Wednesday morning - Hot topics

Hall 10a

Are we asking too much - or too little - of employers?

Employers are facing increasing pressure to provide work experience, industry placements and apprenticeship opportunities as policymakers seek to address skills shortages, improve social mobility and strengthen pathways into employment. This hot topic will explore the asks and responses of employers to grow the talent pipeline, what employer engagement policy should deliver, and how colleges can support further to optimise opportunities for students.

Chair: Matt Tudor, Chief Strategy Officer, UCS College Group

Panel members:

• Tessa Griffiths CBE, CEO, Skills England
• Alison Morris, Director of Policy, Skills Federation
• Daniel Sandford Smith, Director Programmes, Gatsby Charitable Foundation

Hall 8b

What might a 16-19 Curriculum Guarantee look like?

What should a 16-19 Curriculum Guarantee for all students include? What essential skills, critical literacies and wider experiences do all young people need to develop? We know that Relationships and Sex Education, financial literacy, political literacy, emotional literacy and media literacy all have strong claims, but how could we integrate these into a coherent and engaging curriculum offer? 

Chair: Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager, Association of Colleges

Panel members:

• Aimey Adamson, Deputy Principal, Middlesbrough College
• Kaynat Ahmad, Vice President of Further Education, NUS
• Matteo Bergamini, Chief Executive, Shout Out UK
• Lucy Emmerson, Chief Executive, Sex Education Forum 
• Priya Senior, Lead Education Associate, Skills Builder Partnership

Hall 8a

What would a national adult education strategy look like? A vision for national commitment with local power

England needs a stronger national vision for adult education, but one that empowers local areas to design solutions that work for their communities and economies. How do we combine national commitment with local power? This session will explore the key ingredients of a national adult education strategy, based on the findings in the APPG FE & Lifelong Learning’s current Adult Education inquiry report including funding, accountability, employer engagement, and learner support, while asking who should decide priorities and how success should be measured. Devolution is an opportunity but can risk a ‘postcode lottery’.  Are national guardrails needed? Expect a lively discussion on how colleges can help build a more responsive, ambitious, and impactful adult learning system.

Chair: Diana Bird, Executive Principal, Leeds City College 

Panel members:

• Lindsey Daniels, Inclusive Economy Lead – Adult Skills, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
• Mark Malcomson, CEO, CityLit  
• Helen Perry, Tutor, York College
• Janet Smith, Principal and CEO, Nottingham College
• Diana Sutton, CEO, The Bell Foundation 

Hall 11b

Belonging in a divided world: Can colleges strengthen communities in polarised times?

As communities become increasingly diverse and, at times, more polarised, colleges are uniquely placed to bring people together through education, dialogue and civic engagement. The Department for Education's new Community Cohesion Framework provides an opportunity to rethink how colleges foster belonging, inclusion, democratic participation and respectful disagreement.
This interactive discussion will share some of the initial findings from Salford University and explore what this means in practice for college leaders and how the sector can contribute to stronger, more connected communities while supporting student success and wellbeing.

Chair: Jeff Greenidge, Director for Diversity and Governance, Association of Colleges

Panel members:

• Nic Beech, Vice Chancellor, University of Salford
• Richard Caulfield, Senior Policy Advisor, Greater Manchester Colleges
• Kimberley Cash, Deputy Principal, Salford City College Group
• Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock, University of Salford

Hall 4

College funding in a more devolved system

With mayors expected to control 16-19 funding in the near future, this session will discuss the implications for colleges of transferring a £9.5 billion education budget from the centre to the regions. How should national and regional systems align to finance the education of 1.4 million young people, and where will accountabilities lie? What are the timescales and processes needed to ensure a smooth transition? How can additional layers of bureaucracy be avoided for colleges, already managing multiple funding lines? Hear from our expert panel, who will discuss how to plan for the future of college funding in an era of growing devolution. 

Chair: Rebecca Durber, Director of Member Engagement, Association of Colleges

Panel members:

• Rachael Hennigan, Principal and CEO, Hugh Baird College
• Fliss Miller, Director of Employment & Skills, East Midlands Combined County Authority
• David Withey, CEO and Principal, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Hall 9

Will colleges get "lost" in the SEND reforms? 

Colleges are highly inclusive institutions, and the proposed SEND reforms could have a significant impact across the sector. With 40% of 16 to 18-year-old college students reporting a learning difficulty and/or disability, the changes are set to reshape teaching practice, learning support, pastoral provision, and administrative processes, while also fundamentally changing long-established funding arrangements.

This timely and important session will debate the latest updates on the SEND reforms and explore what they could mean for colleges. Expert speakers will share their perspectives on the opportunities, challenges, and practical implications for the sector, helping attendees understand and prepare for the changes ahead.

Chair: Julia Gray, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, City of Bristol College

Panel members:

• Michelle Dowse, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Heart of Worcestershire College
• Clare Howard, Chief Executive Officer, Natspec
• Alasdaire Duerden, Head of Post-16 SEND Unit, Department for Education

Hall 5

AI and digital technologies – Creating a vision for the 2035 student experience

As the debate about the role of AI in society gathers pace, join us to discuss how AI and digital technologies can support and shape the student experience of the near future and highlight the opportunities and challenges that need to be navigated along the way. 

Chair: Scott Mulholland, Chief Information, Data and Estates Officer, Newcastle Colleges Group

Panel members:

• Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal, MK College Group
• Robin Ghurbhurun, UK Managing Director Further Education and Skills, Jisc
• Anthony Painter, Director of Strategic Engagement, Ufi

Hall 10b

Does England need a new vision for apprenticeships?

The government has taken steps to redirect apprenticeship policy towards young people, priority industrial sectors and SMEs. The introduction of apprenticeship units, the defunding of standards and end-point assessment review are just some of many recent developments. But with growing demand for apprenticeships and the need to ensure viability of their delivery, does England have a clear vision for who apprenticeships are for, and is there firm direction for the Growth and Skills Levy? This interactive session with a panel of experts will debate the future of apprenticeship policy. 

Chair: Linda Dean, Chief Commercial and People Officer, Blackpool and The Fylde College

Panel members:

• Nikki Davis, Principal, Leeds College of Building 
• Hannah Larsen, Policy Officer, British Chambers of Commerce
• John Myers, Head of Funding Delivery, Growth & Skills Levy, Department for Work and Pensions
• Sarah Maclean CBE, CEO, Skills England 

Hall 11a

How can colleges go further to support young people into work?

With one in eight young people now not in education, employment or training (NEET), supporting young people into work has become a significant public and political priority. As the government’s review into Young People and Work (Milburn Review) is expected imminently, this session will explore the central role colleges will play in delivering its recommendations.
We will examine how colleges can lead local solutions, strengthen partnerships, and drive a whole‑system approach to participation and progression. The session will also consider the practical challenges colleges face in delivering this agenda, and what is needed across sectors to ensure coherent, joined‑up support that enables more young people to move confidently into work.

Chair: David Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges

Panel members:

• Lisa O’Loughlin CBE, Principal and CEO, East Lancashire Learning Group
• Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Employment UK
• David Gaughan, Director of Employment and Skills (Interim), West Midlands Combined Authority

Hall 7

Industrial relations: A balancing act

How has additional funding impacted industrial relations in your college? What risks could we be opening up around pay as 16-18 funding becomes devolved?  Join this practical and informative discussion exploring the latest developments in pay negotiations and industrial relations. Delegates will receive an update on legislative changes affecting ballots and strike action under the 2025 Employment Act, as well as highlighting an amendment to the Financial Handbook. This session provides a safe and open forum to share current trade union challenges, discuss effective approaches, and exchange strategies with peers from across the sector. It will also be an opportunity to hear from the outgoing Chair of the Employment Policy Committee on his reflections on pay and industrial relations in Further Education over the past decade. NB, this session is open to AoC members only.

Chair: Gerry McDonald CBE, CEO, New City College & AoC President 

Panel members: 

• Jenny Arrowsmith, Partner, Irwin Mitchell
• Nichola Newton, Principal and CEO, Warrington & Vale Royal College