Further education: principals reference group

The group is made up of serving college principals and supports the Further Education (FE) Commissioner in improving the quality and financial stability of FE colleges.

Terms of reference

The principals reference group supports, challenges and advises the Further Education (FE) Commissioner in their role of improving the quality and financial sustainability of FE colleges. It also contributes to policy development for colleges in the FE sector.

The group:

  • acts as a forum for the FE Commissioner to consult serving college principals on critical issues in improving performance
  • acts as a confidential sounding board for other teams at the Department for Education (DfE), including its executive agencies, to test policy developments affecting FE colleges, bringing practitioner voice and expertise into DfE
  • supports the engagement of the FE Commissioner and DfE with other FE leaders, while retaining independence from DfE
  • encourages the sharing of best practice
  • acts as an additional channel of communication for FE college leaders to convey issues that are pertinent to colleges to DfE
  • takes into account and passes on the views of colleges within the FE sector

The group will have no power of veto over operational or policy decisions.

Meetings

The group will meet around 6 times a year, as required.

Membership

Membership includes the Further Education Commissioner and 8 serving chief executive principals. We appointed the principals through a fair and open recruitment process.

The principals are:

The colleges of group members receive £5,000 a year to cover any costs that are incurred by their principals participating in the group’s work.

Secretariat

For the attention of Lydia Davis
Office of the FE Commissioner
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
20 Great Smith Street
Westminster
SW1P 3BT

Contact details

FE.Commissioner@education.gov.uk

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