WIREDGOV

At a special ceremony held in London yesterday, Kevin Brennan, minister for further education, skills, apprenticeships and consumer affairs, awarded Learning and Skills Beacon status to 12 outstanding further education and skills providers.

Among the new Beacons are a wide range of providers, including general further education and sixth form colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning providers and the first offender learning provider to gain Beacon status. They are:

• 5 E Ltd, London
• Aquinas College, Stockport
• Baldwin Training Centre, Eastbourne
• Bedford College, Bedford
• Gateshead College, Gateshead
• HMP/YOI Askham Grange, York
• HTP Training, Isle of Wight
• Mid-Cheshire College, Northwich
• Servisair UK Ltd, Manchester Airport
• South Devon College, Paignton
• Southend Adult Community College (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council)
• Venture Learning Ltd, Manchester.

LSIS welcomed the minister, special guests, the new Beacons and their MPs to this prestigious ceremony to celebrate their outstanding achievement. 

Kevin Brennan, minister for further education said:

 “This is an outstanding achievement.  In today’s economic climate, the more we can all do to promote and celebrate the excellence that exists in further education and skills, the better. I expect all Beacons to work with LSIS to share their expertise and good practices to 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.”

Dame Ruth Silver, chair of the LSIS board said:

“I echo the minister’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 good practices can be best shared with, and taken on, by other providers. We look forward to working closely with all of you.”

 Ali Hadawi, principal of Southend Adult Community College, said:

“We are delighted to receive our Beacon status.  This is testament to the incredible effort and commitment by our staff in aligning the College as a cohesive and exemplary provider of education and training in the Southend area.  It also reflects the incredible efforts undertaken by our students in achieving outstanding results.

“Within the last year we have received an Outstanding Ofsted Inspection and now our Beacon status, this has been a humbling experience. It is an honour to be recognised in this way and to be held up as an example to others.  We take this honour seriously and hope to be working, in partnership with the rest of our sector on raising aspirations and making a difference."

The award celebration at The Roof Gardens, in Kensington London, also featured dazzling artwork by students from West Nottinghamshire College, and a talented jazz quartet from Uxbridge College.  The latter was awarded Beacon status in January this year.