Ian Pryce CBE
@ipryce.bsky.social
Strategic adviser; NED & Chair; Mentor; Educator; Writer; Syndic of Cambridge University; Guitarist. The artist formerly known as CEO The Bedford College Group
It is a shame the TIMSS survey results get less attention than PISA given they are at least as robust. Good to see England the top non-Asian country at grade 8 for both Maths & Science (5th/6th in world). Says much about the quality of our teachers
March 18, 2025 at 7:32 AM
It is a shame the TIMSS survey results get less attention than PISA given they are at least as robust. Good to see England the top non-Asian country at grade 8 for both Maths & Science (5th/6th in world). Says much about the quality of our teachers
I was really proud that the Bedford College Group was a trailblazer for sustainability even 15 years ago. First college to win Green Gown, first to offer training in Photovoltaics/solar water installation, first U.K. BREAMM excellent retrofit. Good film short
March 18, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I was really proud that the Bedford College Group was a trailblazer for sustainability even 15 years ago. First college to win Green Gown, first to offer training in Photovoltaics/solar water installation, first U.K. BREAMM excellent retrofit. Good film short
Pleased to see hot-off-press audited accounts for 23-24, covering my last six months The Bedford College Group show record income at £87m, compared to £10m when I started & college remained outstanding throughout the 26 years, despite five acquisitions of financially poor institutions
January 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Pleased to see hot-off-press audited accounts for 23-24, covering my last six months The Bedford College Group show record income at £87m, compared to £10m when I started & college remained outstanding throughout the 26 years, despite five acquisitions of financially poor institutions
We know it is important that we invest in skills to achieve growth. The FE finance record for 2022-23 shows college assets depreciating by £503m p.a. That’s the investment needed just to stand still. Colleges like NCG & LTE need £14m & £11m alone each and every year
January 25, 2025 at 8:48 PM
We know it is important that we invest in skills to achieve growth. The FE finance record for 2022-23 shows college assets depreciating by £503m p.a. That’s the investment needed just to stand still. Colleges like NCG & LTE need £14m & £11m alone each and every year
Looking at FE finance record for 2022-23 the spread of student numbers is interesting. For those included in the record (201 colleges) they had 1.4m funded students. But the biggest 20 account for 0.4m (about 30%) & despite sector consolidation, 19 have < 2k students & 70 < 5k
January 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Looking at FE finance record for 2022-23 the spread of student numbers is interesting. For those included in the record (201 colleges) they had 1.4m funded students. But the biggest 20 account for 0.4m (about 30%) & despite sector consolidation, 19 have < 2k students & 70 < 5k
And so a chapter in Bedford College history ends. The involvement in school education covered Bridges (900 14-16s from 18 schools), sponsoring first local academy (Bedford Academy), project managing The Bedford Free School and creating Wixams schools. Total £80m inward investment!
January 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
And so a chapter in Bedford College history ends. The involvement in school education covered Bridges (900 14-16s from 18 schools), sponsoring first local academy (Bedford Academy), project managing The Bedford Free School and creating Wixams schools. Total £80m inward investment!
Shelagh has done an amazing job for the sector. Despite the challenges we‘ve now far more colleges judged outstanding than in intervention & emphasis on support, especially post-intervention, is key. Often people drawn to intervening find reasons to keep doing so, not so here, very refreshing
🆕 The number of colleges in FE commissioner intervention fell to 9 last year
Here are the highlights from Shelagh Legrave's final annual report in the role 👇
Here are the highlights from Shelagh Legrave's final annual report in the role 👇
Legrave: College interventions fall as support take-up rises
The further education commissioner's annual report reveals the number of colleges in intervention fell to 9 last year amid staffing and capacity "challenges"
feweek.co.uk
January 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Shelagh has done an amazing job for the sector. Despite the challenges we‘ve now far more colleges judged outstanding than in intervention & emphasis on support, especially post-intervention, is key. Often people drawn to intervening find reasons to keep doing so, not so here, very refreshing
Absolutely loved A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan film, so much I wanted immediately to do an FE version of one of Bob's songs. Then realised I did during lockdown - weird looking back - Ofqual algorithms & Trump out!
youtu.be/_0knSw2LNAU?...
youtu.be/_0knSw2LNAU?...
Subterranean Lockdown Blues
YouTube video by Ian Pryce
youtu.be
January 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Absolutely loved A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan film, so much I wanted immediately to do an FE version of one of Bob's songs. Then realised I did during lockdown - weird looking back - Ofqual algorithms & Trump out!
youtu.be/_0knSw2LNAU?...
youtu.be/_0knSw2LNAU?...
This is so sad. Sarah was so young. She was an excellent journalist, passionate about the importance of local media & professional investigative journalism. A friend of the college but not afraid to rightly criticise when appropriate. She had integrity plus humanity. Love to her family
Sarah was the last editor to oversee the weekly Bedfordshire on Sunday, stepping down when it closed in 2017...
#Bedford #BedfordNews #Obituary
#Bedford #BedfordNews #Obituary
Tributes paid to former newspaper editor and "brilliant journalist" - Bedford Independent
Tributes have been paid to Sarah Cox (now Colley), the last editor of the Bedfordshire on Sunday (BOS), who died on 18 December after a...
www.bedfordindependent.co.uk
January 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is so sad. Sarah was so young. She was an excellent journalist, passionate about the importance of local media & professional investigative journalism. A friend of the college but not afraid to rightly criticise when appropriate. She had integrity plus humanity. Love to her family
In 70s wrote a song Rock Dreams with future brother-in-law, & was touched that my son’s band added it to their set list in 2000s. Now his dream has come true, landing job teaching future rock stars on multi-instruments. That formative insistence he become the next Mike Oldfield finally paying off!
December 21, 2024 at 10:56 AM
In 70s wrote a song Rock Dreams with future brother-in-law, & was touched that my son’s band added it to their set list in 2000s. Now his dream has come true, landing job teaching future rock stars on multi-instruments. That formative insistence he become the next Mike Oldfield finally paying off!
Reposted by Ian Pryce CBE
Yes I agree! Of 16 year olds w/out L2 English & maths, 1 in 3 now have it at age 19. Up from 1 in 10 ten years ago. This is a huge success! Not popular when it was introduced. And we can do better through more investment. But let's celebrate progress & march on. Not row back in e.g. apprenticeships.
December 19, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Yes I agree! Of 16 year olds w/out L2 English & maths, 1 in 3 now have it at age 19. Up from 1 in 10 ten years ago. This is a huge success! Not popular when it was introduced. And we can do better through more investment. But let's celebrate progress & march on. Not row back in e.g. apprenticeships.
Given sheer scale of the policy, the action taken by colleges after introduction of the maths & English condition of funding - creating whole new depts, increasing supply of specialist teachers etc - is one of education’s most impressive success stories. Yet it’s over criticised & under celebrated
Last week, the OECD Adult Skills Survey reported major improvements in the literacy & numeracy of England's young adults. In @feweek.bsky.social, @sarahjwaite.bsky.social explores the policies leading to this, the vital role FE played & how we can keep driving up skills. Link in the thread below 👇
December 19, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Given sheer scale of the policy, the action taken by colleges after introduction of the maths & English condition of funding - creating whole new depts, increasing supply of specialist teachers etc - is one of education’s most impressive success stories. Yet it’s over criticised & under celebrated
Have always thought that schools insisting branded uniform is wholly & exclusively required, should meet that cost & provide it, as they would for any branded staff uniform for receptionists or security staff etc
December 18, 2024 at 9:18 PM
Have always thought that schools insisting branded uniform is wholly & exclusively required, should meet that cost & provide it, as they would for any branded staff uniform for receptionists or security staff etc
Very proud of son Rob for contributing to the research that has won the award for journal paper of the year
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/r...
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/r...
Researchers win prestigious Public Health Journal Paper of the Year Award with research on gambling advertising and public health - Sheffield Addictions Research Group
A team of researchers, including members of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), has been honoured with the prestigious Public Health Journal Paper of the Year award.
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk
December 18, 2024 at 10:29 AM
Very proud of son Rob for contributing to the research that has won the award for journal paper of the year
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/r...
sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/r...
So many fantastic books this year. These my pick of the non-fiction if you’re looking for something well-written & thought-provoking
December 14, 2024 at 5:50 PM
So many fantastic books this year. These my pick of the non-fiction if you’re looking for something well-written & thought-provoking
When we bought the former Bedford Girls High School in 2012 & created The Bedford Sixth Form we set it the target of being the biggest for A Levels in the Borough within 5 years. It remains the biggest & no wonder with students like this. Congratulations
www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/th...
www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/th...
The Mayor of Bedford awards students from The Bedford Sixth Form as Ready2Lead? Project Winners
A group of Year 12 students from The Bedford Sixth Form have been announced as the winning team in The Harpur Trust’s Ready2Lead? Programme for their innovative project to help younger students cope w...
www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
December 14, 2024 at 10:45 AM
When we bought the former Bedford Girls High School in 2012 & created The Bedford Sixth Form we set it the target of being the biggest for A Levels in the Borough within 5 years. It remains the biggest & no wonder with students like this. Congratulations
www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/th...
www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/th...
Once a year the Chartered Institution for Further Education dress up to celebrate top people in the FE sector (it’s like Wolf Hall without the infighting!). Brilliant to see Bedford College Group’s Carl, Kevin & Dave recognised & four superb new fellows Andy, Keith, Graham & Rebecca
December 12, 2024 at 8:57 PM
Once a year the Chartered Institution for Further Education dress up to celebrate top people in the FE sector (it’s like Wolf Hall without the infighting!). Brilliant to see Bedford College Group’s Carl, Kevin & Dave recognised & four superb new fellows Andy, Keith, Graham & Rebecca
Given the extensive input from employers into T Levels, it doesn’t say much for their expertise in accurately assessing future skills needs if they invent things employers clearly don’t want. Students being badly let down
🪓 Ministers have scrapped a construction T Level due to a 'lack of demand' - 3 years after teaching began
feweek.co.uk/onsite-const...
feweek.co.uk/onsite-const...
Onsite construction T Level scrapped
The course has been delivered for the past 3 years
feweek.co.uk
December 12, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Given the extensive input from employers into T Levels, it doesn’t say much for their expertise in accurately assessing future skills needs if they invent things employers clearly don’t want. Students being badly let down
Agree with Andy. I was definitely Homo DIUS! One of the most exciting periods in recent FE history, with the I being taken as seriously as the U and S
Often describe DIUS (2007-2009) as closest thing to a startup in Whitehall. Sure DSIT felt similar (2022 to date) - NB even with tech/innovation/R&D focus that was/is bloody hard…
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Government to set out £100m plan to make state 'like a start-up'
As well as urging a "test and learn" mindset in government, ministers want to bring in tech workers on secondment.
www.bbc.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:31 AM
Agree with Andy. I was definitely Homo DIUS! One of the most exciting periods in recent FE history, with the I being taken as seriously as the U and S
I love that my Anglo-German grandsons always enjoy the traditional St Nicholas wake up to find your school shoes full of nuts and fruit, so “we get two Christmas’s grandpa”
December 6, 2024 at 11:32 PM
I love that my Anglo-German grandsons always enjoy the traditional St Nicholas wake up to find your school shoes full of nuts and fruit, so “we get two Christmas’s grandpa”
Really good blog from Pat. These projects didn’t just transform the college, they transformed the physical landscape of two important towns. An iconic tower on Bedford’s central riverfront & a revitalised Corby town centre. Lot others can learn from her approach
Read our latest #ThinkFurther blog in partnership with
NCFE, 'What the towns fund can teach us about local partnerships' by Pat Jones, CEO and Principal of Weston College, and Research Further Scholar.
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
NCFE, 'What the towns fund can teach us about local partnerships' by Pat Jones, CEO and Principal of Weston College, and Research Further Scholar.
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
December 6, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Really good blog from Pat. These projects didn’t just transform the college, they transformed the physical landscape of two important towns. An iconic tower on Bedford’s central riverfront & a revitalised Corby town centre. Lot others can learn from her approach
I’ve tried to champion reading of plays, given people complain they have no time to read. They cost a bit more than fiction, but by definition they can be read in one evening and are dramatic. These my favourites this year. Quirky Christmas presents?
December 6, 2024 at 12:19 PM
I’ve tried to champion reading of plays, given people complain they have no time to read. They cost a bit more than fiction, but by definition they can be read in one evening and are dramatic. These my favourites this year. Quirky Christmas presents?
The Ipsos annual almanac always a great early Christmas present. Well worth 5 mins of time. Much to ponder - fatalism among young men; nouveau nilhilism; escape to individiualism; people feeling both techno-wonder & techno-worry, but trust in teachers still very high! www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsLp...
The Ipsos Almanac 2025
YouTube video by Ipsos
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2024 at 8:58 AM
The Ipsos annual almanac always a great early Christmas present. Well worth 5 mins of time. Much to ponder - fatalism among young men; nouveau nilhilism; escape to individiualism; people feeling both techno-wonder & techno-worry, but trust in teachers still very high! www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsLp...
One of the spin-off benefits of mentoring is you don’t just meet fantastic people, you get time in beautiful places. Envious of Bournemouth & Poole college staff working so close to the sea
December 4, 2024 at 10:43 PM
One of the spin-off benefits of mentoring is you don’t just meet fantastic people, you get time in beautiful places. Envious of Bournemouth & Poole college staff working so close to the sea
It was probably inevitable colleges would come down from last year's high water mark. They are also disadvantaged by being judged holistically when MATs are judged by individual school, especially as colleges become fewer but bigger as they absorb weak neighbours 1/2
🔍 We've crunched Ofsted's latest official stats ahead of Thursday's annual report
Top 2 grade headlines:
⤵️ Big dip for general FE colleges
💯 SFC's lose their 100% record
🆙 ITPs take 'significant step forward'
Other interesting findings in story 👇
feweek.co.uk/colleges-wit...
Top 2 grade headlines:
⤵️ Big dip for general FE colleges
💯 SFC's lose their 100% record
🆙 ITPs take 'significant step forward'
Other interesting findings in story 👇
feweek.co.uk/colleges-wit...
Colleges with top Ofsted grades tumbles
Private providers have meanwhile seen a big uptick in results
feweek.co.uk
December 3, 2024 at 9:25 PM
It was probably inevitable colleges would come down from last year's high water mark. They are also disadvantaged by being judged holistically when MATs are judged by individual school, especially as colleges become fewer but bigger as they absorb weak neighbours 1/2