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Association of Colleges

AoC President

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AoC President

Acts as ambassador for AoC and the sector to further enhance AoC’s work in reputation building and influencing as well as to project and embody the vision and aspirations of a confident and highly capable 21st century FE sector. The President will drive policy formation and help to maintain the profile of FE with ministers and external partners. The President will undertake an Ambassadorial type role working closely and positively with the AoC Chief Executive and be able to inspire confidence in both themselves and the FE Sector.

Each AoC President serves one year term from 1 August – 31 July and nominations are called from serving Principals of AoC Member Colleges each March.


 

Fiona McMillan 2011-12
Fiona McMillan, AoC President and Principal - Bridgwater College
Fiona has been Principal of Bridgwater College since 1994 and under her leadership the College was designated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted in 2004. Despite the challenges posed by national funding cuts and new curriculum initiatives, she remains optimistic about the sector's ability to change students' lives and make a difference to their local communities. Fiona's career in education began in secondary schools in London and Dorset, progressing after three years into further education. During her 25 years in FE she has taught in, and later managed, a variety of general FE and tertiary Colleges in England and Wales. She also represented the interests of Colleges in the South West on the AoC Board, chaired the Tertiary College Group and been actively involved in engaging with politicians and civil servants on behalf of the further education sector.

 

Previous AoC Presidents

 
2010-11
Chris Morecroft, AoC President and Principal - Worcester College of Technology

Chris Morecroft was Principal of Worcester College of Technology from 1 November 2002 to 31 August 2010, having been Principal at Dearne Valley College in South Yorkshire for four years. His teaching career started in 1974 at Eccles Sixth Form College and then onto the Abraham Moss Centre in Manchester. During the 1980s, Chris was an Education Officer in Rotherham and the City of Sheffield Local Education Authorities and prior to his appointment as a Vice Principal at Broxtowe College in Nottingham in 1991, was an Education Adviser for further & continuing education in Rotherham.. Chris’ term as President, the first full year of the Coalition Government, involved him developing new vision for higher education in FE Colleges, in advance of a landmark Higher Education White Paper. Chris was also part of a small delegation of business and education leaders who accompanied the Prime Minister on a visit to China. He returned to China with the FE Minister, John Hayes MP, in July 2011. As well as giving evidence to Select Committees, Chris also spoke at various events alongside Ministers and Opposition spokespeople. Chris is also a secondary school governor and on the board of four educational trusts.

Pat Bacon - AoC President

2009-10
Pat Bacon, AoC President and Chief Executive/Principal - St Helens College
Pat was President of AoC through a time of significant political and economic change with both the recession and the 2010 General Election dominating her period in office. Early in her Presidency she led the sector through a difficult spending environment with adult training budgets receiving a further major reduction. The political Party Conferences offered an opportunity for Pat to debate those decisions and others with politicians from all three major Parties. In the run up to the General Election, Pat regularly briefed all Parties about the policies needed to ensure Colleges could continue to deliver for their students and for the economy. This work paid off as the new Coalition Government’s first major spending decisions ensured that the only sector which was permitted to re-invest savings was FE, with additional investment for apprenticeships and College buildings. In addition, throughout her year in office and beyond, Pat was the AoC representative on the Review of Higher Education Finance, led by Lord Browne of Madingley, and twice gave evidence to the Panel as well as regularly attending meetings of the Advisory Forum. The FE Minister, John Hayes MP, paid tribute to Pat’s work as President at an AoC Parliamentary event in summer 2010. Pat continues as Principal of St Helens College, and in recognition of her contribution to FE, was awarded the DBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours list.

Dr David Collins
2008-09
David Collins CBE, Chief Executive/Principal - South Cheshire College 
David Collins CBE was AoC’s first President during his final year as Principal of South Cheshire College, which was awarded an ‘outstanding’ grade by Ofsted. As a long standing Board member and regular contributor to AoC’s national activities David took to the new role very quickly regularly lobbying Ministers, Opposition politicians and appearing in the media. He, alongside the AoC Chief Executive Martin Doel, led the College sector through the difficulties following the collapse of the Learning and Skills Council’s capital funding scheme and the serious delays to payments of the Education Maintenance Allowance.