In her speech at the Association of Colleges
Annual Conference and Exhibition today, Ofsted Chief Inspector
Amanda Spielman said that colleges must do more to help college
students reach their potential. In response, Kirsti Lord, Deputy
Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges,
said:
“One in three students leaves school with less
than 5 GCSEs, so supporting people to achieve at level two is one
of the most important things we as a country can do. For a strong
economy and vibrant communities, it’s vital that everybody is
given the opportunity to access high quality skills and training
to get on in life.
“It is right for the Chief Inspector to
challenge colleges to ensure a strong level two offer - and
colleges challenge themselves every day – but it is also time for
government to act.
“Colleges have experienced a decade of constant
cuts and endless reforms, including a GCSE maths and English
re-sits policy that does not address the root causes of issues or
allow colleges to tailor their support so that they can help
every student to achieve.
“If government are serious about supporting
people into study and into work then they need to invest in the
institutions and people that can make that
happen.”
Notes to Editors
AoC is the national voice for further
education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in
England. We are a not-for-profit membership organisation
established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Our members make
up almost 95% of the sector - transforming 2.2 million lives each
year.
