The panel of expert speakers included:
• Barry Sheerman - MP and Chair of the Education and Skills Select Committee
• Terry Criessen, OBE – Associate to the Innovation Unit, DfES
• Sally Dicketts, Principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
• Ray Dowd, Agenda for Change Champion, LSC
• Catherine Wilson, Partner, Eversheds
Key areas discussed included:
• Introduction of the new diplomas – delegates discussed the impact of the new diplomas, how they will be successfully introduced, how they will be taught and how employers should be prepared for and value the diplomas;
• Student engagement – the audience recognised the importance of engaging learners in the life of the college and how this will increase as colleges raise their game. Developments include students delivering some classes and the increasing impact of IT where students are sometimes more proficient than the teachers.
• Choice or quality – delegates discussed the importance of choice for parents in choosing an education establishment and whether having no choice but being provided with a higher quality education establishment was more important than having lots of choice but of lower quality colleges. Barry Sheerman provided some useful insights on the views of the labour government on this area;
• LSC dependency – delegates explored the opportunities for increasing their independence and the diversification of sources of income in the context of increasing powers of intervention for the LSC;
• Shared services – colleges were updated on the broad cross-government drive for shared services and explored current models and opportunities.
‘A rare and important event for forward-thinking senior leaders in FE today.’
www.tribalgroup.co.uk/post16conference
