David Hughes
LightNews LightNews
banner
hughesdavid.bsky.social
David Hughes
@hughesdavid.bsky.social
740 followers 280 following 37 posts
Chief Executive at Association of Colleges, lifelong learner, passionate about education, skills, inclusion, a better & fairer society
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by David Hughes
emmameredith.bsky.social
Another excellent College Alliance meeting - always so much to take away from conversations with our neighbours - to build stronger, adaptive systems.

@aoc-info.bsky.social @lewis-cooper.bsky.social @hughesdavid.bsky.social
rachcable.bsky.social Rachel Cable @rachcable.bsky.social · May 1
Good to be at Ayreshire College in Scotland this week at the Colleges Alliance meeting, hosted by @aoc-info.bsky.social. An opportunity to reflect on the college workforce of the future, and discuss shared challenges across the UK and Ireland, learning from our different systems. @colegau.cymru
May 1, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by David Hughes
feweek.bsky.social
📣 The FE commissioner's report into Weston College is 'a must-read for all college leaders on how not to do' governance, says @hughesdavid.bsky.social of @aoc-info.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk
April 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
feweek.bsky.social
📣 Schools prove pupil premium funding works; so why stop it at 16?
@hughesdavid.bsky.social @aliceeardley.bsky.social @aoc-info.bsky.social @brilliantclub.bsky.social @thefea.bsky.social @ascl-uk.bsky.social @theaccessproject.org.uk @suttontrust.bsky.social
feweek.co.uk
April 6, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
"It will open up thousands of opportunities for young people and adults to get the skills they need and which employers are crying out for." - @hughesdavid.bsky.social welcomes the Chancellor's £625 million college infrastructure investment. Read our full response here: aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
March 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Great to see this package of measures helping colleges to scale up their construction training, in partnership with employers. Looking forward to working with DfE on making it happen. Pleased that colleges being recognised for how vital they are on this
feweek.bsky.social FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Mar 22
👷‍♀️ The chancellor has announced plans to invest over half a £bn into training new construction workers through 10 ‘technical excellence colleges’, more skills bootcamps and financial incentives for foundation apprenticeships
Chancellor to pour £600m into construction training
The chancellor announces £600m investment into training construction workers, 10 new ‘technical excellence colleges’ and foundation apprenticeships.
feweek.co.uk
March 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
Join us from 4pm-5pm on Thursday 20 March for our Colleges' National Green Week live Q&A to hear from South Thames College and London South East Colleges on how they have built sustainable learning environments. #CNGW2025

Register here: t.co/pg1D4ww44q
Graphic which reads: Live Q&A: resources for engaging students in eco-friendly education, 4-5pm Thursday 20 March, online via zoom, Colleges' National Green Week 17-21 March 2025.
March 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
Register now for our Colleges' National Green Week live Q&A on Thursday 20 March! Watch our on-demand webinar to see how South Thames College and London South East Colleges have built sustainable learning environments and then join us for this interactive session! #CNGW2025
aoc.co.uk/corporate-se...
March 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Congratulations to the newly appointed leadership team at #SkillsEngland. Looking forward to working with them to help establish a better, coherent, inclusive post-16 education and skills system
feweek.bsky.social FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Feb 11
A tech industry leader and a former DfE permanent secretary have been selected to lead Skills England as chair and vice chair

And two job-sharing civil servants will take the reins as joint CEOs of the new agency

feweek.co.uk/tech-exec-an...
Tech exec and ex-DfE perm sec to lead Skills England
Phil Smith and David Bell named chair and vice chair respectively, while two senior civil servants will jobshare as CEO
feweek.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
schmoller.net
Cuts in funding for adult education appear to be in the pipeline. With that in mind, it is worth reading yesterday's House of Lords speech by the Skills Minister, Jacqui Smith, who summarises the social and economic value of adult education:
hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...
Lifelong Learning - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Lifelong Learning' on Thursday 6 February 2025.
hansard.parliament.uk
February 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Excellent discussion today about skills needs & enormous potential for fair growth in #LiverpoolCityRegion with @darrenpjones.bsky.social & @metromayorsteve.bsky.social at the nearly finished impressive new Everton stadium, a beacon for regenerating the docks over next decade
February 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
"Colleges have the facilities to educate and train people for a changing economy but need to work with government to ensure these are suitable, sustainable and sufficient to support national skills priorities" - @hughesdavid.bsky.social.

Read our full response here:
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
January 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
"Teaching about past atrocities can help encourage students to challenge hatred, racism and discrimination in the here and now," says Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager at AoC, in our new blog on #InternationalHolocaustRemembranceDay.

Read more:
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
Graphic reads "International Holocaust Remembrance Day."
January 27, 2025 at 4:58 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
yes, it shows how difficult the mainstream media find it to understand the college world @sebschmoller.bsky.social
schmoller.net Seb Schmoller @schmoller.net · Jan 28
It is a welcome editorial. However it has to be said that its focus on teenage students (and on sixth form colleges) is itself an example of media ignorance of the scale, scope and economic/social value of Further and Adult Education.
January 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Good to see @theguardian.com recognise need to invest more in colleges to address pay gaps with school teachers. General further education college lecturers just as badly affected. Low pay means colleges cannot recruit lecturers in skills vital for growth www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on teachers’ pay: colleges don’t deserve second-class status | Editorial
Editorial: College staff deserve a pay rise along with their peers. Widening the gap with schools would be a serious mistake
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
"We were heartened by the discussion of the role of colleges in the PAC’s evidence session for this inquiry, and it would have been good to see greater recognition of that role in today’s report." - David Holloway responds to new Public Accounts Committee report.
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
quote graphic with headshot of David Holloway which reads: Discussions on SEND reform must include colleges, says AoC "Colleges provide inclusive cultures and inclusive curricula, and yet are hampered by a worse deal for SEND funding and by the indefensible £10,000 pay gap between school teachers and college teachers.” David Holloway, Senior Policy Manager - SEND
January 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
“If the government wants to achieve its missions and ambitions for economic growth and fairness, additional, sustainable investment across all post-16 education must be provided in the spring spending review.” says @hughesdavid.bsky.social.

Read in full: www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...
January 13, 2025 at 8:57 AM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Another year & another report, picked up by @pmdfoster.bsky.social highlighting the shocking underinvestment in post-16 education & skills after 14 years of austerity. The government's missions are at risk of under-delivery without more investment in colleges on.ft.com/4aaOQBi
UK school budgets eroded by spiralling special needs costs, report shows
SEN spending and higher wages leave headteachers facing ‘very tight’ accounts in 2025, says IFS
on.ft.com
January 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Good to see David moving over into college leadership
January 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Great to have you on the @aoc-info.bsky.social #FEHallofFame Stuart Deeley
aoc-info.bsky.social Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Dec 18
We are happy to reveal that Stuart Deeley, former student of
Halesowen College, has been honoured in our #FEHallofFame for his dedication to his craft and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of chefs. Congratulations! Read more: aoc.co.uk/awards/fe-ha...
Graphic with headshot of Stuart Deeley that reads: Association of Colleges presents the FE Hall of Fame, Stuart Deeley. Stuart, a Masterchef: The professionals winner, is the founder of the Stuart Deeley Professional Chef Academy and alum of Halesowen College.
December 18, 2024 at 4:21 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Great to have you signed up @bridgendcollege.bsky.social
josephbaldwin.bsky.social Joe Baldwin @josephbaldwin.bsky.social · Dec 13
We have signed the @aoc-info.bsky.social Equity, Diversity and Inclsuion Charter, reaffirming our commitment to building a safe and kind community @bridgendcollege.bsky.social.

Read more about our commitment: www.bridgend.ac.uk/college-sign...
December 16, 2024 at 4:54 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
A very warm welcome @joshbabarinde.bsky.social to our #FEHallofFame
aoc-info.bsky.social Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Dec 16
We are thrilled to reveal that @joshbabarinde.bsky.social, former student of East Sussex College, has been honoured in our #FEHallofFame for his outstanding achievements and positive impact on both individuals and the broader community.

Read more: www.aoc.co.uk/awards/fe-ha...
Graphic reads "Association of Colleges Presents the FE Hall of Fame. Josh Babarinde OBE MP. Josh Babarinde OBE MP is a proud alum of East Sussex College and has recently been elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne."
December 16, 2024 at 4:53 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Good to see John Widdowson as part of this, ensuring there is an informed FE college voice. Before they propose a university in Wakefield, perhaps better investment in the college for young people and adults might be a start
December 16, 2024 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
aoc-info.bsky.social
“For too long pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with detrimental effects on the sector and wider economy” - @hughesdavid.bsky.social calls on the STRB to support a pay increase for FE staff and outlines three ambitions on college pay. t.co/hco167NDqc
David Hughes quote graphic: “For too long pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with detrimental effects on the sector and wider economy, and we are hopeful that this is a positive step towards ensuring colleges have the funding they need to close the pay gap.”
December 13, 2024 at 4:31 PM
hughesdavid.bsky.social
Pleased to give evident today to the School Teacher Review Body on the unacceptably low level of college pay causing enormous recruitment, retention & morale problems which in turn create risk for delivery of many of the government's manifesto commitments view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx...
view.officeapps.live.com
December 13, 2024 at 10:14 AM
Reposted by David Hughes
schmoller.net
Does the UK have enough workers to ‘get Britain building’? In short: it'll be a stretch. FT analysis by Delphine Strauss & Anna Gross that is silent on previous governments' destructive failure to get the FE system firing on all cylinders. Striking excerpt below. www.ft.com/content/ca44...
But the teenager is part of a dwindling group: despite the efforts of successive governments, the number of apprenticeship starts has fallen by over a third over the past decade — from 520,600 in 2011 to 337,100 in 2022 — and the declines are sharpest among those aged 16 to 19. In the meantime, businesses are relying on foreign workers to fill those roles. On site in Bermondsey, where heavy packages are being flung from one worker to another, a Polish scaffolder in his 30s estimates that around 80 to 90 per cent of the 250 workers come from overseas, mainly eastern Europe. Especially in the summer months, it is incredibly hard to find bricklayers, carpenters and groundworkers, he says. A large group of workers come from Moldova, where many people have dual Romanian citizenship and were able to travel to the UK freely before Brexit.
December 13, 2024 at 8:18 AM