Centre for Excellence in Leadership
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CEL reports strong participation in FE leadership programmes

By 31 March 2007, less than four years after its launch, the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) had recruited nearly 26,000 individual participants and worked with 91 per cent of the organisations in the further education sector. CEL’s annual review, published today, also shows that 12,000 participants were recruited during the financial year to 31 March 2007, exceeding the target by 46 per cent, and that customer satisfaction had improved again, with 96 per cent of participants rating CEL’s programmes, courses or events as good or very good.

In his foreword to the annual review, Tony Blair congratulated CEL on the difference it had made in such a short time. Since its establishment, CEL had "played a vital role in the improvement of further education. Far more learners successfully complete their courses. Inspection reports have shown that better leadership is helping to improve standards."

Noting that there was still much to be done, the prime minister continued, "The further education system is currently experiencing a period of fundamental reform as colleges and training providers strive to better meet the needs of learners, employers and communities. This is a vital mission and good leadership will be crucial to its success. I wish CEL well in its continuing work in helping to deliver that mission."

CEL’s chief executive Lynne Sedgmore said, "We are delighted and encouraged to see the number of people taking part in our programmes and making progress within their organisations. The benefit to individuals and organisations of being involved with CEL is evident at a personal level, in the form of comments and thanks we receive, and was confirmed by an independent study carried out to assess CEL’s impact in the FE system.

"We work closely with a number of sector agencies and strategic partners," said Mrs Sedgmore, "and would like to thank them for their valuable contribution to the work we do in developing outstanding leadership. Our special thanks go to the DfES for its continued support, and to all our staff and associates, whose tireless work, enthusiasm and dedication have made it possible for us to achieve and exceed our targets and expectations."

NOTES TO EDITORS

CEL’s annual review 2006-07 is available to download in PDF format at www.centreforexcellence.org.uk/UsersDoc/CELannualReview2007.pdf.

About CEL

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) was launched in October 2003, as a key national agency within the Success for All initiative.

CEL has a crucial role to play in developing organisational leadership in the further education system to anticipate, influence and respond to government policy initiatives, including, for example, the 2006 white paper, "Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances".

CEL's remit is to foster and support leadership improvement, reform, transformation, sustainability and quality improvement. It serves the existing and future leaders of all providers within the further education system, including FE colleges, training and work-based learning providers, adult and community providers, offender learning, specialist colleges and voluntary organisations.

Following the publication of the white paper, CEL is involved in the introduction of a mandatory principal's qualification and the development of the quality improvement strategy for further education.

The white paper also heralded an expansion of CEL's diversity and equality remit.

CEL now operates through a charitable trust formed by its operating company on 1 April 2006.

To date, more than 1,160 different organisations and 25,800 individual participants have engaged with CEL. No fewer than 15 participants from recent cohorts of CEL's Senior leadership development programme (SLDP) have been promoted to the role of principal.

For more information, visit the website at www.centreforexcellence.org.uk

 

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