David Hughes discusses the AoC review, a more confident sector and English & Maths

We catch up with David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC) after his first speech at the AoC annual conference as the new Chief Executive.

David chats about the sector becoming more confident and ambitious about the massive challenges ahead, particularly with the Skills Plan and funding in the Spring budget. He also explains that there is a now a review of the AoC which is starting at the conference, and this is around the focus of the Association of Colleges, where to focus the AoC’s energy, to discuss how the AoC operates, what is its focus? David explained that prior to the conference he already received feedback that members want the AoC to be proactive in setting the agenda and be confident as to how colleges can move forward.

David also makes a really interesting point about English and Maths and that the 200,000 a year students who enter post 16 education without fundamental literacy and numeracy skills needs to be addressed. He explains that only 60% of people achieve GCSE English and Maths at Grade C or above and only 40% of children who receive free school meals achieve grade C or better in English and Maths.

Please click on the video below to hear what David has to say: