Tuesday morning - Strand one breakout sessions

1.01 - From reform to progression: Making the new post-16 pathways including V Levels work

Lead organisation: Pearson

The new Level 3 pathways introducing V Levels promise greater clarity, but colleges now need to turn them into viable study programmes that meet different learner needs and lead to recognised next steps. This session will bring together colleges, higher education, employers, and Pearson to examine what is working, where the implementation risks lie and what needs to happen to secure progression into employment, apprenticeships and higher education. 

1.02 - Developing enrichment together: A regional approach

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges, Bradford College, Leeds City College and York College

This session will explore how a regional approach to developing enrichment through the Pears Foundation Youth Social Action and Enrichment Programme can support colleges to deliver high-quality opportunities that enhance learner engagement, development, and outcomes. Attendees will hear about approaches to helping colleges achieve enrichment benchmarks, alongside early insights from the programme's evaluation of enrichment activity. The session will also feature the journeys of Youth Social Action Apprentices, highlighting the impact of social action and enrichment on confidence, skills development, and progression. Join us to explore how collaboration, evidence, and learner voice can shape sustainable, impactful enrichment offers.

1.03 - From exclusion to employment: How FE can unlock hidden talent and transform recruitment

Lead organisation: Chelmsford College

How can colleges help employers tackle workforce shortages while creating opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work? This session shares the learning, outcomes and legacy of Chelmsford College's award-winning Steps 2 Inclusive Employment programme. Delegates will explore how a behavioural and relationship-based approach supported 194 participants, helped 144 people into employment and influenced employer recruitment practices. The session will demonstrate how colleges can act as labour market intermediaries, build effective partnerships with employers and public services, and create scalable models that deliver both social impact and measurable economic value.

1.04 - Embedding the student voice through leadership

Lead organisation: City College Plymouth

Student voice has the power to transform college culture, improve outcomes and strengthen inclusion, but only when it is championed from the top. This session is led by City College Plymouth CEO Jackie Grubb and the college's SU President Liam Ashby. It explores how senior leadership buy-in is essential to moving student voice beyond consultation and into meaningful action. Through practical examples and proven approaches, delegates will discover how to empower young people, create authentic participation in decision-making and engender a culture where every voice is valued. Practical strategies will help build leadership commitment and ensure the student voice becomes a driver of lasting college improvement.

1.05 - Social partnership in action

Lead organisation: Coleg Cambria, Unison and UCU

Over the past five years, the college and trade unions have cultivated a strong partnership grounded in openness, transparency, and collaborative planning. By dedicating time to navigate complex decisions together and develop people-centered policies, we have fostered a values-based culture that reduces workplace conflict while boosting innovation and creativity.
Built on mutual trust and a "no surprises" philosophy, this collaborative approach enables us to address upcoming opportunities and challenges proactively. By discussing potential shifts before key decisions are finalised, we ensure that organisational change promotes fairness and equity across the institution. In this session, we will share key insights from our shared journey, highlighting both management and union perspectives.

1.06 - Beyond minutes and meetings: Using AI to build governance intelligence

Lead organisation: East Sussex College Group

AI is often associated with efficiency gains such as drafting minutes, summarising papers and supporting administration. However, its greatest potential may lie elsewhere. This session explores how governance professionals can use AI as a strategic thinking partner to interrogate governance systems, challenge assumptions, identify patterns and turn governance evidence into governance intelligence. Through a practical case study, delegates will see how AI can support governance design, assurance, stakeholder voice and continuous improvement. Attendees will leave with a practical framework, greater confidence and a fresh perspective on using AI to strengthen governance effectiveness and impact.

1.07 - Stronger together: Collaborative governance leadership across the FE sector

Lead organisation: Hull College, Trafford and Stockport College Group
 

Join four experienced leaders as they share how cross-sector collaboration strengthens governance practice and supports institutional success. Through practical examples and lessons learned, this session will explore the value of professional networks, peer support, shared expertise, and collaborative problem-solving in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for building effective governance partnerships, expanding their professional networks, increasing board effectiveness, and creating opportunities to learn from and support colleagues across the FE sector.

1.08 - Business continuity and cyber preparedness

Lead organisation: Jisc

Cyber threats facing the UK education sector continue to grow in frequency, sophistication and impact. This session will explore the current threat landscape, key strategic risks and what organisations should prepare for when a serious cyber incident occurs. The session will provide practical guidance on strengthening cyber preparedness and business continuity. It will examine the questions senior leaders should ask their technical and security teams to gain assurance and enable a faster, more effective recovery. It will also consider upcoming regulatory and compliance changes and their potential impact on colleges over the coming years. 

Attendees will leave with - 

1. A clearer understanding of the evolving cyber threat landscape
2. Practical guidance for strengthening organisational preparedness 
3. Key questions to assess existing response and recovery
4. An understanding of emerging regulatory and compliance requirements
5. Greater confidence in assessing cyber resilience and executive assurance

1.09 - Designing a curriculum to meet the needs of the Industrial Strategy and your Local Skills Improvement Plan

Lead organisation: Mindful Education, Bedford College Group and AAT

Colleges need to consider how their curriculum will meet the national needs of the UK Industrial Strategy, as well as specific local needs identified in the latest Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).        

In this session we will:   

• Share analysis of how each LSIP maps against the UK Industrial Strategy
• Explore where colleges are well represented when it comes to skills in industry sectors, and where they can improve
• Hear from colleges and awarding organisations about their direct involvement in creating an LSIP
• Discuss the importance of a joined-up approach for your adult learning and apprenticeship offer.

1.10 - Leading inclusion in FE: From strategy to student impact

Lead organisation: National Association of Managers of Student Services (NAMSS)

This NAMSS-led session will examine the evolving inclusion agenda across UK further education and the practical realities of turning ambition into action. Delegates will explore how colleges can develop inclusive strategies that respond to changing student needs, legislative requirements, and sector priorities, while creating cultures of belonging, equity, and success. Through sector insights, emerging practice, and member experiences, the session will focus on implementation challenges and solutions, including leadership, student voice, data-informed decision-making, staff capability, and cross-college collaboration. Participants will leave with practical approaches to embedding inclusion across the student experience and measuring meaningful impact.

1.11 - From risk to progression: The role of Level 2 reforms in addressing the NEET crisis

Lead organisation: NCFE

With over a million young people now classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET), and Level 2 qualifications widely identified as a key protective factor against transition from short-term to long-term status, any reform at this level must be done with care. Our technical experts will be diving into data and research about learner behaviour at Level 2, showcasing some of the finer detail about new reformed qualifications in comparison to their predecessors, and asking whether implementation of Level 2 reforms could actually be just as important as Level 3. We'll also be looking at how reformed qualifications could influence NEET outcomes and supporting future learner success. 
We'll be: 
•    analysing the data behind current Level 2 qualification usage and learner choices
•    investigating the evidence and research outlining Level 2 qualifications link to NEET status
•    examining the technical design aspects of new foundation and occupational certificates
•    exploring how best to prepare teachers for the upcoming changes.
 

1.12 - College mergers and group structures: Greater than the sum of its parts  

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

There have been more than 100 college mergers in the last decade, including four just in the last 12 months. During that decade the environment and rules to some extent have shifted, however the need for strong college leadership and governance remains paramount to successful integration. In this breakout session you will hear from three college leaders who have recently led college mergers - Corrie Harris from Loughborough College Group, John Laramy from Exeter and North Devon College Group and Andy Berry from University Centre Somerset College Group. The session will share practical lessons on leadership, culture, change management and strategy execution, offering insights that other colleges can apply to maximise the benefits of a merger and group structures.

1.13 - Understanding the Teaching Excellence Framework and Office for Students future approach to regulating quality 

Lead organisation: Office for Students

The Office for Students (OfS) is currently reviewing its approach to regulating quality of Higher Education (HE) and is undertaking a two-stage process to set out a revised Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and an integrated quality system for HE. OfS published the outcomes from the stage one consultation over the summer and will be hosting a stage two consultation over the autumn. As part of the new approach, it will be mandatory for OfS registered colleges to take part in TEF. This session will explore what this new approach to HE quality will mean for colleges and how OfS proposals are taking account of the college context. This session will be led by senior OfS speakers and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and engage in a discussion. 

1.14 - Modern work experience that works for every learner: Improving engagement, equity and progression

Lead organisation: The Careers & Enterprise Company; Queen Elizabeth 6th form, Darlington; Barnsley College and Yeovil College

This session will explore the key findings of The Careers and Enterprise Company’s recent research - "In pursuit of modern work experience that works for every learner: Improving engagement, equity and progression”, including identified best practice approaches to employer engagement. Through a short presentation followed by panel discussion, findings will be discussed, supported by practical examples from 3 of the partner colleges who contributed to the research. Attendees will receive a copy of the research report, inspiration for their own settings and an opportunity for Q&A.

1.15 - How do 11 autonomous colleges actually collaborate? Lessons from The Lancashire Colleges

Lead organisation: The Lancashire Colleges 

Collaboration sounds straightforward until you bring together 11 autonomous colleges, each led by a principal who is used to making strategic decisions independently. This session explores what The Lancashire Colleges have learned from developing a shared 2025–2030 strategy in response to the changing Lancashire skills landscape and devolution. It will examine the practical realities of building consensus, creating a collective voice without compromising institutional autonomy, involving employers and regional partners, and converting shared ambitions into accountable action. Delegates will leave with practical approaches for strengthening collaboration in their own regional context.

1.16 - From inspection to impact: What really matters under Ofsted’s new framework

Lead organisation: Yeovil College 

What does success look like under Ofsted’s new framework? As one of the first FE colleges to be inspected, Yeovil College achieved multiple strong standard judgements across inclusion, leadership and governance, contribution to meeting skills needs, apprenticeship achievement, and education programmes for young people, including curriculum and teaching and participation and development. Join us for an honest and practical session exploring what inspectors really focused on, beyond the paperwork. Hear first-hand what worked, what surprised us and the lessons we learned. If you're preparing for inspection or driving quality improvement, this session will provide actionable insights you can take away and use immediately.