157 Group congratulates Pat Bacon on election to AoC Presidency

The 157 Group today congratulated Pat Bacon, Principal of St Helens College, on her election as president of the Association of Colleges (AoC) for the 2009-10 academic year.

Lynne Sedgmore, 157’s Executive Director, said:

“I am delighted that Pat has been elected to this key role within the world of learning and skills.

“Pat’s knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to the transformation of communities, the delivery of social justice and the provision of high quality education and training through further education make her a powerful advocate for our sector.

“I know she will be instrumental in providing an influential voice for colleges within the media, in discussion with Government and in our relationships with other decision makers.”

Graham Moore, Chair of the 157 Group, said:

“As the experienced Principal of St Helens College, Pat is a core member of the 157 group. Her election is an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing, positive and productive relationships within the sector, in particular the important work of the AoC and 157.

“As colleges within the 157 Group concentrate our efforts on capacity building and improving the provision of learning and skills in its entirety, I’m relishing the opportunity of working with Pat in her new role. I’m sure her work will help foster a sector-wide focus on our mutual aims and ambitions.”

Ends

For more information, please contact 157 Group Director of Policy and Development, Kat Fletcher on 07966 453 808 or [email protected]

Notes to editors:

• The 157 group represents 26 of the most influential Colleges in the FE sector.
• It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster’s report on the future of further education colleges in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
• Pat Bacon has been Principal at St Helens College since 2002.