Further Education Commissioner
Department for Education
About the appointment
Introduction from the Minister
Thank you for your interest in applying to become the next Further Education (FE) Commissioner.
It is my mission that we give our young people and adults the skills they need to seize opportunity and to grow our economy. We will do this through championing our brilliant colleges and secure the future of our world class universities. The next FE Commissioner will be key in supporting us to realise this ambition.
In this exciting, challenging and high-profile role, you will lead the next steps in the work to ensure that statutory FE colleges and local authorities delivering FE across England are in the strongest possible position to provide an outstanding standard of education and training. As the FE Commissioner, you will collaborate closely with me, my ministerial team, sector stakeholders, and civil servants, as well as your own dedicated team of Deputy FE Commissioners and FE Advisers. Together, we will advance this important work.
We are seeking candidates with an exceptional understanding of the FE sector, a proven track record of leadership, delivery, and achievement, outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to drive initiatives with enthusiasm, dedication, and expertise.
If you believe you possess the necessary skills and experience and share my passion and commitment to advancing the further education sector in England to a world-class standard, then I look forward to hearing from you.
Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities
Appointment description
The statutory further education (FE) sector is at the heart of the government’s renewed mission-led approach to drive economic growth and support opportunity for all. The statutory FE sector has an essential role in delivering the missions – whether it is the construction skills needed to build 1.5 million homes or developing the talent pipeline into the NHS and social care to end the hospital backlog. Our colleges also play an essential role in delivering opportunity for all – enabling progression into high quality, rewarding and well-paid jobs.
The role of the FE Commissioner is pivotal in working with colleges and local authority providers to ensure they have the capacity to meet local skills need and are able to deliver high quality provision to learners. The FE Commissioner oversees a team of Deputy FE Commissioners and FE Advisers who are also outstanding former leaders and works with many of our current exceptional FE leaders who are National Leaders of FE or National Leaders of Governance.
The FE Commissioner role was created in 2013 as an independent adviser to ministers. The FE Commissioner is a public appointment by the Secretary of State for Education and reports to the Skills Minister.
The FE Commissioner works closely with colleagues in the Department for Education (DfE), the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), and Skills England to support improvement in our national network of statutory FE colleges and local authorities with FE provision to deliver high quality outcomes for FE learners, and to meet local skills need.
As part of the Government’s approach to improving the FE sector, the FE Commissioner provides ‘active support’ to all statutory FE colleges and local authorities delivering further education. The FE Commissioner also assesses colleges who are in intervention, advising ministers and DfE senior officials on any relevant course of action to support recovery and improvement. The role also ensures the end-to-end process of intervention assessment is managed effectively and that any necessary changes are delivered swiftly and communicated to those affected.
The FE Commissioner leads a team of Deputy FE Commissioners and FE Advisers, made up mainly of former FE college principals, deputy principals or directors of finance. The FE Commissioner team working with DfE determines the best way in which further education can be delivered in any given area, having regard to the needs of learners, employers, national and local FE policies and value for money.
Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria. In your application you should demonstrate clearly how you meet each of the following requirements of the post.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Current or very recent experience of being an FE sector leader with a national profile and an outstanding and extensive track record of college leadership or leadership of major organisations within the sector.
- Ability to demonstrate expertise in both curriculum delivery and quality as well as finance performance across the sector by working with other colleges and providers.
- Exceptional communication skills and the ability to work with, influence, persuade and engage stakeholders at the highest levels, from principals and chairs of FE providers, to ministers and senior civil servants, to employers and employer representatives. This includes sometimes leading challenging and sensitive conversations to secure change.
- Ability to lead a team of highly experienced FE professionals in taking the appropriate course of action at FE colleges across the country.
- Ability to demonstrate a history of promoting/advocating diversity in leadership.
To apply for this job please visit www.fecareers.co.uk.
