1. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin
7 June 2013 – Issue 137
Dear Colleagues,
Many thanks to those colleagues that took part in the Responding to the Skills Needs of the
Unemployed – Sector Dialogue briefing/workshop on 29th May, chaired by Paula Whittle, Principal of
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College. On the same day and in response to our
members’ request we were able to hold a meeting to share practice and approaches to the Common
Accord (around sub-contracting practice). If you want to follow up on either of these events please
let us know.
These meetings were in addition to our regular schedule of networks which included both
Procurement and MIS this week, and the annual AoC Gold Award ceremony held at the House of
Commons on 4th June where Lord Willis presented awards to distinguished Further Education
alumni.
On the wider London agenda we would draw your attention to:
The Skills Show 2013/2014 ‘Local programme’
In the last bulletin I highlighted the current tender opportunity to offer regional careers
experiences and ‘have a go’ events over the next 18 months in support of the World Skills drive.
We have been working with London partners to agree a single collaborative approach for the
capital. I am pleased to advise that we will be working with Prospects and our other key partners
in supporting a bid to be submitted by 28th June. I will be in touch with those Colleges who have
particularly expressed an interest to date, and make sure all Colleges are kept posted on next
steps.
AoC London LSIS Regional Response Projects
AoC London is currently leading on two projects, London Apprenticeships Good Practice and
Building Learner Progression
AoC London have been working with the London Work Based Learning Alliance (LWBLA) to
share good and innovative practice on the Apprenticeship programme. Working with Colleges,
providers and employers we are now at the stage of producing a publication which will highlight
a number of case studies and examples of collaborative working with employers. The opportunity
to showcase will take the form of a London Apprenticeship Breakfast Summit at City Hall in a few
weeks time.
2. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 7 June 2013
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Working with Linking London AoC London have been looking at ways of building and
promoting progression to higher vocational education in London, again to highlight good
practice, but also to help identify opportunities for development to meet the needs of the London
Economy. We will include a further update in the next bulletin so watch this space.
Looking forward a reminder we are holding two AoC London networks over the next couple of
weeks, HE Co-ordinators on 11th June and Finance Directors on 12th June.
I would also like to flag up to you a major event AoC London is supporting at the Institute of
Education on 10th July London Colleges: Innovation and Excellence: An opportunity to share effective and
best practice - our Colleges are of course key contributors! Details are below.
If you have any queries please let me know. Have a good week.
Best wishes,
Caroline
London Colleges news
National Success for Richmond upon Thames College Athletes
Students from Richmond upon Thames College took home an impressive
haul of three gold medals and a silver from the British Colleges Sport
National Track and Field Championships.
Held at Gateshead International Stadium in May, the event saw hundreds
of students competing for medals across seventeen different disciplines.
Richmond upon Thames College picture
To read the full story please visit London Colleges website.
AoC London HE Coordinators Network meeting, 11 June 2013
AoC London Finance Directors Network meeting, 12 June 2013
AoC London AGM/Regional Forum and Summer Reception, 27 June 2013
UPCOMING EVENTS
AoC London Network Events and Dates for the Diary
LONDON NEWS
3. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 7 June 2013
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Wednesday 10 July 2013 (10.00 – 16.00)
Elvin Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL
This working day provides participants with the opportunity to share and develop strategies and
approaches which have worked for their own learners and employer sponsors. Chaired by Ian
Ashman, Principal of Hackney Community College, Chair of AoC London and member of the LEP
Skills and Employment Working Group, the structure of the day will include a brief introduction
to the London context with contributions from Professor Lorna Unwin, Chair in Vocational
Education, and Professor Ann Hodgson, Assistant Director (London) and Co-Director, Centre for
Post-14 Research and Innovation and Frank McLoughlin CBE, Principal of City and Islington
College and Chair, Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning.
This will be followed by a series of London College led workshops with the opportunity to share
debate and reflect upon practice around teaching, learning, assessment and the wider College
context. Colleges will have the opportunity to network and share their experiences, challenges
and successes with practitioners across the sector. The Proceedings will be shared on the Institute
web-site.
To register, please contact Emma Saville at the Institute of Education for a booking form and
further details. Please note that this event will be at a reduced rate of £60 for all attendees, as a
result of the support being provided by AoC London Region.
Preparing for Short Notice Inspection - 18 June, Birmingham
Ofsted plan to double the number of college inspections (2013-14). Is your College inspection
ready? Led by Phil Hatton and Mike Davis former Ofsted HMI along with Mike having helped
put together the new CIF, this one day workshop will ensure your Nominee is fully prepared.
For more information please check AoC Create website.
ALS Additional Learning Support Workshop, 27 June 2013, London
This workshop gives a detailed overview of the key aspects of the requirements for claiming
Learning Support in 2013/14 including:
EFA and SFA funding rules
Sector risk areas and audit risks
Best practice data and cost management
For more information or to book: www.aoc-create.co.uk/event/als/
AoC Shaping College Higher Education Conference
Friday, 28th June, Maple House, Birmingham (please see attached PDF document)
AoC Create events
4. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 7 June 2013
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AoC Summer Funding Conference, 9 July 2013, London
First in the series, this conference will focus on the practical funding challenges facing Colleges in
the coming months including:
New Education and Skills funding formulae
A new system for further education and loans
A new approach to funding students with learning difficulties
For more information or to book: www.aoc-create.co.uk/event/summerfunding2013/
Digital Summer Camp, 12 July 2013, Hackney Community College
Tech City, home to over 1,340 tech companies hacking, building and making cutting-edge digital
products and innovations is to host a Digital Summer Camp on 12th of July 2013 at Hackney
Community College, a digital day trip set to ignite a passion for ICT/ Digital and STEM in students
aged 9-18 by learning from the world’s best programmers and digital experts. Sponsors include
The Mayor of London’s Office, Pearson, The British Computer Society, The Big Society and Tech
City Investment Organisation.
FREE TICKETS FOR AOC MEMBERS! Tickets will be allocated on a first-come first - served basis -
please book your groups in as soon as you can by going to Digital Summer Camp event website and
entering the discount voucher AOC.
For more information please contact Martin Underwood, Partnerships Manager.
Date Meetings/Events
24 May AoC/ Linking London 7th Annual Conference
24 May Catch-up meeting with Paul Tucker and Derek Harvey (CN)
29 May ‘Responding to the Skills Needs of the Unemployed’ meeting (AoCLR)
29 May ‘Common Accord workshop’ follow up meeting (AoCLR)
29 May Meeting with Alexandra Worden, Senior Associate, Eversheds (CN)
30 May ISO9001 London Region Audit Meeting (AoCLR)
3 June Regular catch-up meeting with Mary Vine-Morris, London Councils (CN)
5 June AoC Gold Awards Ceremony, House of Commons Terrace (CN, JS)
5 June AoC meeting with Graciano Soares, JISC RSC (CN)
6 June Meeting with Crossrail, Nigel Eagers (CN)
6 June AoC London Procurement Managers’ Network meeting (AoCLR)
7 June AoC London Heads of MIS Network meeting (AoCLR)
Recent meetings
Other News, events and updates
GET A LINE ON AOC LONDON REGION MEETINGS
5. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 7 June 2013
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If you like to get more information about the AoCLR attended recent and future meetings/events
please contact Eva Taumer, AoC London Team Administrator.
If you wish to contact the AoC London office to give feedback on this Bulletin, to request
additional information where we have offered it, or to provide suggested content for future issues,
please email Evelina Joykutty.
Caroline Neville Judith Smyth Evelina Joykutty
Regional Director Deputy Director Regional Co-ordinator
caroline.neville@aoc.co.uk judith.smyth@aoc.co.uk evelina.joykutty@aoc.co.uk
Eva Taumer
Team Administrator
eva.taumer@aoc.co.uk
Date Meetings/Events
11 June AoC Catch-up meeting with Barclays, Rod Baker (CN, JS)
11 June AoC London HE Coordinators’ Network meeting (AoCLR)
11 June LSIS HE Linking London project catch-up meeting (CN, JS)
12 June AoC London Finance Directors’ Network meeting (AoCLR)
12 June St. Charles Sixth Form College meeting, Paul O’Shea, Principal (CN)
12 June Meeting with Andy Wise, Youth Justice Board, Colleges/YOT Protocol(JS)
13 June AoC London/JISC meeting (CN)
13 June ESOL/GLA follow-up workshop (JS)
13 June Catch-up meeting with Vic Grimes, NAS (CN)
13 June London Higher Reception
14 June London Councils OSG meeting (JS)
17 June Morley College meeting, Ela Piotrowska, Principal (CN)
20 June AoC London Regional World Skills meeting (AoCLR)
Future meetings
CONTACTS
