The 157 Group has announced that Sarah Robinson OBE, principal of Stoke-on-Trent College, has been elected to serve as chair for the next 12 months. She takes over from Peter Roberts, chief executive of Leeds City College, who has been chair since November 2012.
The announcement was made at the 157 Group’s annual reception, held at the House of Lords and hosted by Baroness Wall of New Barnet, a patron of the 157 Group. At the event, the 157 Group also launched two new publications: its 2013–14 impact review and The road to employment, a collection of ‘learner voices’ compiled in collaboration with Landex, the membership organisation for land-based colleges.
Ms Robinson said, “I am delighted to be taking on the role of chair at an immensely important time for further education. As next year’s general election approaches, the 157 Group’s role in influencing policy will be vital to securing the best possible education and skills system for learners and employers. At the same time, the importance that we attach to the leadership of thought and practice will be key to the support we offer to colleges across the country as they battle with the dual challenges of funding cuts and educational reform.
“Our 2013–14 impact review demonstrates the many ways in which we have achieved influence and enhanced the reputation of the sector over the past 12 months. I am proud of the breadth of our work – from campaigning on key issues, to leading a major sector-wide project on leadership attributes – and believe that this publication demonstrates a genuine impact. I pay tribute to Peter Roberts, who has led the 157 Group so expertly for the last two years, and to my fellow members of the 157 Group, for their continued commitment to our work.”
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "Our ‘learner voices’ publications have become something of a tradition, and I am delighted that we have been able to work with Landex this year to showcase some truly inspiring stories. We have focused on the ways in which vocational programmes develop real employability skills in learners of all ages – and there are some tremendous examples in this publication of learners who have gone on from their studies to secure the job of their dreams, or to develop their own enterprises. We were especially pleased to welcome several of the learners to our annual reception, and to hear from one, Nathan Sansby, about his entrepreneurial spirit.
“We are happy that so many people attended our reception to show their support for our work and to be reminded of the real reason why further education is so important. Enhancing the lives of learners and improving the experience of employers is central to everything that colleges do – and Stoke-on-Trent College is an excellent example of that. I am therefore delighted that Sarah Robinson will be our chair for the coming year, and I look forward to working with her for the benefit of our education and skills system.”
Please click here to view our 2013-14 Impact Review.
Please click here to view The Road to Employment - Learner Voices.