Wednesday afternoon - Strand three breakout sessions

3.01 - From vocational assessment reform to reality:  Preparing for V Levels and Level 2 pathways

Lead organisation: AQA

College leaders are grappling with the realities of delivering vocational assessment reforms as policy moves into implementation. They are making decisions about curriculum planning, learner progression, assessment and organisational readiness at pace. This session will provide insights into the new vocational qualifications exploring best practice for implementation and delivery of the qualifications, and considering the implications for providers. Delegates will leave with practical considerations for planning and delivery as well as greater clarity on AQA’s vocational qualifications. They will have the opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities in navigating V Levels and L2 Pathways and feed into AQA’s thinking
 

3.02 - Unpacking the Inclusive Mainstream Fund:  Initial thoughts and ideas from the sector 

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges, Heart of Worcestershire College and Warwickshire College Group

The Inclusive Mainstream fund was launched in Summer 2026 and is new funding worth around £400k to the “average” college. Colleges had to quickly determine how to interpret the new guidance, budget for their plans and have had to report on their strategies for deploying this funding in their 2026/27 Accountability Agreement, ensuring stakeholders can scrutinise the plans. This workshop will briefly review the funding guidance outlining what the new funding should focus on and hear from a number of colleges on the priorities they have focused on in Year 1. It will provide time for discussion on how the sector can maximise the impact of this new funding stream ahead of the forthcoming SEND reforms.

3.03 - Leading through coaching: Connecting talent across NCG

Lead organisation: NCG

Discover how NCG is building an inclusive coaching culture across its seven colleges, harnessing internal talent to deliver cost-effective, high-impact professional development. Coaches are selected for their values, expertise and specialist knowledge, then carefully matched with colleagues across NCG, from principals and directors to professional services, teachers and learning support staff. Supported by a dedicated coaching coordinator and NCG’s flagship Leadership Hub, coaching is tailored to individual needs, including career development, project management, role transition, professional challenge and managing priorities. Attendees will explore practical approaches to developing internal talent, creating a sustainable coaching ecosystem and enabling today’s coaches to become tomorrow’s coaches.

3.04 - How to achieve a high-performance sustainability leadership culture

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges and EAUC

Does your college not have a sustainability strategy or action plan in place? Have a lapsed strategy and action plan that needs updating? Approaching the end of their strategy and will be looking to update it? This session will feature examples of Award winning sustainability leadership from Nottingham College, Fircroft College of Adult Education and Barnsley College and will give practical help on writing a strategy and creating an action plan. It will provide real examples of how to engage staff and students across different areas of your college, including procurement, digital and leadership.

3.05 - Board effectiveness - Relational leadership in a complex landscape

Lead organisation: Barnet and Southgate College and FE Commissioners Team

Modern boards are moving away from episodic oversight towards continuous, relational leadership. The relationship between the board and the executive is critical to organisational success. Introduced by Neil Coker, Principal and CEO, this session will draw on the experiences of Adam Goldstein’s 6 years as Chair, enhanced by the insights of Jenny Jarvis, Adams’ successor and framed by the FEC’s view of effective governance, with Graham Razey. Expectations of FE boards are higher than ever, the landscape more complex. Participants will leave this session knowing what effective governance looks like and with a checklist to enhance local practice.  

3.06 - Knowledge, culture and change: Reimagining professional practice in FE

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

Join four thought leaders from across the college sector as they share emerging research on how professional practice is being reshaped across FE. Drawing on studies of AI and professional knowledge, hybrid learning, teacher agency, professional development and vocational culture, this breakout session will examine the forces driving educational change and improvement. Participants will hear directly from scholars from the Research Further programme, engage in discussion with peers, and explore how colleges can support educators and learners to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Together, we will consider what the future of professional knowledge, learning and innovation in FE might look like.

3.07 - Supporting economically inactive adults: Findings from Fircroft College research 

Lead organisation: Fircroft College 

Fircroft college is an adult residential college in Birmingham that works with high numbers of economically inactive (over 50%) adults. In 2026, we commissioned research to help us understand:  • What are the key contexts and drivers of economic inactivity? • What barriers do different sub-groups face in engaging with learning and work? • What solutions and interventions are effective in addressing these barriers? • What is the added value of (residential) adult education in supporting outcomes? •  In this session we will share the findings of our research and explore what we can do to further support EI adults in their learning outcomes. 

3.08 - Using data to underpin strategic decision making in FE

Lead organisation: Lincoln College

Further education collects vast amounts of data, yet much of it remains underutilised whilst other sectors routinely drive strategy, performance, and commercial success from their data resources. Evidence suggests an over-reliance on gut instinct by leaders and managers, but better use of data has the potential for better informed decisions to improve impact and outcomes. This session will explain the difference between traditional FE MIS and data science to help understand the potential for change and improvement. It will then explore how to build buy in, what the impact could be and how to build the momentum for change.

3.09 - Preventing NEET to next steps: Building relationships, re-engaging young people and creating pathways

Lead organisation: Middlesborough College and Oldham College

This collaborative session brings together Oldham College and Middlesbrough College to explore the full journey from preventing young people becoming NEET to successfully re-engaging those who have already disengaged. Oldham will share its early identification, relationship-led and partnership approach, while Middlesbrough will showcase ROOTS, its flexible 12-week re-engagement programme. Together, the colleges will share practical, transferable strategies for identifying risk, building trusted relationships, creating personalised pathways and supporting sustained progression into education, employment and training.

3.10 - FESIT- what does it include and how do inspectors use it?

Lead organisation: Ofsted

An overview of the FESIT system to highlight the DfE data that is represented in the system. Input from HMI's to explain how data is used in planning an inspection and how this informs discussions with leaders. We will also seek to provide clarity on how data is used during inspection. This will enable us to explore fully the `achievement' evaluation area for provision type inspection.

3.11 - Creating a resilient energy management strategy

Lead organisation: Sustainable Energy First

A resilient energy management strategy does more than reduce costs. It provides a foundation for operational stability, sustainability, and long-term organisational success. Expanding on the insights shared in David's Finance Conference keynote, this interactive session will explore how colleges can move beyond reactive energy procurement and adopt a more strategic approach to energy management.

Featuring real-world perspectives from Sustainable Energy First customers and members of the Association of Colleges (AoC), the session will demonstrate the growing importance of sustainability within the education sector. Attendees will hear first-hand experiences, discuss emerging challenges and opportunities, and explore how energy decisions can be aligned with wider sustainability objectives, creating a practical roadmap that delivers value today while supporting future ambitions.
 

3.12 - Working together for prevention: Building stronger partnerships between colleges and health

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

With preventative health at the heart of the NHS 10-Year Plan and ill-health now cited as the main reason for young people being out of education, employment or training (NEET), there is a significant opportunity for colleges to ensure that they are playing a key role in the development of public health strategies in their communities. This session will bring together stakeholders from across FE, local government and health sectors to explore next steps on embedding the role of colleges in the preventative health agenda. It will be an opportunity to discuss implementing our recently launched resources to support greater join-up across the colleges and health sectors, as well as hearing first-hand from colleges and health organisations at the forefront of innovative partnerships to improve local health outcomes, to discuss key learnings, practical tips and how to overcome challenges. 

3.13 - Progress in Practice 1: Learning, sharing and improving together across the CTEC network  (National, South West, Greater London)

Lead organisation: The National CTEC, The Bedford College Group, South West CTEC - Exeter and North Devon College Group, Greater London CTEC – New City College

This workshop will explore the experiences of three Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs), highlighting their journeys in developing regional spokes and strengthening employer engagement. Speakers will share achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the first year of co-designing the programme with the DfE, adapting delivery in response to devolution and Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), and collaborating with employers and partners to meet local workforce needs. Attendees will gain practical insight into effective regional networks, sustainable collaboration models, and how the CTEC model supports continuous improvement, stronger partnerships, and enhanced construction skills provision.

3.14 - Beyond Skills: Colleges as strategic partners in economic growth

Lead organisation: University Centre Somerset College Group and Bedford College Group

As government places economic growth, industrial strategy and productivity at the heart of national policy, the role of colleges is evolving rapidly. This session brings together leaders from across the further education, skills and policy sectors to explore how colleges are becoming strategic partners in inward investment, workforce planning and regional economic development. Using the Agratas gigafactory project and other large-scale employer partnerships as case studies, attendees will gain insights into how colleges can influence investment decisions, support workforce needs before and after major projects commence, and work with government and employers to deliver national industrial priorities. Key takeaways will include practical lessons on system leadership, partnership working and the future role of colleges in driving growth, productivity and opportunity.

3.15 - Successfully navigating the new inclusion agenda

Lead organisation: University of Derby

The UK government’s sweeping SEND reforms significantly impact the FE sector, shifting the system toward early, evidence-based inclusion and reshaping how colleges support learners through a four-tier framework. Amongst a range of changes, one of the most significant for colleges is the proposed legal duty to produce an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every relevant learner. This session will provide an overview of the reforms, explore relevant case studies of ISPs, and provide a preparedness checklist for you to utilise in your setting to support you in managing the required cultural shift for change to be successful.

3.16 - From 'Outstanding' to inclusive by design: Transforming high needs provision and progression 

Lead organisation: West Thames College 

West Thames College will share how our inclusive, whole-college approach has transformed opportunities for students with high needs. Including co-producing our specialist Independence Hub with our local authority and local special school to enable students with severe needs to access specialist education within their local area. Creating a SEND Employment Hub with local employers including creating an on-site shop with help from Tesco. We will explore student progression into employment and Project SEARCH supported internships. Attendees will hear practical examples of partnership working, curriculum innovation and employer engagement, and take away strategies for developing an ambitious, inclusive culture that extends beyond Outstanding.

3.17 - Powering place-based skills: How the West of England is joining up colleges, universities, employers, and the Combined Authority

Lead organisation: Colleges West with Universities West and the West of England Combined Authority

This session will explore how the West of England is strengthening place-based skills leadership through a shared governance approach that brings together Colleges West, Universities West, the West of England Combined Authority, Business West (Chamber of Commerce and LSIP leads) and regional employers. Senior leaders will reflect on how partners are aligning vision, strategy and priorities across institutions, sectors and local government to support a more coherent regional skills system. Attendees will take away practical insights on building trust, clarifying roles, sustaining strategic alignment, and using collaborative governance to make devolution work effectively for place.