1. The Awards
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Baker Tilly is an independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers. We have worked in
partnership with the further education and skills sector for many years.
Our merger with RSM Tenon in September 2013 makes us one of the three principal mid-market
accountancy firms and a leading provider of services to the further education and skills sector. We act
for more than three quarters of further education and sixth form colleges as well as many training
providers. Our training provider clients include not only charities and third sector bodies but also
commercial organisations of many sizes.
Baker Tilly is a passionate supporter of the sector and continued improvement in all areas. We support
the sector through leadership and guidance including:
• Supporting research by participation and sponsorship
• Bringing new ideas to the sector such as social impact measurement through social return
on investment of sector bodies
• Our sector experts are active members of many bodies
• Seminars and training
• Commentary on emerging issues
Baker Tilly is, therefore, delighted to sponsor this award for Outstanding Leadership of Improvement,
recognising the critical role undertaken by leaders and governors in sustained improvement.
To read more please visit the Baker Tilly website
The Association of Colleges (AoC) exists to represent and promote the interests of colleges and
provide members with professional support services. As such, we aim to be the authoritative voice
of colleges – based on credible analysis, research, advocacy and consultation with colleges – and first
choice destination for guidance and advice for members.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with Baker Tilly to support this important award
which recognises the significance of inspirational leadership in colleges.
Further education - serving the needs of a better society and strong economy

2. Baker Tilly and Association of Colleges Award
for Outstanding Leadership of Improvement
Baker Tilly and the Association of Colleges are pleased to sponsor this Beacon Award for outstanding
leadership of improvement. The award is open to all further education, sixth form and tertiary colleges
in the UK.
This award aims to recognise the critical role undertaken by leaders and governors in improving college
provision and developing capacity for sustained improvement. Leadership capacity should be evidenced
by securing dramatic improvements in quality confirmed by inspection and/or improvement in the
quality of teaching and learning confirmed by significant improvements in learners’ achievements.
The assessors will look for evidence that effective leadership and management, at the Principalship
and Governing/Corporation Board levels, has been visionary and ambitious for the college and has
demonstrated a relentless and uncompromising focus on improving teaching and learning that has
produced positive results and a significant impact on learners.
Colleges should demonstrate how their provision meets the following:
• a shared and learner-focused culture that is supported by clear targets for improvement
• the effectiveness of governors in supporting and enabling college managers to improve and
sustain high quality provision
• effective leadership and management of organisational change for the benefit of its clients, customers,
learners, staff and community
• a curriculum offer that has been developed in response to the learning needs of individuals, groups,
organisations and partners in the college’s local community, and that results in high standards of
outcomes for learners
• creation of value for the sector by identifying the strategies and key transferable messages that
work in securing improvement and from which other providers can learn.
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Further education - serving the needs of a better society and strong economy