils in the Lords and to support the Labour party’s reforming agenda”.

Longfield was the children’s commissioner at the Department for Education from 2015 to 2021, and has since founded the Centre for Young Lives.

She previously led a national children’s charity, 4Children, and worked on the delivery of the Sure Start programme as a policy advisor in the Cabinet Office.

Former Capital City College Group governor Simon Pitkeathley was also made a life peer by Starmer.

Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch nominated six peers and Sir Ed Davey nominated two peers on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.

Toby Young, co-founder of the West London Free School and director of the New Schools Network was nominated by Badenoch.

In total, government appointed 30 new Labour peers, including “party-gate” investigator Sue Gray – just two months after she stepped down as the prime minister’s chief of staff.

While in opposition in 2022, Labour pledged to abolish the Lords and replace it with a “new, reformed upper chamber”.

But it watered this down before the election, with its manifesto promising a consultation to replace the House of Lords with a “more representative” alternative chamber.

It committed to removing the 92 remaining sitting places for hereditary peers – left over as a compromise from a Tony Blair-era purge – and introducing a retirement age of 80.