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AoC Inclusive Futures Programme

Introducing the new AoC Inclusive Futures Programme

Inclusive Futures is a bold, six-month leadership and personal development experience designed specifically for further education. It supports current and aspiring leaders to embed belonging, representation and fairness at the heart of their institutions.

Blending immersive residential learning, action research, expert masterclasses and personalised coaching, the programme equips leaders with the skills, behaviours and confidence to lead inclusively - and to translate insight into measurable and meaningful change.

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Why Inclusive Futures?

FE colleges serve some of the most diverse communities in the UK. Yet leadership teams do not always reflect this diversity, and systemic barriers continue to shape opportunity and experience.

Inclusive Futures responds directly to what leaders across the sector have told us they need:

Greater confidence in leading conversations around equity, race and inclusion

Practical tools to embed inclusive practice into curriculum, culture and decision-making

Space for reflection, coaching and peer learning to sustain long-term change

Clear alignment with Ofsted and Department for Education expectations around culture and ethical leadership.

Who is the programme for?

Inclusive Futures is designed for:

Heads of Faculty or Department

Assistant and Deputy Principals

High-potential aspiring leaders

Each cohort includes up to 24 participants, ensuring depth of learning and strong peer connection.

2026 Cohort - Programme Dates

Summer-Autumn 2026 Cohort

(Delivered face-to-face at Ashorne Hill and online)

Module one - 16 & 17 June 2026 - in-person at Ashorne Hill
Spotlight session one - Wednesday 8 July - 9:30am – 12pm - Online
Spotlight session two - Wednesday 16 September - 10am -11:30am - Online
Spotlight session three - Wednesday 14 October - 2pm-3.30pm - Online
Spotlight session four - Wednesday 18 November - 2pm-3.30pm - Online
Module two - 15 & 16 December 2026 - in-person at Ashorne Hill

What's the investment?

The fee for the AoC Inclusive Futures programme has been subsidised by the Association of Colleges to ensure it is accessible to colleagues from AoC-member colleges.

AoC member rate: £500 + VAT
Non-member rate: £1,000 + VAT

The fee includes:

Two x two-day residential modules (including materials and facilitation) with residential accommodation (middle night)
A networking dinner on the middle night of each module
Four expert-led online spotlight sessions including facilitated peer-to-peer networking
Four hours of 1:1 executive coaching (virtual) to embed your knowledge and support your personal development
Peer learning group facilitation to grow your network of like-minded FE colleagues
Access to programme resources and toolkit materials
Practical career guidance and toolkit to support on ongoing personal development

Accommodation on the middle night and catering for the residential element are included. Travel costs are not included. B&B for the night prior is an additional cost of £105 +VAT.

Places are limited to 24 participants per cohort to ensure a high-quality, interactive learning experience.

What are the programme outcomes?

Model inclusive leadership behaviours with clarity and confidence
Lead equity-focused improvements in culture, curriculum and systems
Challenge bias and exclusion constructively and effectively
Strengthen belonging for staff and students
Contribute to sector-wide best practice through a co-created toolkit

What will the programme cover?

Two residential modules at the start and end of the programme

Module one - 16 & 17 June

Foundations of inclusive leadership and self‑awareness
- Psychological safety
- Understanding myself: Leadership identity and bias
- Emotions, race, and culture in leadership
- Authentic and inclusive leadership
- Establishing peer learning communities
Change, influence and project planning
- Leading change and overcoming barriers
- Systemic barriers & sector frameworks
- Project work: Developing action research plans

Module two - 15 & 16 December

Showcase action research projects and demonstrate institutional impact
Share collective learning, challenges, enablers and sector‑wide insights
Reflect on leadership identity, skills, behaviours and confidence gained
Explore long‑term strategies for embedding inclusive leadership institutionally
Co‑create a practical FE‑sector Inclusive Leadership toolkit
Formalise future peer networks, outline next steps and celebrate programme completion

Online spotlight sessions

One - Leadership, language and inclusion with Derek Hooper, Equality and Diversity Consultant and Trainer
- Wednesday 8 July - 9:30am – 12pm - Online
Two - Inclusion case study: A Balancing Act - change the world or change yourself? with Ian Pryce CBE, FE Consultant and Former College Principal
- Wednesday 16 September - 10am -11:30am - Online

Three - Leading authentically - A Principal's case study
- Wednesday 14 October - 2pm - 3:30pm - Online

Four - Career confidence for aspiring FE leaders with Rachel West, Senior Recruitment Manager, Association of Colleges
- Wednesday 18 November - 2pm - 3:30pm - Online

Four sessions of 1:1 coaching will take place throughout the programme to provide personalised support for participants

Action research plan - each participant will develop their own action plan to make a change within their own team, department or organisation. This will be developed and supported throughout the programme with the facilitators, coaches and network of colleagues.

Who are the lead facilitators?

Afshan Baksh

Afshan Baksh is a leadership strategist and facilitator specialising in leadership development, inclusive cultures and organisational change across further and higher education, the public sector and international organisations.

She began her career in the UK further education sector in 1998, holding leadership roles across curriculum, teaching and learning, quality enhancement and professional services. Since 2015, Afshan has worked independently designing and delivering leadership and inclusion programmes across the sector, including work with the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and college groups such as Colleges West Midlands. She is also a certified coach and facilitator of Lego® Serious Play®.

Jeff Greenidge

Jeff Greenidge is the Director for Diversity & Governance for the Association of Colleges. He is an experienced teacher, coach and leadership mentor who has worked across the education and training sector. His career in education began as a teacher of modern languages and physical education.

A three-year spell as Head of Modern Languages at Llanrumney High School in Cardiff followed, before he joined the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, advising the Government on matters relating to language teaching and learning. After three years as Director of the European Unit of the Welsh Joint Education Committee, he joined learndirect, where he served in a number of roles culminating in more than five years as Network Director between 2010 and 2015.

Get in touch

If you’d like to learn more discuss the programme in more detail then get in touch with our training team by emailing training@aoc.co.uk or fill in the form below.

Alternatively, call us on 020 7034 9928.