Thursday, 04 March 2010 16:28 Twelve more learning and skills stars were awarded the Learning and Skills Improvement Service's (LSIS) prestigious Beacon status today, in a ceremony recognising outstanding achievement in the sector.

FE colleges, local adult learning providers, a work-based learning provider and an independent specialist college were praised for their excellence as they joined an elite group of only 152 institutions to have so far achieved the award.

Dr David Collins, chief executive of the LSIS, said: "This really is an outstanding achievement. In today’s economic climate, the more we can all do to promote and celebrate the excellence that exists in the learning and skills sector, the better.

"Now, more than ever, we are looking to all Beacons to work with LSIS to share their expertise and good practice. This will help drive up the performance of the whole sector to the high level that they have attained. Our students, learners and employers deserve nothing less."

Today’s 12 new Beacons are:

• Burnley College
• Darlington College
• Essex County Council
• New College Durham
• Newham College of Further Education
• Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Oxfordshire Ethnic Minorities Enterprise Developments ltd
• Portsmouth City Council
• Thornbeck College
• Trafford College
• Train2Succeed, Worcestershire
• Zenos Ltd, Banbury

Dame Ruth Silver, chair of the LSIS board, who joined Dr Collins in Westminster to congratulate the winners, added: "I echo David's congratulations on your terrific achievement. But the really hard work starts now. Maintaining and improving upon your outstanding performances is going to be challenging.

"And we shall look to you to work closely with us to identify how your expertise and excellent practices can be best shared with, and adopted by, other providers. We look forward to working closely with all of you."

Susannah Fairbairn