FE Week can reveal that today Peter Roberts (pictured), principal of Leeds City College, has been unanimously elected as chair of the 157 Group.
Mr Roberts takes over from Marilyn Hawkins, the former principal of Barnet and Southgate College, who retired from the post in April 2012.
The 157 Group is a membership organisation, which “represents 27 large, successful and regionally influential Further Education colleges in England.”
Mr Roberts became the first principal of Leeds City College in July 2009, following the merger of Leeds College of Technology, Leeds Thomas Danby College and Park Lane College Leeds and Keighley.
The new merged college received an overall Good – grade 2 – from Ofsted in May 2012.
Prior to joining Leeds City College, Peter was principal at Stockport College for seven years, and he has worked in the FE sector for 25 years.
Mr Roberts is also a member of a number of local, regional and national committees including national Vice Chair of the Mixed Economy Group (MEG); the Learning and Skills Improvement Service Council; the AoC Strategic Quality and Strategic Skills Groups; the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Planning Provider Representative Group, and the National Bureaucracy Reduction Group.
Mr Roberts said: “I am very excited to be taking up the role of chair of the 157 Group at this critical and busy time for the sector. Our impact review demonstrates how much we have achieved under the chairmanship of my predecessor, Marilyn Hawkins, and the learner voice publication launched yesterday is an example of how our work aims to keep a focus on those who matter the most – our learners.”
Sarah Robinson OBE, principal of Stoke on Trent College, was unanmimously elected to the position of vice chair.
FE Week will be at the 157 Group annual reception this event, so stay tuned for more information.
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