Practically everyone you chat to - is now aware of mental health struggles. This is a massive step forward no question and no doubt accelerated by COVID19, which has firmly put the topic under the proverbial lockdown magnifying glass. Progress indeed, but what is the solution?  

@westoncollege has won the prestigious @AoC_info’ Beacon Inclusive Learning Leadership Award 2020-21. The College has been recognised for its achievements in creating outstanding results for students with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year. This award supported by The National Centre for Diversity seeks to recognise examples of colleges who champion and practice inclusive leadership.

As a Principal of a large Further Education College in the South West, I could never have imagined the speed of logistics, collaboration and mobilisation that took place this week in partnership with North Somerset Council, to be one of the first Colleges in the country to take part in the Lateral Flow Antigen Test Pilot for staff and students. Using a pop-up site on one of our main campuses (and planed with military precision as part of a Tier 3 region), 100’s of staff and students have already been tested since the pilot began at the College’s Loxton Campus on the 9th December.

It doesn’t really matter – students need us to move on  In August 1980 I entered my career in education, or at least I began to learn the trade of teaching. Now some forty years later I reflect on what has happened over these years but perhaps more poignantly what has occurred in the last ten days. I would never have believed or anticipated what I have witnessed. At a simplistic level, I might have put it down to COVID-19, but at a more analytical level I am deeply saddened because it has signalled a culture of blame, indifference and it begs one key question: Is COVID19 an excuse - or has it just highlighted all the old bureaucracy and lack of responsiveness that must be now overcome?

Official publications of A level and other results, my first day back on site following a long period of virtual management and Welsh shielding- not actually over yet but quite frankly I could not wait any longer!