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New College leaders appointed to boost standards across further education

FE Commissioner Richard Atkins

Top performing college leaders and governors have been appointed to help improve standards of further education and training at colleges across the country, Lord Agnew announced today (Thursday 23rd January).

Five new National Leaders of Further Education (NLFEs) and four National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) will provide peer-to-peer support to further education and sixth form colleges where governance and leadership needs to improve. They will join the national network of 11 NLFEs and NLGs who have already successfully supported more than 60 colleges to date, so more people can access high quality education and training.

The NLFE and NLG programmes play an important part of the Further Education Commissioner’s work to proactively help tackle issues in colleges before they become a problem and reduce the need for formal intervention across the sector.

Education Minister Lord Agnew said:

“Good governance and leadership are the backbone of any well-run college.

“The National Leaders of Further Education and Governance programmes have made a real difference – helping to ensure our colleges have better leaders and governors so more people have the opportunity to access high quality education and training.

“I welcome the appointment of these experienced college leaders and governors who will play an important role in supporting colleges, so more people can gain the skills they need to progress.”

FE Commissioner Richard Atkins said:

“Since we appointed the first NLFEs and NLGs in 2018, I have been delighted to see their impact in supporting colleges to improve. By recruiting five new NLFEs and four NLGs, we will be able to support more colleges and share more best practice.

“My team and I look forward to working alongside these outstanding college leaders, governors and clerks in ensuring that colleges are in a strong and sustainable position to provide an outstanding quality of education.”

The NLFE and NLG programmes form part of the government’s ongoing support to help colleges to be well-run and resilient and so they offer the best possible education and training.

National Leaders of Further Education programme

The National Leaders of Further Education programme is a source of support to improve quality in Further Education colleges.

National Leaders for further education (NLFE) programme underpins the expanded role of the Further Education Commissioner, as outlined in the ‘College oversight: support and intervention’ document.

NLFEs are serving college leaders who have a strong track record of delivering improvement – both at their own colleges and in working with others. They provide strategic mentoring and support to other colleges that need to improve.

NLFEs are able to determine the best way to support the particular needs of the college(s) they are working with. NLFEs may also use experienced members of their own college staff to help.

Current National Leaders of Further Education

Name College
Lindsey Whiterod Tyne Coast College
Peter McGhee St John Rigby College
Gill Alton Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
David Gleed North Kent College
Graham Razey East Kent College (East Kent Colleges Group)
Paul Phillips Weston College
Phil Cook Stockton Riverside College (Education Training Collective)
Angela Williams Huddersfield New College
Sam Parrett London South East Colleges
Amanda Melton Nelson and Colne College
Colin Booth Leeds City College (Luminate Education Group)

Documents

National Leaders of Further Education programme: current national leaders

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Details

A list of National Leaders of Further Education.

Published 18 January 2018 
Last updated 23 January 2020 + show all updates

  1. Updated list of leaders to include Stockton Riverside College, Huddersfield New College, London South East Colleges, Nelson and Colne College, East Kent College and Leeds City College. Also, removed some institutions from the list.

  2. First published.


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