1. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin
30 September 2011 Issue 101
Principals’ meeting with Mayoral Adviser Munira Mirza, 26 September
Principals from 18 Colleges attended a meeting at City Hall on 26 September with Munira
Mirza, Mayoral Adviser for Culture and Youth. Munira took over the Youth portfolio from
Pam Chesters whom Principals had previously met. On the agenda were: the GLA’s and
AoC’s/Colleges’ response to the August riots; the impact of the withdrawal of the Educational
Maintenance Allowance on student enrolment and retention; the GLA’s intention to develop an
FE Guide to provide information to employers and parents about London Colleges’
performance; a payment-by-results model for an adult careers service in London; and an ESOL
feasibility study being conducted by the GLA. The GLA is keen to work with Colleges on the
FE Guide and the ESOL study. Principals expressed their reservations about the FE Guide but
agreed to discuss it further at the Principals’ Forum on 29 September. Representatives from
London Councils and the Skills Funding Agency were also in attendance.
Heads of Sport meeting, 27 September
A packed and interesting agenda for this meeting but only representatives from 11 Colleges.
And that’s the key message: how to engage more London Colleges in the network? Attendees
discussed a bid to SportEngland for funding to support a project to develop student-led
support and community links. The project will be coordinated by the County Sports
Partnerships CSPs). Presentations were also made by: Clare Howard on the latest AoC/British
Colleges Sport developments; Hannah Crane from SkillsActive; Tim Copley from Proactive;
and Tom Gibbins from the National Tennis Centre. If you’d like to find out more about the
outcomes of the meeting and the date of the next meeting, please contact Rebecca Breen.
Regional Committee and Principals’ Forum, 29 September, Ealing,
Hammersmith and West London College
The Regional Committee meeting discussed the draft London Colleges’ Manifesto for Mayoral
and Assembly elections in 2012. It was agreed to make a number of amendments and represent
it for further discussion at the Regional Forum on 12 October.
Beverly Aboagye, Regional Procurement Manager, gave a presentation on AoC Procurement
Development Team for London (AoC-PDT) and their programme of work over the next four
months. The Committee made a number of suggestions regarding the programme of work and
it was agreed to present a further report to the next Regional Committee in December regarding
funding the continuation of the AoC-PDT service for London Colleges.
The meeting also received updates from the AoC Board, Governors’ Council, Marketing
Committee, AoC London officers and a 2012 update.

2. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
The Principals’ Forum followed the Regional Committee and included funding updates from
Jill Lowery, Director Area Relationship Team Skills Funding Agency and Mike Pettifer,
Regional Director, YPLA. Notes of which will be circulated shortly.
The forum also provided an update from the Urban College Group including their work
following the London riots. Membership of this group is still open so if you are interested in
joining this AoC National group, please let Rebecca Breen know.
There was also a presentation by Stephen Evans, who has been working on AoCLR LSIS-
funded project, entitled: How London’s Colleges can best deliver for London’s people and
employers in this rapidly changing context. Slides from this presentation and his full report
will follow in a future bulletin.
Outcome Incentive Payments: Feedback request
London Councils have asked for feedback on Outcome Incentive Payments.
Please see their message below:
London Councils are keen to hear what work has been undertaken by colleges to date in terms
of developing plans as part of the Outcome Incentive Payments, in order to get more people in
to work in their local area. We would be interested to hear whether you have engaged with
your local authority yet to work with them to help produce the plans, or whether you will be
looking to engage with them in future. We would like to hear information on how this work is
progressing and whether anything has worked well, or where there may be any sticking points
that we may be able to assist with. From the responses that we receive we would like to look at
whether we could share any best practice with other colleges and local authorities. Please
contact Nicola Lowis (nicola.lowis@londoncouncils.gov.uk 020 7934 9916) if you would like to
share your thoughts or discuss in more detail."
AoC Briefing on letting premises following civil unrest
AoC produced a briefing for Colleges regarding the letting of premises following the civil
unrest. This was sent out to Colleges on 23 September. Please find the full briefing attached to
this email.
Access HE
AccessHE is the new post-Aimhigher organisation supporting access to higher education (HE)
for learners in London from under-represented backgrounds. It is an independent non-
government organisation working with over 30 universities inside and outside London. Schools
and colleges can join AccessHE for FREE in 2011-12 and can nominate a member of staff to
become an ‘AccessHE Advocate’. Each Advocate will receive FREE, accredited training.
Contact naz.khan@londonhigher.ac.uk to join.
AccessHE is a division of the London universities and HE Colleges representative organisation
London Higher. It is supported by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) and the government’s
Advocate for Access to Education, Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP.
Page 2 of 8

3. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
WorldSkills 2011 update
WorldSkills London 2011 is here!!
If you don’t book now, you will not have another chance for at least 20 years.
The big event starts next week with the Opening Ceremony at the O2 on Tuesday, 4 October.
The competitions start on 5 October with Junior WorldSkills visiting in the morning. The full
programme is now accessible online, allowing you to book last minute for any activities you
might not have been aware of. You can also print out your itinerary.
http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com/schedule/
Geoff Russell sent invitations to all Principals last week for a reception he is hosting on Friday,
7 October from 12.30- 2pm in the auditorium at ExCel. This will be an opportunity to find out
about the legacy from WorldSkills and the contribution it will make to quality improvement in
the sector. Please send a substitute if you can’t attend yourself.
Part of the legacy activity is the extension of the Capital Equipment Fund from the middle of
October. A brochure of all the equipment and resources being offered will be put up on the
WSL2011 site and Colleges with current contracts with the Skills Funding Agency will be able
to bid for items. Grants of up to 50% will be available on many of the items. Equipment varies
from milling machines to work benches, making the offer on high value items very attractive.
Regional Skills Festival/Have a Go and Colleges Week
A number of Colleges have run Have a Go in College
activities this week as part of their Colleges Weeks
activity. Have a Go activities were run successfully in
Havering College of FE and HE this week: Students and
staff from the College headed to The Brewery Shopping
Centre in Romford to teach key life-saving skills to
members of the public. The college also offered
restaurant and cinema goers the opportunity to try out
hairdressing skills such as hair braiding, basket weaving
and hairdressing skills.
The Have a Go campaign continues after WorldSkills
London to the end of February, so if you would like to
run Have a Go activities at any recruitment or open days
and have some funding to support these, please contact
Rebecca.Breen@aoc.co.uk
Colleges Week (beginning 26 September): as well as
running Have a Go events, many Colleges have been
supporting Team UK on Facebook and Twitter. Please
support the London WorldSkills competitors. Photo credit: Havering College of FE and HE
Page 3 of 8

4. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
The results of the survey undertaken with Year 10s on their awareness of post-GCSE options
was featured in a snippet on Monday’s ‘Today Programme’, as well as 35 radio stations across
the country. For information on all strands of activity, please see www.collegesweek.org
Olympics 2012
Ian Ashman, Principal, Hackney Community College, has written a paper for LOCOG
Employment and Skills Group on Colleges and 2012 jobs. If you would like a copy of the paper
please contact Rebecca Breen. Ian has requested that Colleges send him the name of their 2012
jobs coordinators: please send names and contact details to Ian Ashman.
Student Success Stories of the Fortnight
Mission Accomplished for John Ruskin College Student
The Rotary Club of Croydon East sponsored one
of our Level 3 Science students, Aisha Pervaiz on
a week long course at Imperial College London at
the beginning of August, which enabled her to
work with NASA personnel on a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
During the programme she joined teams of other
young people from across England and Scotland
to come up with an idea to be carried out in space.
The best idea was selected and will be built,
launched from Kazakhstan and taken to the
International Space Station. Photo credit: John Ruskin College
The NASA personnel involved, included a former astronaut, an astronaut Space Shuttle
Mission Commander, a former Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, a lead NASA
astronaut trainer and a satellite communications expert.
New Generations chairman from Croydon East’s Rotary Club, Cliff Quartly said “This was a
unique opportunity for Aisha to experience at first hand, the essence of NASA team building,
how space exploration benefits the earth, the environment of space and the experience of being
in space. We are very pleased indeed to have had the opportunity to give this amazing chance
to a gifted student from one of the Borough’s colleges. This could be a life changing experience
for her.
On completion of the course Aisha commented, ‘This was an incredible and astonishing
experience for me which enhanced my confidence and presentation skills as well as developing
my knowledge about life in space. I would like to thank the Rotary for sponsoring me and
making me aware of this unique opportunity which will definitely help me with my future
career in Biological Sciences’.
Page 4 of 8

5. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
Recent meetings
Date Event/meeting Attendees Agenda
16 Sept London Councils KA Meeting discussed: ESOL research and
potential for follow up work, Update on the FE
Guide, Outcome Incentive Payments and SFA
expectations of colleges and training providers
20 Sept Kevin McGladdery KA Regular one to one meeting to discuss LSIS
Governor events
22 Sept LEST 2012 KA Partner updates; ODA Learning Legacy;
Olympic Park NSAFC report, Construction
Skills
22 Sept London Literacy, JS This meeting at City Hall discussed the
Language and sustainability of ESOL in London and LSIS
Numeracy Group support for Literacy, Language and Numeracy.
23 Sept Operational Sub- JS The meeting discussed the development of a
Group Meeting at Learner Voice website, impact of bursaries,
London Councils several consultations and an ESF update.
23 Sept Marketing Committee JS & RB The meeting discussed the WorldSkills
Meeting /Colleges Week campaign; londoncolleges.com
update; Colleges’ response to London riots and
the Marketing Managers’ Network meeting in
December.
26 Sept London First KA Regular catch up with Mark Hilton
26 Sept Principals’ meeting KA Agenda included:
with Munira Mirza Response to the recent civil disturbances
16-18 Bursary & EMA
FE Guide
Careers Service in London
GLA ESOL Feasibility Study
27 Sept Strategic Group for KA Updates; funding bid to Sport England
Sport
27 Sept Head of Sport KA The agenda included:
network meeting National Strategy Update “Growing Sport,
Growing Colleges”
Sport England funding updates
Working with NGBs and employers –
proposal for the provision of relevant
workforce qualifications
BCS update
Olympics opening ceremony
Developing Tennis in East London
FE and Riots
27 Sept Graeme Atherton KA Catch up meeting regarding Access HE
29 Sept Regional Committee AoCLR The agenda included discussion of the London
Page 5 of 8

6. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
meeting team Manifesto for Mayoral elections and updates
from the AoC Board, Governors’ Council,
Marketing Committee, AoC London, AoC
Procurement Manager and 2012 update.
29 Sept Principals’ Forum AoCLR The agenda included: Funding updates from Jill
team Lowery, Skills Funding Agency and Mike
Pettifer, Regional Director, Young Person’s
Learning Agency followed by discussion;
Response to Riots; Enrolment update;
Presentation by Stephen Evans on AoCLR LSIS-
funded project
Future meetings
Date Event/meeting Attendees Agenda
4-8 Oct WorldSkills London AoCLR Visit the WorldSkills website for more
team information: www.worldskillslondon2011.com/
7 Oct Clerks' network JS Agenda to be confirmed
meeting
11 Oct Abi Lammas KA Discussions on:
Regional Response Fund Activity
Regional communication and
collaboration strategy
LSIS National and Regional update
12 Oct AoCLR Regional AoCLR Agenda to be confirmed
Forum team
Events and Dates for the Diary
 WorldSkills London 2011 – Sunday 4 October to Sunday 9 October, at the O2 and ExCel
centre. Please contact Rebecca Breen for more information.
 AoCLR Clerks' network meeting – Friday 7 October, 2pm-5pm at Westminster
Kingsway College, Victoria Campus. Please contact Judith Smyth for more information.
 AoCLR Regional Forum – Wednesday 12 October, 5pm-7pm at Westminster Kingsway
College, Kings Cross campus. Please contact AoC London Region Events for more
information.
 AoCLR Business Development Managers’ network – Wednesday 12 October (PM) at
City and Islington College. Please contact Judith Smyth for more information.
 Management Strategies to Improve the use of Learning Technologies Conference -
Wednesday 12 October at etc.venues Paddington, London. The impact of digital
technology on learning continues to evolve and mapping that evolution is complex. This
Page 6 of 8

7. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
conference will bring together experts in the use of learning technologies and will
showcase innovative practice that is already achieving good results in Colleges. To find
out more information please visit www.aoccreateevents.co.uk/technologyalt2011.
 Mind the Gap! Seminar. Supporting and guiding young people on their journey
through the new employment and skills landscape – Thursday 13 October, 1.45pm to
4.20pm at Mary Sumner House in Westminster. More information:
http://tiny.cc/kxgw8
 AoCLR Vice Principals Curriculum & Quality network meeting – Monday 17 October,
3pm-5pm at AoC offices, Stedham Place. Please contact Rebecca Breen for more
information.
 Applications, Admissions and Student Support Conference 2011
The new FE and HE landscape - An AoC National Conference. Wednesday 19 October
2011 - Aston Business School Conference Centre, Birmingham.
www.aoccreateevents.co.uk/admissions2011.
 AoCLR Finance Directors’ network meeting – Thursday 10 November, 9am-1pm, Venue
tbc. Please contact Rebecca Breen for more information.
 AoC’s Annual Conference and Exhibition: 15, 16 and 17 November 2011. Registration is
now open for AoC’s flagship event of the year which takes place between Tuesday 15
and Thursday 17 November 2011 at the ICC in Birmingham.
 AoSEC (Association of South East Colleges) is our sister organisation in the south east
region. AOSEC runs 22 professional development networks which bring together staff
from across the south east to hear and discuss updates on areas relating to the
curriculum or their job role. Colleagues from London Colleges would be welcome to
attend these networks. There is a charge for membership of the networks. Colleagues
can find out more information and book online via
http://aosec.org.uk/page/programme_activities/5. Full details of the network
package for 2011/12 can be seen at
http://aosec.org.uk/page/network_renewal_2011/12/131 For more information please
contact Lisa Mullock: lisamullock@aosec.org.uk
 Looking back to inform the future: Ofsted's Annual Report and a new inspection
framework for 2012 - Tuesday 6 December 2011, Prospero House, London.
www.aoccreateevents.co.uk/aocofsted2011
Policy and other documents
Routes into Languages – College Language Ambassadors
From this September, Capital L Routes into Languages, based at the School of Oriental and
African Studies (SOAS), will be extending its Language Ambassador scheme to include Year
12&13 students and would like to invite a nominee from each College to coordinate the scheme
in your College, giving your students the opportunity to acquire employability skills and
experience, and motivating them to explore the value of language learning, by promoting it to
others.
Page 7 of 8

8. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 30 September 2011
Capital L Routes into Languages will provide each College with the necessary resources, which
have been developed by SOAS and their partner institutions. These resources can then be
adapted, if necessary, by you and your College ambassadors. SOAS Language Ambassadors
will be pleased to assist you with the interview process at your College, and training will be
provided at SOAS.
If you are interested in starting the scheme at your College, please register by filling out this
online form by 14 October 2011. Please also find the student application form and role
description attached.
Find more information about the scheme.
Laser Learning
Laser Learning was launched in 2010 following the success of sister company The Childcare
Company and its Laser training system. The company licenses its combined portfolio and
learning programme to other training providers at low cost, meaning that learners all over the
UK can now access the benefits of Laser online training in Childcare, Health and Social Care,
Playwork and Supporting Teaching and Learning. If you are interested in finding out more
about Laser Learning, please visit the website (http://www.laserlearning.co.uk/)
The Intelligence e-Group Despatch
If you would like to view the latest issues of the Intelligence e-Group Despatch please follow
this link. The Despatch is produced by Mike Cooper, from Education Development which
works in partnership with AOSEC, LSC South East, LSN and City & Guilds Institute/Centre for
Skills Development to provide a regular free electronic newsletter updating colleagues on latest
developments in post-compulsory learning and skills and much more. For your free
subscription to the Intelligence e-Group Despatch, e-mail Mike Cooper, giving brief details of
your organisation and role.
GLA news
Get online, stay in touch for London 2012
London Mayor opens new generation primary school in Havering
Work hard, aim high – Mayor backs drive to get young people in care into jobs
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 Rebecca Breen.
Kate Anderson Judith Smyth
Regional Director Executive Manager
kate.anderson@aoc.co.uk judith.smyth@aoc.co.uk
Rebecca Breen Cyheme Bilouta
Regional Coordinator Team Administrator (part-time)
rebecca.breen@aoc.co.uk cyheme.bilouta@aoc.co.uk
Page 8 of 8