Edinburgh's Telford College recognised for innovative contribution to Further Education

Edinburgh's Telford College was recognised today as one of 36 colleges selected from over 400 winners featured in an innovative new piece of research, launched at a prestigious ceremony, hosted by David Blunkett at the House of Commons.

The research entitled ‘Celebrating Colleges' celebrates the achievements of colleges who have contributed to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country. The research consultant, Pat Hood, identified specific capabilities that were common across all AoC Beacon Award winners, including visionary leadership, collaboration, responsiveness and innovation and creativity.

Edinburgh's Telford College was recognised for creating a new FE college for Scotland - creating new pedagogy to meet changing needs. The college has used the opportunities presented by £75million capital investment in a new campus to design personalised learning opportunities for the future.

Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb said:

"This research gives the Association of Colleges the opportunity to formally celebrate colleges' achievements and their contribution to the Further Education system. It provides evidence that colleges can have a real impact on the world around them and other colleges should be inspired to emulate their successes."

FE Facts and Figures

• The research for ‘Celebrating Colleges' was commissioned by the Association of Colleges to celebrate colleges' achievements through the previous 15 years of Beacon Awards.

• Over 400 cameos prepared as background to the research will be made available on the AoC website to provide a basis of further research.

• The AoC Beacon Awards programme was established in 1994 under the auspices of the Association for Colleges, at the suggestion of The Partnership Trust.  The Partnership Trust wished to establish an awards programme for the Further Education sector after a similar awards programme for the Higher Education sector proved successful.

• The Awards are open to all further education and sixth form colleges in the UK, unless specified otherwise by the sponsor.  The awards act as a development grant to help realise the full potential of the winning project.

• The Association of Colleges is the representative voice of further education colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.