East Sussex College CEO joins over 200 college leaders to ask for review of post-18 education

In an unprecedented move, the leaders of every general Further Education (FE) college in England have joined forces to write an open letter to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Education urging them to “answer the calls from business” and respond to the “challenges of technological change and Brexit”.

Leaders are calling for urgent investment into the country’s technical and vocational education by implementing the main recommendations of the government’s recent Post-18 Education Review (the Augar Review).

The 203 leaders are responsible for institutions that educate and train 2 million people each year, employing 180,000 staff and they have a combined turnover of £6 billion per annum.

The Augar Review called for, amongst other things, an end to the 17.5% cut in education funding for 18-year olds, support so that everybody, regardless of age, to achieve to at least level three, and a rebalancing of the traditional post-18 educational landscape.

Bev Robinson OBE, member of the Independent Panel and co-author of the Augar Review said:

“The government’s response to the outcomes of the well-received Augar Review is arguably a watershed moment for the British government. Choosing to enact the recommendations would demonstrate the government’s commitment to the much-needed skills revolution which our country needs, which industry is crying out for and which will promote social equity for all adults, not just the 50% as it is now.”

Recent forecasting by AoC warns that the country risks widening the skills gap and reducing economic output by £3.3 billion a year if the government isn’t swift to act.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said:

“It is extraordinary to have every leader in every general further education college in the country collaborate like this. But then these are extraordinary times. These college leaders are uniquely placed at the heart of their communities, working closely with local, national and international business, supporting individuals to get on in life, and driving the social mobility agenda. The government needs to listen to them if they’ve got any chance of tackling the major issues this country faces, now and in the future.”

Clive Cooke, CEO of East Sussex College, said:

“I am proud to sign the letters to the Chancellor and Education Secretary alongside every other Principal and CEO in the county. It is critical that the government implements the recommendations of the post-18 review and recognises the key contribution colleges, like our own, make to support local employers and communities. We are currently undertaking a review of our curriculum and central to this is increasing the range of higher-level skills programmes needed to drive economic growth in East Sussex.”

Key extracts from the letter:

“[The Post-18 Review] understands that employers and communities need more high quality technical and professional education and training, industry-standard facilities, expert staff and the unique curriculum that colleges already provide. It sees colleges as the key vehicle for the flexible, local delivery of national strategies, supporting industrial policy, productivity, skills development and genuine social equity. It clearly acknowledges that all this requires real investment.”

“In many respects, the Augar Review represents a wider emerging consensus across England. We are sure that you will agree with us and other key stakeholders that further education colleges have been neglected and that there is now a growing appreciation of their unique role, value and potential. What we now need are decisions and commitments: with your political leadership, support and resolve, colleges will be able to build on what they already do to reach more employers and more adults and make the differences our economy and society need.“

You can read the Post-18 Education Review here: The Augar Review