The 157 Group has congratulated several of its member Colleges on winning prestigious national awards this week. Coleg Cambria and Cornwall College both received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education at a ceremony in London yesterday. Meanwhile, Walsall College, Chichester College, Birmingham Metropolitan College and Coleg Cambria also picked up Beacon Awards at this year’s AoC Annual Conference.
Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "The Queen’s Anniversary prizes are enormously prestigious and we are immensely proud that two of the three winners were 157 Group member Colleges. The Coleg Cambria award in recognition of its work with the aerospace industry is a testament to the hard work of David Jones and his team at their Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Development has trained more than 5,000 learners since it was set up in 2002. Meanwhile, the award to the Duchy College Rural Business School, which is part of Cornwall College, recognizes their significant contribution to the land-based economy, and is a fitting tribute to the work of Dave Linnell, who retired as Principal this year, his Deputy Raoul Humphrys and their entire team.
The awards recognize at the highest level the vital role that leading Further Education Colleges play in economic prosperity, at both a national and local level. Congratulations to all those involved at both Colleges.”
Commenting on the AoC Beacon awards, Peter Roberts, chair of the 157 Group and chief executive of Leeds City College said, "The recognition of Walsall and Chichester Colleges in the category of leadership and quality improvement comes on the back of Blackpool and the Fylde College’s extremely successful Ofsted result last week. We are delighted that 157 Group member Colleges are being acknowledged in so many quarters as leaders in the field of teaching and learning. It is a clear indication of our commitment to ensure the highest quality for all learners within Further Education.
Meanwhile, the fact that both Birmingham Metropolitan College and Coleg Cambria received awards in the Responsiveness, Partnerships and Impact category demonstrates that Colleges also take very seriously the business of working in collaboration with employers and other partners within the education world to maximise the opportunities for growth in the economy and the individual prosperity of all members of their communities.
We note as well that Leeds City College and Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College were also highly commended in the Beacon Awards, and are extremely proud that no fewer than eight of our member Colleges have this week received well-deserved recognition. Congratulation to all those involved.”